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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment

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Art therapy is becoming an increasingly common way for clients at
rehabilitation centers to express feelings and communicate personal
experiences.
As the concept of art therapy develops, its proven efectiveness is
demonstrated time and time again in treatment facilities around the
country.
As therapeutic approaches change and evolve, doctors and scientists
learn more about human psychology and new methods to treat
addiction. These advances are brought into addiction treatment
programs to provide clients a variety of opportunities to heal.
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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment
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Why Do Programs use Art Therapy?
There are many therapy techniques, strategies and rehabilitation treatments
utilized in the process of helping those who have experienced struggles with
addiction.
However, diferent approaches work for diferent individuals and a therapeutic
technique that works well for one person doesnt necessarily work for another.
Common treatment approaches include individual counseling sessions,
process groups, and educational workshops. In individual counceling
sessions, a client works with a therapist to confront feelings and behaviors
detrimental to long-term recovery. In a process group setting, individuals
are part of a group of peers. Being part of a group of people with similar
experiences helps clients feel supported
Art therapy programs help clients tap into their inner emotions and challenges.
During treatment, clients are encouraged to communicate their feelings,
whether its through talking or writing. Art therapy provides an outlet for
suppressed emotions and feelings. Clients utilize this therapy to share their
feelings in a safe and creative way.
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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment
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The History of Art Therapy
Art therapy is a melding of traditional art practices and theo-
ries of psychotherapy.
Despite its current use as a therapeutic technique, art therapy
originated in the mid-1900s as a part of art education in uni-
versities and colleges in Europe and other English speaking
countries. A British artist named Adrian Hill is known for
having a large infuence in the practice of modern art
therapy.
Hill is cited with the frst known use of the term, asso-
ciating it with the idea of alleviating stress and sharing
feelings through the creation of images. Hill published
a book in 1945 called Art Versus Illness, the frst ever tome
advocating for art as a therapeutic technique as a treatment for
mental illness and addiction.
Art therapy was frst used formally at Netherne Hospital in Surrey
by therapy proponent Edward Adamson in 1946.
His practices included an open art studio that hospital residents
were permitted to visit freely in order to create works of art to express
their feelings.
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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment
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The History of Art Therapy cont.
Adamson believed that individuals were more efectively treated by using their
own discretion to create works of art, especially since mid-twentieth century
treatment facilities tended to be bleak, depressing and often harmful to an
individuals state of mind.
With the ability to create paintings, sculptures, functional pieces and drawings,
the people Adamson worked with showed amazing progress at a pace few other
therapeutic techniques could match.
Although art therapy frst started as an approach to treating mental illness,
other uses for the treatment practice have become available over the last several
decades.
Today, art therapy is used in schools, universities, addiction recovery centers and
hospitals to ease pain of the terminally ill.
Art therapy has been found to be efective in promoting happiness and well-being,
whether an idividual is just beginning the recovery process, or years after complet-
ing addiction treatment.
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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment
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Art Therapy Application
Treatment centers around the world use art therapy to treat a variety of addiction
disorders..
While diferent facilities use art therapy in diferent ways, its presence is very common.
In general, most addiction recovery centers ofer art therapy classes or have assigned
time slots scheduled in a clients day. Often, facilities have an open studio for clients to
use at their leasure, as descripbed in the original use of art therapy.
Many diferent mediums are used in the process of art therapy. Many facilities stock a
wide variety of art supplies in order promote a certain freedom to the creation process.
No matter how an individual wants to express him or herself, most rehabilitation cen-
ters are willing to accommodate artistic inspiration.
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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment
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Painting Therapy
Possibly the most common form of creation in art therapy is painting, a universal
art form practiced all over the world. Paint-
ing is often favored in art therapy for its use
of broad, bold colors.
Accordingly, there are many diferent paints
that can be adapted to show a wide range
of emotion.
Oil paints, for example, can be used to show
bright colors and express many diferent
feelings and thoughts, allowing for a spec-
trum of images and messages.
Watercolor paints are also commonly
used for the soft, serene feelings such
muted hues can convey.
Whether the rehabilitation process
triggers feelings of sadness, anxiety or
anger, painting can be a cathartic way
to reveal these sentiments.
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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment
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Sculpting Therapy
Clay and the process of sculpting is also a very common technique.
While the fnal product of painting can often be considered sug-
gestive and evocative, the entire process of sculpting can be very
satisfying.
Feeling how clay, plaster or other substances can be
molded, melded and rearranged can function akin to
a stress ball: individuals can take their feelings out on
a medium like clay during the process of creating a
work of art.
A physical product that individuals can touch, hold
and walk around can be a moving experience, mak-
ing sculpting a very efective form of art therapy.
While sculpting has a pronounced place in art thera-
py, clay and ceramics can stand alone as a medium.
The skill and patience it takes to throw on a wheel or
master the art of hand building can be a welcomed
distraction on the road to recovery, making clay a
popular choice among clients.
Learning to focus on a new skill can be helpful in tak-
ing ones mind away from the struggle to overcome an addiction.
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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment
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Other Therapies
Origami paper folding can help individuals focus on details and creating something
beautiful and delicate.
Oil pastels, charcoal and colored pencils are also favored by many on the road to
addiction recovery. In most art therapy studios or classes, rehabilitation facilities
allow individuals to use whatever mediums they desire in order to promote the
highest level of recovery possible.
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Art Therapy: In Addiction Treatment
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The Benefts of Art Therapy
Regardless of personal feelings about artwork, artists or what makes a piece
of art efective, art therapy is an incredibly popular and efective
technique that promotes success in addiction recovery.
No matter what stage an individual is in in the
recovery process, art therapy can be incredibly
useful.
Using mediums such as paint and clay or process-
es like drawing or sculpting can help individuals
communicate feelings, express emotions and
promote quiet, careful introspection.
The process of recovering from addiction is a
challenge.
Using art therapy to become in touch with
ones feelings can work wonders in uncovering
emotions. Expressing suppressed feelings in a
necessary step on the road to recovery.
No matter your addiction, art therapy can help pave the way to a
happy, healthy life long after treatment is over.
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