What is Art for therapy and wellbeing?
There are several positive effects that artistic practice can have on health, regardless of the level of experience we have. Art can be a great tool to be used in Therapy and in Coaching processes.
I would like to share with you my experiences and my reflections on the theme of art as a tool for education and well-being, a central element of my work as a health and training-professional.
My passion for art, especially for drawing and painting, but also for theater and photography has permeated my professional trajectory and has shaped over the years what I consider an experiential approach, defined as "a free mind" (“A mente libera”, Mandolini, 2012), which considers artistic expression not only as an end, or as a process, but rather as a starting point to achieve clarity and well-being in your life.
On a psycho-physiological level, there are numerous positive effects that artistic practice can have on health, regardless of the level of experience. In a recent study by the University of Drexel, 2016, it was shown that practising art for 45 minutes causes a significant lowering of the cortisol level even in people without any previous artistic experience. The study was carried out by professionals in a suitable and protected context and the materials used (collages, pastels, felt-tip pens, so simple to use and poorly structured) have certainly facilitated the pleasure of the experience, confirming the correlation between the positive effect of artistic experience and professionalism of the facilitator and adequacy of the setting. I preferred to use the word facilitator rather than the art therapist/therapist because the "positive power" that art exercises on our well-being is not necessarily bound to the therapeutic context.
Art, in general, is associated at the physiological level with a reduction in the level of stress (Girija Kaimal, Kendra Ray, Juan Muniz, 2016), an improvement in blood pressure (American Public Health Association Study, 2010), the stimulation of dopamine considered the pleasure neurotransmitter (Zeki, 2016) and an improvement in mood, made possible by redirecting attention to a significant object. From a psychological point of view, artistic activities favour a renewed vision of oneself as creators of meaning, promoting self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-regulation, spontaneous expression and self-acceptance.
The artistic practice also promotes the management of space and time, the recognition of one's resources and promotes the recognition and respect of one's own times. Although the artistic activity is often associated with the solitary figure of the artist, practising art in groups offers the opportunity to experiment with new roles and identities, thanks to the comparison with people who have a different approach to life than ours. The creative process thus becomes a shared experience that can produce a true collective work of art, the result of the exchange of experiences and (inter) personal points of view.
Artists, together with scientists and entrepreneurs, are role models for innovation in our societies. It is no coincidence that artistic education is commonly considered to be a means to develop the skills considered critical for innovation: critic and creative thinking, motivation, self-confidence, the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with others.
Art as therapy is particularly effective for reframing traumatic events and with children and patients who may find it difficult to express their experiences verbally. There are many materials that can be used in an art therapy session and can vary greatly depending on the patient, therapist and availability: watercolours, coloured pencils, markers, watercolours, magazines, ropes, photos, etc.
In my work (in Barcelona and online), I use Art as a tool in therapy but also in Coaching. The difference is about the intention of the intervention: in therapy, we focus more on the past, on the re-elaboration of painful facts, in coaching we look mainly to the future objective that the client wants to achieve. The border between the two disciplines is pretty thin, but Art serves both interventions in a powerful way.
References
https://drexel.edu/now/archive/2016/June/Art_Hormone_Levels_Lower/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5004743/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/
Marta is a qualified Psychologist, based in Barcelona, Spain.
With a commitment to mental health, Dr Mandolini provides services in English, Italian and Spanish, including Art Therapy, Coaching (Business), Coaching (Life), Corporate Workshops, Group Therapy, Mindfulness, Stress Management, Training (Assertiveness) and Training (Life Skills).
Dr Mandolini has expertise in Career Issues, Creativity Issues, Emotional Overwhelm, Expat Living, Life Balance, Online Counselling, Personal Growth, Relationship Problems, Self-Esteem and Worry.
Click here to schedule a session with Dr Mandolini.
Important:
TherapyRoute does not provide medical advice. All content is for informational purposes and cannot replace consulting a healthcare professional. If you face an emergency, please contact a local emergency service. For immediate emotional support, consider contacting a local helpline.
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