Art Therapy
Art therapy is a psychotherapeutic service that has proven to be successful in treating children with special needs, as well as children with emotional, behavioural and psychological issues. The use of art tools and supplies allows kids to express themselves and communicate things in ways they simply cannot say in words.
What is Art Therapy?
Art is the application or expression of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, crafts and others. The works of art produced are to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
Art Therapy is an alternative form of therapy designed to work with a child’s unique strengths on their own terms. The process of creating art enables the child to express their feelings and to provide information indirectly to the therapist. This helps them to work through physical, emotional, mental and behavioural issues.
In art therapy, the kinds of artwork done by students can be varied and include making collages, drawing pictures, painting murals, crafting puppets and creating sculptures.
Benefits of Art Therapy
As a therapeutic intervention, art therapy can be a very useful tool in helping to facilitate positive changes in a child’s behaviours, thoughts, and feelings by impacting their neurological system. Here are some of the ways it can help:
- It improves the balance between the brain hemispheres, which can affect learning disabilities, depression, anger and perception.
- It encourages children to express their feelings through the art they create in their session.
- It provides sensory stimulation, as well as develops sensorimotor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- It helps children learn social skills, gain cognitive growth, and obtain coping mechanisms through the resolution of frustration.
- It helps children develop practical skills, such as how to find and put away art supplies, utilise tools and clean themselves up.
- It enhances self-confidence and self-worth through positive artistic expressions.
- It provides an environment where children can relax and feel safe. This helps improve mood, soothing children’s fears and/or anxiety.
- It presents children with a unique set of challenges that encourage them to learn material manipulation, focus and nurture relationships.
- It enables children to unlearn behaviours associated with a negative emotion or situation, and replaces it with positive change and behaviours.
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