There are many different treatments out there to heal anxiety. Depending on you and your preferences, one type of therapeutic approach may work better than another. One type of therapy for the treatment of anxiety is art therapy.
What Is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that encourages you to express yourself through artistic activities such as painting, drawing, and sculpting. You do not have to be an artist to participate in art therapy, nor do you need to be “good” at art. Being good at art is not the point of art therapy—learning how to express yourself and feel safe in doing so is.
How Does Art Therapy Lead To Healing?
The healing that happens as a result of art therapy is possible as art helps to heal the connections between your mind, body, and spirit. In learning how to communicate feelings, thoughts, and emotions, art can be the vessel through which this expression occurs. This is especially true if you feel as if you do not have the words to express how and what you are feeling.
What Else Can Art Therapy Help With?
Not only does art therapy encourage you to channel your emotions through art and creative self-expression, but it is also helpful for:
- Resolving inner conflict
- Developing interpersonal skills
- Reducing stress
- Feeling emotions to heal them
- Processing trauma and emotional wounds
- Management of behaviors and emotions
- Increasing self-esteem
- Cultivating self-awareness
- Learning new ways to cope with emotions
Why Choose Art Therapy?
When beginning to heal from substance use and mental illness, it is important to consider a treatment program that takes a holistic approach to heal. Holistic approaches often integrate creative expression into treatment as healing is multi-faceted. There are other ways to experience transformation outside of traditional methods, such as talk therapy.
Creative expression can ease emotional distress and pain in a way that words cannot. This is what art therapy creates space for through encouraging you to authentically express yourself in a non-judgemental and compassionate environment.
There are several treatment approaches for healing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Art therapy is a type of therapy that promotes healing by encouraging creative self-expression. At Avalon Malibu, we recognize how difficult it can be to express yourself, especially if it is a new experience for you. Receiving guidance from a therapist to creatively express yourself can help you learn what expression means for you. If you are ready to begin your journey, call Avalon Malibu today at (844) 857-5992 to learn about our recovery programs.
