Art therapy and health
I don’t know how many of you are interested in formalized art therapy (I am — but as an art therapist who works in healthcare I’m slightly biased). There is a recent article making news today that talks about art therapy with breast cancer patients. If you’re interested, you can read either the full article, or a quick news summary of it.
Between this and the researchers’ other articles, their evidence seems to indicate that breast cancer patients who engage in art therapy show:
- Improved psychological health
- Decreased side effects of radiation treatments
- Higher overall quality of life
- Increased physical health
- Improved coping skills
- A ”better ability to deal with others’ demands”
- More positive self-image
Why is this important, if you are not an art therapist, an art therapy client, or a breast cancer patient? I guess I wanted to share it with you on the hope that you’ll feel some deeper meaning in the art that you make every day.
Maybe you are making art to sell — to put food on the table or supplement your family’s income. Maybe you make art because you’re bored in meetings with nothing to do but doodle. Maybe you make art as gifts for loved ones, decorations for your home, or to explore the outside world. Maybe it is simply your hobby — your pastime. But, maybe it could be much, much more?
Whatever art you make, I hope you make space for it to have a deeper impact on your life.
Please share: How has making art impacted your life?
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Hi Mal. I am not an art therapist (used to be a speech therapist) but I definitely feel that my craft or crafts are therapeutic! There are times that I get so focused on a looming deadline or some such when the project loses its appeal or therapeutic value. There are also times when I am so stressed or unfocused or depressed that I can’t even face my quilting or crafts. What does that mean?
BTW, I love your spider!!!!
Comment by upstatelisa — 18 February 2009 @ 3:13 pm
@upstatelisa: Glad you like the spider! Thanks for stopping by!
I like that you point out some things which can rob us of the joy or therapeutic benefit of our artwork — particularly deadlines (the reason so many artists, musicians, and other creative types become disillusioned with full-time creative wrok) and stressors. I think too that, when you talk about being depressed, it’s generally the case that someone suffering from depression is going to notice a decrease in their general motivation and interests. We lose joy in things that were previously joyful. The trick for me is to try doing it anyway. Sometimes doing the project alleviates some of the depression. That’s always a bonus, when I can do it!
Comment by Mal — 18 February 2009 @ 4:46 pm