Expressive therapies

Expressive therapy is a form of therapy that involves the use of the creative arts to encourage psychological growth and healing. Expressive therapy is also sometimes called expressive arts therapy and differs from regular arts therapy in that it utilizes art forms during the therapeutic process. Expressive arts therapy and counseling techniques draw from music, poetry, dance/movement, theater, painting, and drawing. Expressive therapy focuses on the creative process itself as opposed to the creative destination. Therapists who use expressive therapy techniques believe they help patients analyze their emotions and thought processes, as well as how such factors affect their physical well-being. Patients do not need to have any artistic ability to engage in expressive therapies. The technique may give patients the opportunity to cope with otherwise difficult cognitive and emotional concerns.

Background

Techniques in expressive therapy were first developed in 1970 at Lesley College Graduate School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This was followed by the founding of the International Network of Expressive Arts Therapy Training Centers. Expressive therapies focused on the possibilities of self-expression as a cathartic medium. It was developed into an intermodal approach that utilizes multiple expressive arts for the purpose of psychological treatment. Art therapy was already practiced by this time, but it primarily focused on one mode of creation. Expressive therapy sought to give patients the opportunity to use any expressive means necessary to channel their psychological difficulties.

Expressive therapy is often used by therapists when traditional talk therapy fails to produce results with a patient. The therapy is often more successful with such patients because of its emphasis on the process of creating rather than the outcome of the creative process. For this reason, individuals engaging in expressive therapy are not required to have any artistic skills. Therapists simply ask the patient to engage their imagination as a means of processing psychological concerns and traumas. Therapists believe accessing the imagination during the therapeutic process promotes healing.

Expressive arts therapists are careful about the methods by which expressive therapy is employed among patients with specific concerns. For example, people who are new to therapy might find the practice of journaling most accessible to begin with. Patients who have established a strong connection with their therapist may be more open to different types of expressive therapy such as drama or movement. Time and pace are major factors in determining a patient's readiness level.

Overview

Expressive therapy is used to treat a range of behavioral, emotional, and mental health conditions. Some common conditions treated with expressive therapy include:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Chronic diseases
• Post-traumatic stress
• Traumatic brain injury
• Social skills challenges
• Developmental disabilities
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Studies have shown that certain types of expressive arts are better suited for certain conditions than others. For instance, a number of studies have shown that music therapy can benefit a patient's sense of self-awareness and self-confidence. It may also help patients process difficult memories and learn better communication skills. Music therapy was also shown to improve motor and cognitive functioning. Some expressive therapies such as dance, movement, and art therapy are especially helpful to patients who have trouble expressing themselves verbally.

Expressive art therapy can utilize a variety of creative processes. Common activities include music, movement, dance, drama, sculpture, painting, and drawing. Although expressive therapy can involve the use of just one type of creative technique, therapists have been known to combine several creative techniques to provide the best treatment for individuals.

Popular creative outlets for patients include finger painting, mask making, squiggle drawing (common among young patients), watercolors, splatter or blob painting, and figure painting or drawing. Sometimes patients are asked to draw a picture of their family. This technique, referred to as kinetic family drawing, is most often used with children. This creative technique is designed to analyze how a patient feels about his or her family and can be indicative of problematic family dynamics. Children in particular have shown to benefit greatly from expressive therapies. Finger painting has proven especially effective among children with behavioral and mental-health problems. This technique has given therapists insight into patients' personality traits, motor skills, and interior processes.

Older patients often benefit most from more complex creative techniques such as journaling, storytelling, reading books, or writing poetry. Other expressive therapy methods include making a life map, compiling a memory book, or recording creative videos. Older patients can go back and review their creations to help make meaning of their thoughts and feelings. These creations can also help them communicate with family and friends about their problems.

Therapists will often ask questions about the expressive art created during therapy sessions. This allows the therapist to gauge a range of characteristics about the patient. Therapists can also mine important information from observations of the patient's creative process. Therapists encourage patients to explain their creations, which in turn helps a therapist further piece together the connection between the patient's ultimate creation and the mental-health problems he or she is experiencing.

People with physical illnesses may also benefit from expressive therapies. Several studies have indicated that creative outlets have contributed to increased well-being in certain populations. One study concluded that older men and women who participated in choir singing reported better health and fewer doctor's visits. This same population also reported fewer falls and fewer medications used than their peers who were not involved in any kind of group arts program. Another study found that children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who participated in creative arts programs showed improvement in communication skills and stress levels.

Bibliography

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Malchiodi, Cathy A. Expressive Therapies. Guilford Press, 2007.

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