How Does Art Therapy Benefit People With Mental Illness - College Reading Class - Research Paper

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The Benefits of Art Therapy
In today’s society, mental illnesses can affect anyone regardless of gender, sexuality, social status or even income. Art therapy has become a popular choice for people who want to recover from mental illness. This form of therapy can be used to treat a variety of mental illnesses in both children and adults. Although other medical practitioners do not recognize the worth of art therapy it can be used to effectively treat various mental illnesses.
Art therapy is often used to treat a varying degree of mental illnesses in both children and adults. According to Edwards, art therapy is “defined as a form of therapy in which creating images and objects play a central role in the psychotherapeutic relationship established between the art therapist and client.” (2). The aim of art therapy is for the individual who is suffering from a mental illness to gain a better understanding of themselves. Art therapy offers the individual a creative opportunity to express their feelings. It can be very difficult for people with mental illnesses to express their emotions verbally and art therapy offers the individual a different option to come to terms with those emotions. Art therapy can be offered to an individual or at a group level. When used in a group setting, art therapy is beneficial for treating families, older adults and especially children who suffer from learning difficulties.
Art Therapy can be used to treat a variety of mental health ailments such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and traumatic brain injuries. The use of art therapy to treat these mental illnesses have been proven to be highly effective. Individuals who attend art therapy are encouraged to engage in introspection which in turn increases self-awareness. The use of color and shape to form a narrative results in the individual gaining a better understanding of themselves. This form of therapy is also beneficial as it is a means of expression for individuals who struggle to express their emotions verbally. This is especially helpful for individuals who suffer from men...