The Science of Happiness: Art Therapy

Questions and Answers

1- What Is Art Therapy and What is it Not?

Art therapy is a form of therapy that uses the creative process of making art.  It supports the quality of life in psychological and physical disorders.

 Art activities have a healing effect on the whole mind, body and emotional well-being. These artistic majors could be:

  • Visual arts
  • Music
  • Performing Arts
  • Literature

Art therapy is not an art education. It is not a painting or music lesson. It is not psychotherapy.

2- Is it necessary to have talent or an art education in order to participate in art therapy?

No, you do not need to be talented or artistic to receive the benefits. It does not require anatomy or solfege lessons or memorization of Hamlet lines like in art schools. There are professionals that you can work with. Expression of emotions starts the healing process.

3- Can art therapy be applied to children? What benefits does it provide?

In recent years, there has been great interest among educators in the links between art-based learning and education in child development. In recent studies, art therapy has been demonstrated to help with cognitive improvement, and the strengthening of long-term memory and academic skills, including reading ability, creative thinking skills, and writing fluency.

Art makes important contributions to the development of children regardless of cultural differences.

4- What are benefits of art therapy for children:

Physical:

-Improves motor skills,

-Improves kinesthetic skills,

-If it is started before school, it contributes to writing skills. It also contributes to academic success.

-Material learning and usage functions improve.

Cognitive:

-Improves attention, memory and concentration functions.

-Art therapy increases creativity and encourages exploration.

-Art therapy encourages research and improvisation

-Aesthetic and critical view develop

Arithmetic – increases numerical skills. Number concepts and classification are learned as children work with simple collage materials and beads. “Art is not only about emotion, color or aesthetics, but also about creating alternatives and problem solving” (Reyner, 2008). This helps children better understand concepts related to arithmetic.

Social and Emotional:  Allows children to express their thoughts and feelings. It is a communication tool.

– Increases self-awareness and self-confidence.

– Helps children make better decisions.

– Helps children cope with anxiety and stress.

– Sense exercises and staying in the moment teach children to practice calm and increases attention span.

Art therapy is a way to improve the well-being of the child. It enables children to learn to express themselves, resolve conflicts and handle problems in fun ways.

Aims of art and art therapy:  (Also among the goals for children with special needs)

Feeling good: relieving emotional distress such as stress and anxiety. Having good experiences and being happy. Scientific studies say that listening to music and reading books increase happiness hormones in as little as fifteen minutes.

– The possibility of a new language: It gives children autonomy to express themselves. Visuals come into play at the point where verbal expression is insufficient, allowing the unconscious to be conveyed more easily, improving self-expression, self-esteem and self-confidence. This contributes to criticism, feedback and definition.

– Raising creative and innovative multi-faceted individuals: There are many studies suggesting that this approach creates creative and versatile individuals as children learn through play, music and art.

– Getting to know the arts in early childhood has many benefits, and children’s participation in Arts-infused programs and activities will play a major role in their development by improving their cognitive, creative, social and emotional skills.

Art therapy can be used to assist children with a range of issues, including:

Learning difficulties

Emotional problems such as fear or phobias

Development of cognitive abilities

Coping with the challenges of serious illnesses such as cancer

Treatment of mental disorders such as schizophrenia or depression

 Helping physically disabled children to cope with their unique difficulties

Understanding and treating behavioral problems

Death of a family member or friend

Childhood trauma involving physical, mental or sexual abuse

In addition to these challenges, art therapy can help children reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and develop healthy and effective coping skills. Children of all ages, nationalities, races and cultures can benefit from art therapy. Programs are developed around a child’s strengths and abilities. The child can benefit from art therapy even if he has never used paint before.

So what is the process?

The process varies according to the student, age, and art therapist / instructor. In general, we create an art environment for the child with a variety of colourful materials. In this environment, we encourage the child to express himself freely. This depends on the agenda; For example, he may ask the child to draw a house or something they love very much…

After the picture is completed, we ask the child some questions about the picture; what he thinks, feels etc. According to the feedback, the next steps are evaluated in a way that will carry the child forward. Individual or group work is done. Each child naturally receives a different degree of benefit and feedback.

Variables:

  • Scribble Period: observed between the ages of 2-4.
  • Pre-Schema Period: Observed between the ages of 4-7.
  • Schematic Period: Observed between the ages of 7-9 (starting period of primary school).
  • Realism Period: Observed between the ages of 9-12.
  • Visible Naturalism Period: Observed between the ages of 12-14.

 

5- What should parents who want to ensure that their children receive art therapy support consider when trying to find an art therapist in their area?

Art therapy is a very new field… The professions of art therapist or art psychotherapist are just developing. For this reason, if there is an art therapist in the city where they live, only education and experience into need to be considered. If not, it is important to research the experience and training of teachers at art centers or painting courses, with priority given to the following: opportunities for the child to engage in creative art work and to freely work with different materials.

CONCLUSION: Participating in artistic activities has always been very important for children. They learn in many different ways; sensory exercises, physical movements, using motor skills (writing, drawing, etc.). These are all important building blocks. Especially in learning; we mostly learn visually and through our senses.

With the support of art in children, we can raise individuals who are independent, self-confident, make their own decisions able to complete tasks, and able to express themselves independently.

References:

  • CHAVIS, G. (2011). Poetry And Story Therapy: The Healing Power of Creative Expression,Jessica Kingsley, PA, Philadelphia.
  • ELBRECHT, C. (2012). Trauma Healing at the Clay Field, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
  • LIEBMAN, M., and WESTON, S. (2015). Art Therapy with Physical Conditions, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, USA.
  • CLUNIES‐ROSS, C., and LANSDOWN, R. (1988). Concepts of Death, Illness and Isolation Found in Children With Leukaemia, Child: Care, Health and Development, 14, 6, 373-386.
  • KALMANOWITZ, D., & POTASH, J. S. (2010). Ethical Considerations in the Global Teaching and Promotion of Art Therapy to Non-Art Therapists, The Arts in Psychotherapy, 37, 1, 20-26.
  • Shella, T. A. (2018). Art Therapy Improves Mood, And Reduces Pain and Anxiety When Offered at Bedside During Acute Hospital Treatment. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 57, 59-64.