Creative Arts Therapies

Art Therapy

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a unique branch of psychotherapy which involves the use of art materials for self-expression and reflection. Clients utilize a wide array of art media such as paint, charcoal, pastels and clay to create images of personal significance. These images are then discussed and explored in the presence of a trained art therapist. Often, through the exploration of these images, powerful feelings are evoked, and new insights attained.

Who Can Benefit from Art Therapy?

Anyone can benefit from art therapy. One common misconception about art therapy is that advanced artistic skills are required, or that art therapy is only appropriate for children. No previous artistic experience is necessary to benefit from art therapy. Art therapy is founded upon the belief that there is inherent creativity within each of us. Sometimes words are not enough to express complex feelings within. Sometimes individuals have difficulty expressing these feelings verbally. Art therapy can serve as a springboard for the exploration of personal issues which get in the way of living a full and satisfying life.

What are the Benefits of Art Therapy? 

Art Therapy is:

• A non-threatening form of self-expression
• An effective tool for the management of stress and anxiety
• An alternate treatment for less verbal clients
• An effective means for personal growth and exploration
• Provides a more direct link to the emotional centres of the brain
• Provides a concrete record of progress attained in therapy
• Stimulates creativity which can enhance a sense of well being and self-esteem

Drama Therapy

 

Give your body a voice!

Give your emotions a voice!

Give your thoughts a voice!

The National Association for Drama Therapy describes Drama therapy as the “intentional use of drama and/or theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals.”  Founded on the following theories and practices, drama/theatre, psychology, sociology, psychotherapy, anthropology, play, and the creative process, drama therapy is an approach that looks at the positive and functional aspects of individuals rather than focusing on their deficits thereby encouraging participants to in turn nurture a positive sense of self.

This approach is similar to other forms of therapy in that participants can set therapeutic goals, solve problems, and express feelings. However, it is extraordinarily unique in the sense that it also takes into account the creative capacity of each individual participant. Creative expression is thus encouraged as a vehicle for self-exploration – this could include, but is not limited to, techniques such as improvisation, theatrical games, storytelling, and enactment. Drama therapy thus allows for in-depth work with dramatic roles, similar to the roles individuals play on a daily basis (eg. lover, caregiver, wife, husband, boss, etc), thereby affording participants the opportunity to explore the relationships they have with others as well as the relationship they have with themselves. It is in this way that drama therapy helps individuals to expand and enhance the roles they play in their own lives.

Through the use of creativity and more specifically, through the use of one’s body, the therapeutic experience is enriched and integration can be achieved.

Music Therapy

Music Therapy utilizes the therapeutic tools of music and sound to facilitate positive change within clients.  A variety of approaches can be utilized, including music listening, imaging to music, expression and improvisation on a wide variety of instruments, work with the voice, toning, and song-writing.  These approaches are interwoven with verbal discussion, dialogue and reflection.

No previous musical experience or talent is required to fully engage in and benefit from music therapy, and music therapy is widely practiced with adults, contrary to the misconception that it is primarily for children.

Why use music in therapy? Often times, words can take us only so far, whereas music can access feelings that often express more authentic levels of the self that go to the heart or core of an issue.  Music and sound can do this by directly accessing the right brain and the limbic system, thus bypassing the thinking mind, which frequently blocks us from getting in touch with our true feelings.

Engaging in creative processes with music enriches and enlivens the experience of therapy, allowing different aspects of oneself to emerge and be given expression.  Conflicting parts of oneself can clearly be heard through creative expression and dialogue, allowing individuals to come to terms with and integrate different aspects of themselves.  New understandings and insights are a natural result of this process.

 

Who can benefit?

Adults facing:

• Life transitions and adjustment difficulties
• Creative blocks and performance anxiety
• Depression, anxiety/stress
• Illness or grief issues
• Low self-esteem
• Relationship issues
• Identity issues
• Sexual abuse/trauma