Author: Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya

An in-depth guide to art therapy for newbies If you’re here, you have probably heard about art therapy and you want to try it out. However, you do not know where to start. If that is the case, then you have come to the right place. This is a detailed guide to art therapy. Let’s begin with a small discussion about what is art therapy. What is art therapy? In the most basic form, art therapy can be defined as a way in which one can use his or her creativity to express their emotions and work through their feelings.…

Art therapy can help war veterans get back to normal life Art therapy is known to help patients suffering from depression, post traumatic stress disorder, learning as well as eating disorders. Off late art therapy is being used to help soldiers retiring from the war zone. Military personnel often suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries resulting in unresolved symptoms for a prolonged period of time. This article primarily focuses on the effects of art therapy on military servicemen who suffer from past traumatic stress disorders and comorbid brain injuries. However, to understand the effects of art…

Art therapy for pain management has the potential to reduce your experience and perception of pain. Art therapy is known to all. It is impossible to not have experienced art as a kid. All of us have probably made thousands of doodles, drawings, and paintings as a child. The experience of making or creating art was always a fun-filled and joyful experience. As is proven by the current research, art can be a powerful therapeutic tool for adults as well. From elevating stress to understanding deep-rooted emotions, the latest feather in art therapy’s cap is art therapy for pain management.…

Doodling as art therapy can make you lead a more meaningful and mindful life The art of doodling refers to the making of unfocused or unconscious drawings when the person is otherwise occupied. Everyone engages in doodling. Most people resort to doodling as a means of escaping the boredom of everyday life, like when attending a boring lecture for reading at an airport gate or as a means to pass the time during a meeting. Doodling as art therapy is often self-soothing to the person. All doodlers have a specific pattern they return to again and again just because it…

I discussed a brief history of art therapy in part one, now continuing with the rest… Development of the art therapy literature: The evolution and history of art therapy literature can be traced throughout the evolution. Art therapy growth can be divided into three phases. Let’s do a deep dive and explore all three. A brief history of art therapy, part I Classical period in the history of art therapy: In the midst of 20th century, many psychologists started to use the term ‘art therapy’ in their writings to expand their work with their clients. Since around this time, there…

Let’s understand the origination and history of art therapy Art is the most powerful communication tool of all. It is now acknowledged by most that art expression is a manner to visually communicate those feelings or thoughts of a person that are too painful to be put into words. Creative activity is not only used for the purpose of exhibition. It is also used due to its inherent ability to appeal to people belonging to all ages and allow them to explore their beliefs and emotions, resolve conflicts and problems, reduce stress, and enhance the overall feeling of well-being. Art…

Mindfulness-based art therapy is the most promising of all art therapy encompasses the benefits of art therapy as well as mindfulness Art therapy is using the techniques of art to understand the thought processes and deep-rooted feelings of a person. Art therapy is for everyone. One does not need to have an artistic inclination to be part of or enjoy the benefits of art therapy. Art therapy most often uses techniques like painting, drawing, coloring, sculpting, dancing as well as writing to understand and make sense of the emotional turmoil in the person seeking mental well-being. Recently there is a…

Sculpting based art therapy has shown to have positive effects on dementia. Is there any scientific proof of this? If you have been a regular reader of my blog, you would know by now, that I am a strict believer of art therapy. I believe art therapy can not only help you with your everyday stress, depression, anxiety, anger management, it can also help you understand your inner thought processes and deep-rooted feelings which are difficult to explain verbally. In my previous posts, I have discussed the role of painting in art therapy. In this post, I talk about sculpting based…

Let’s look into the benefits of art therapy Updated on July 31st, 2021 Art therapy is the use of artistic methods for the treatment of psychological disorders as well as to enhance the mental health of the person. The idea behind art therapy is that creative ways of expressing oneself can cause healing as well as improve the mental well-being of the person. There are numerous benefits of art therapy for people who are suffering from mental health issues. To experience art therapy, you do not have to be an artist. One of the benefits of art therapy is…

Painting is a wonderful art form. But what is the role of painting as art therapy? Art therapy aims at bringing out the deep-seated emotions and feelings which are difficult to express verbally in the form of art. Painting has been observed to be an intricate part of the art therapy process. Psychologists use the technique of painting to understand the thought processes and the feelings which their patients might be going through. Painting and also be used as a medium of self-expression. You do not need to go to a therapist to understand the meaning behind your painting. The…