Author: Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya

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…

What is the role played by colors in art therapy? Art therapy is the process of understanding your deep-seated emotions through the process of art. It focuses on creating artwork that would help your therapist decipher your deep-rooted emotions and thought processes, specifically those which cannot be explained verbally. This therapy can be used to bring out emotions associated with PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts, stress, anxiety, etc. Painting or sculpting involves colors. The use of different colors in art therapy can provide a huge insight into the person’s deeper emotions and thought processes. Art therapy can have many different forms.…

What is dream journaling in art therapy? The process, the technique and insights… Updated on July 31st, 2021. Art therapy is the process of using art to express deep-seated emotions that are difficult to explain verbally. Art therapy involves various techniques like painting, sculpting, doodling, sketching etc. The purpose of the art therapy is to help people deal with their innermost thoughts and emotions which are difficult to talk about. People mostly use the above-mentioned techniques to showcase what they are feeling and then these creations are analyzed by the art therapist to understand the hinted emotions and stress. Dream…

Art therapy for stress reduction. Does it actually work? Stress has become a huge and dominating part of our day-to-day life. It is one of the world’s largest mental health problems leading to burnout, exhaustion, weak immune system, anxiety and even organ damage. Every day we are hounded by stress of home, stress of workplace, stress of meeting different deadlines etc. Our jobs, our homes, our families are at the moot of our stress. However, there is no way to run or hide from stress. We need to find a way to deal with our stress head-on and survive. The…

Does art therapy for depression work? Is it a myth or a truth? Let’s find out. For a long time now, healing through art has been recognized by artists all around the world. However, recently art therapy for depression is gaining recognition as well. Since art therapy has the potential of creating new modes and avenues for expressing oneself, it can provide invaluable benefits to people who are suffering from severe depressive episodes. Recently, there has been mounting evidence pointing towards a positive outcome in art therapy for depression. Even though artists of all genres have recognized and appreciated the…