Healing with Art for Beginners

 

You may have heard of Art Therapy – a type of psychotherapy that encourages the expression of emotions through artistic activities, such as painting, drawing, or sculpture. This psychotherapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing (dictionary.com).

Art can be an excellent tool for healing, beyond just as a means for creative self-expression. Replacing old, unhealthy activities/behaviors with new, healthy ones, keeping busy, distracting, exploring to find your passions, and achieving mindfulness are just a few ways getting creative can heal and enhance your life.

The best part is, you don’t need to be a creative genius to benefit from art! If you are a beginner or seasoned professional who is overwhelmed by the thought of starting a new project or finishing up old ones, here are a few activity suggestions to help you get going:

Develop appreciation: Surround yourself with imagery that makes you feel good. Immerse yourself at a museum, try going both alone and with others to get different experiences. Attend a craft, thrift, or antique show. Collect art clips that “speak to you” online, such as on Instagram or Pinterest. Display posters, photos, or art in your living space.

Start small: Create an inspiration board with magazine clippings, printouts, photos, stickers, and/or scrapbook supplies. Experiment with paint by numbers or coloring books. Color outside the lines, break the rules, color the sky green and the grass blue, experiment with different mediums such as pencil, marker, crayons, or a combination of mediums. Scribble all over the page.

Maintain perseverance: If you are feeling more confident, invest in some good quality supplies and set up a space to practice and work. If you are already a seasoned artist, cleaning up your old supplies and work space can get the creative juices flowing again. Take a class, or attend a meetup with other artists. Once you have a few pieces under your belt, you could start your own blog, website, or online store to display your work.

As an Independent Living Specialist at OPI, I see our participants utilizing art in a variety of ways. At the moment, we offer an art psychotherapy group, a few clubs (like art club and beading club), as well as creative outings (like Color Me Mine and The Getty Museum). Some participants even sign up for college courses in drawing, architecture, or graphic design through our education or activities departments. The options are unlimited.

by Beth Pfeiffer (Elizabeth Ricciardi),
Independent Living Specialist

 

For more information on OPI’s residential and intensive outpatient (IOP Day Treatment) programs and our measures to help young adults overcome anxiety related Failure to Launch issues, call us at (888)-814-5985 or click HERE to submit an online form. We want to help and will be in touch promptly.