At first glance, it might seem that art and addiction don’t have much to do with one another. We understand that, but art therapy is one of the holistic treatments we offer at Alpine Recovery Lodge.
When people hear that we offer art therapy to our patients, they have a lot of questions. They want to know what it is, how it works, and whether it can help people struggling with addiction.
Art therapy is sometimes misunderstood, so let’s begin with a definition. Specifically, art therapy is a form of therapy in which clients use art, the creative process, and the artwork they create to express and explore their emotions.
The forms of art used may include drawing, painting, and sculpture. Typically, art therapists have a broad knowledge of visual art and creativity, as well as training in therapy. The goal of art therapy is to use art to enhance more traditional therapeutic techniques.
Art therapy may be practiced in hospitals, wellness centers, crisis centers, private practices, and in rehabilitation facilities like Alpine Recovery Lodge. It can be very effective at treating addiction, trauma, and mental health problems like depression.
Qualified art therapists have a master’s degree. Professional standards are set and maintained by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA).
One question we get asked frequently is “What happens in an art therapy session?” That’s a good question to ask.
The short answer is that the art therapist will work with the patient, helping them learn about their creative process and create artwork. The focus is more on the process than on the finished product.
Because art therapists have training in both the visual arts and therapy, they guide the patients to use certain media that may help them express their emotions. For example, working with watercolors may be frustrating for some patients because they’re wet and can be difficult to control. A patient who struggles with anxiety may prefer something easier to control like colored pencils.
The specific form of an art therapy session may vary depending on the art therapist and the patient. Here are some specific things that the sessions may do:
The art therapist will direct the patient, introducing them to new concepts and media, and encouraging their use as a means of self-expression.
Now, let’s talk about some of the specific things that art therapy can do to help patients overcome addiction. There are four key things that art therapy can do.
Personal integration refers to a patient being able to express their emotions in a natural, honest, and healthy way. It’s strongly linked to self-image and confidence. Expressing their feelings through art helps recovering addicts address their emotions and bring them together into a coherent self-image – something that can be difficult to do with words.
It’s common for people who struggle with addiction to have a difficult time regulating their emotional responses. They may be prone to dramatic outbursts, particularly when they feel threatened or ashamed.
This behavior is also linked to poor impulse control – something that leads to addiction. Art expression can help patients learn to modulate their emotional responses and learn to view them as an experience instead of something that’s beyond their control.
It can be very difficult for addicts to see themselves and others clearly. They may struggle with shame and that can cause a disconnect between the reality of who they are and how they perceive themselves.
Art therapy can help them stay in the present moment without getting distracted by anxiety, regret, and worry. Patients learn to identify their emotional responses to their own thoughts and other people. Over time, this art-induced mindfulness can be an important skill to prevent relapse.
Addiction is, at its core, behavior. For that reason, behavioral change is at the heart of any addiction treatment. It’s not easy to change the way we behave even if we don’t have a problem with substance abuse.
Art therapy can drive behavioral change because it is self-directed. While the art therapist provides guidance to the patient, ultimately, the decision of what to create and how to create it is for the patient to make.
Another way of looking at it is that art therapy gives patients a new outlet for their negative emotions and struggles. Instead of turning to their substance of choice, they can turn to artwork as a way of expressing themselves and coping with their emotions.
So far, we’ve addressed some of the biggest questions you might have about art therapy. However, there are a few other things that we get asked by incoming patients and their loved ones. Let’s address those now.
No. The only training required is on the part of the therapist. Art therapists can work with patients who have no art experience at all and help them learn to explore the creative process and express their emotions through art.
The types of art a patient makes may vary depending on the therapist and the patient’s personal preferences. Here are some examples:
The therapist can help the patient choose the best media and projects to express themselves and accelerate the healing process.
Therapists do not critique their patients’ work. They work with their patients to interpret the art they create in an emotional framework. The insights gained through interpretation are then used to help the patient cope with negative emotions and memories as they relate to addiction.
Patients may choose to keep any or all the art they create in art therapy sessions. Some patients prefer to leave their creations with the therapist. It’s a personal choice.
The art created in your art therapy sessions is protected by patient confidentiality just as anything you tell your therapist would be. Your therapist may not and will not share it with anybody else.
A patient may, of course, opt to share their artwork with the people in their lives. That’s their choice, but the therapist does not have the right to share their patients’ artwork with outsiders.
Artistic expression is deeply personal. As such, it can provide therapists and patients with insights into the patient’s emotional state – and point the way to healing.
Alpine Recovery Lodge
