It can help enrich the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Art therapy is a type of experiential therapy that utilizes the creative process and a variety of mediums to help clients heal. While additional studies are needed to examine art therapy and substance use disorders (SUDs), there appears to be a correlation between a mind-body-spirit (holistic) approach to treatment and relapse prevention. Art therapy is an exciting and growing option for SUD treatment. In particular, numerous studies have explored college students’ ability to regulate emotions and how this ability affects substance use.

Once sober, many people find it difficult to fill all the hours they used to spend seeking and using drugs or alcohol. Denial is a characteristic of addiction. Many people lose touch with their true selves when their primary relationship is with drugs or alcohol.

How Is Art Therapy Used in Addiction Treatment?

Glue the phrases onto the cardboard to create a collage of positive, self-healing words. This project can also promote mindfulness and introspection. Metaphorically, the house represented a patients life of addiction. Without that art project, the lesson and the realizations may have come much more slowly. There are more ways than I list here for one to express themselves since “art” is a broad term and can be used to describe all manner of expression.

Art therapy, as a non-pharmacological medical complementary and alternative therapy, has been used as one of medical interventions with good clinical effects on mental disorders. However, systematically reviewed in detail in clinical situations is lacking. Here, we searched on PubMed for art therapy in an attempt to explore its theoretical basis, art therapy for addiction ideas clinical applications, and future perspectives to summary its global pictures. Since drawings and paintings have been historically recognized as a useful part of therapeutic processes in art therapy, we focused on studies of art therapy which mainly includes painting and drawing as media. As a result, a total of 413 literature were identified.

Benefits of Art for Recovery

This can help them gain insight into their addiction and the factors that contribute to it. Art therapy can have a beneficial, transformative, even revelatory effect on patients seeking help for behavioral health concerns. Try incorporating some of these concepts into your own practice to see the good and healing it can bring. If you are struggling with addiction, it may seem like there is no end to it. Drug rehab in Payson will make addiction recovery possible for you.