Moreover, art therapy could also intervene in treating people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD involves a pattern of symptoms that some individuals develop after experiencing a traumatic event such as sexual assault. These symptoms may include repeated thoughts of assault; memories and nightmares; avoidance of thoughts, feelings, and situations related to the assault; and increased arousal (“PTSD”, [online]).
One important aspect of Art Therapy is the creation of a safe space where these traumatic feelings can be processed, and sometimes the verbal skill is lacking to describe traumatic experiences and by creating art, the person feel more confident (“Art Therapy”, [online]). Some focused on the imagery processes in PTSD and a framework for treatment. Research has found that traumatic experiences are encoded in non-verbal imagery and that it is often difficult to verbalize the experiences because traumatic experiences have been found to be encoded in non-verbal imagery pathways of the mind. These images show up in both dreams and artwork.
Survivors of sexual assaults and abused children use art therapy for recovery. Both experienced misuse and domestic abuse. Art therapy served as a way to get over of traumatic events and experiences of a person with disturbed personality or mentality.
Art therapy has been used in helping those who are experiencing trauma, self abuse or sexual abuse and other traumatic event that leads them in having psychological problems. Even though art therapy is known for this, the researchers like to point out that art therapy is also beneficial to ordinary people.
Anyone can take art therapy. Art therapy is beneficial for many different types of people from all age ranges (“Art Therapy”, [online]). This means a person who wishes to reduce stress and improve upon relationships and self-esteem can undergo art therapy. A person does not need to be a skilled artist to take art therapy, meaning no talent is required. It is through the artistic process that one can express himself freely.
People who are experiencing stress and depression are still normal so they may not be labeled as psychologically disturb people. According to Carson, the term stress has typically been used to refer both to the adjustive demands placed on an organism and the organisms' internal biological and psychological responses to such demands (2000, p. 120). Nan Little stresses out in her article that the creative process is a great way to reduce the effect of stress. Art therapy can help a person determine the source of their stress so that they are better able to cope with the stressor or, in some cases, eliminate it completely (Art Therapy and Stress, 2006 [online]). The act of making or creating a work of art can help the person feel calm and it has a soothing effect on the body's stress response. An individual may forget all the stressors he has when his concentration is focused on painting, drawing or even sculpting. This means that through creating art and reflecting on the art process and product, people can better cope with stress.
Carson then defined depression as a mood which involves feeling of extraordinary sadness and dejection (2000, p. 210). Depression can either be normal or a disorder but the depression that is mostly experienced by ordinary people is a normal depression which is almost always the result of recent stress. This depression is mainly caused of loss of a loved one, favored status or position, financial loss or breakup of a romantic relationship (2000, p. 213).
Nan Little also focused on Art Therapy and depression. She stated that depression has been defined by some as anger turned inward. Art can help depressed individual discover their anger and express it in a healthy way. Art therapy has been used with suicidal teenagers and results showed that it had positive effects as part of an overall treatment plan (Art Therapy and Depression, 2006, [online]). Depression is still normal to people but when this depression became a major depression, this will lead to a suicidal tendency. This is when art therapy goes in action. Guilt, worthlessness and hopelessness are all emotions that can cause depression, and the creative process can help a person cope up with this emotions.
Art therapy is also beneficial to ordinary people who want to increase self-esteem and cognitive abilities (Benefits of Art Therapy, [online]). It is even used to help develop social skills. It can be beneficial not just to those who suffer from mental disorders or emotional abuse but it can assist those who are shy and withdrawn. As stated above, art therapy can help an individual achieve self-discovery and personal fulfillment.
Overall, Art Therapy can aid one to improve the quality of life and help improve his/her well-being on both physical and emotional levels (“Benefits of Art Therapy”, [online]). Art Therapy that rests on the position of art making in accessing and expressing meaningful self and social constructs encourages integration of feeling, cognition and sensation, which create new understanding. The connotation that art therapy is only for psychologically disturbed people was proved wrong because this kind of therapy could also be used in relieving stress and depression to ordinary people. It must be remembered that there is no right or wrong interpretation in art therapy because it is you yourself who will interpret what you've made. People must even encourage their peers and the people around them to use art therapy so they can gain benefits and help themselves out.
