Art is a natural mood stabilizer and can help adults, teens and children to recover from a variety of mental health disorders.
Art, as a learned coping skill can be an excellent therapy for many mental health difficulties. It can be an effective method for children to develop self respect and can be of value in behavioral health applications for young people.
Art therapy is a professional therapy practiced by board certified therapists, who use art in conjunction with psychological therapy to help those with mental health disorders to recover, as well as to heal from wounds from the past and present.
Both art as a self help tool, and art therapy can be an significant part of the healing process in many disorders as:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD),
Bipolar-Disorder,
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),
Schizophrenia and similar disorders,
Autism Spectrum Disorders,
Borderline Personality Disorder,
Depression,
Eating Disorders,
Substance Abuse.
Stated briefly, for those suffering with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, artand art as a professional therapy can help many with of OCD to balance. It, then can be an effective part of professional and self help therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). For persons with Bipolar Disorder (BD), both art and professional art therapy can be of much help for both children teens and adults to balance mood swings. Art can be a type of natural mood stabilizer. Art and arts therapy can be an effective part of therapy for those with schizophrenia. When considered in a professional context it can be a way to help those who display the symptoms of schizophrenia to open up and express themselves. It can be used when youth or young adults might have a difficult time opening up to a psychiatrist of psychologist.
Both art and art as a professional therapy have been used effectively to help children with autism. One art teacher in Paterson, New Jersey feels that teaching children with autism spectrum disorders art in his summer programs has helped many of them to develop better focus and self-esteem. One of his students showed much improvement and went on to hold a full-time job. Art was part of what helped some of these autistic children.
Many who have suffered from being abused as children, art and arts therapy can be an essential part of recovery. Art self help and art therapy can help those suffering from depression to get away from depressing or violent news content, which is common on the television, as well as to avoid other programming, which can be part of the reason for the development of symptoms of depression. Additionally, by engaging in art, and seeing the work of one’s hands, what one created through his imagination and will, it helps most who who are experiencing symptoms associated with mental health disorders to develop feelings of self worth.
This article was produced by John Samuels of the Association for Natural Psychology. Please also visit our bookstore. Natural psychology, self help for treatment of mental health disorders, natural cures of mental health disorders, depression treatment without drugs, positive parenting, raising and teaching special needs children, and a variety of related subjects are considered. You can also see our new book,
Overcoming ADHD without Medication: A Parent’s and Educator’s Guidebook on Amazon, Alibris and other online locations. The Association for Natural Psychology is a New Jersey non-profit corporation.
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