Art Therapy

Some individuals with mental health disorders benefit from alternative medicine in addition to evidence-based treatments. Art therapy is commonly used to help individuals gain self-awareness, improve emotional stability, and increase the effectiveness of evidence-based treatment programs. According to Cureus, “Art therapy can help people express themselves more freely, improve their mental health, and improve interpersonal relationships.” Wisconsin Wellness provides art therapy and other holistic services to individuals and families struggling to manage mental health conditions. Art therapy is used alongside psychotherapy and other modalities to improve mental health and a client’s overall well-being. 

What Is Art Therapy?

Individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders benefit from participating in evidence-based and alternative holistic therapies, including art therapy. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, “Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.” Clinicians use art therapy and other treatment services to assist clients in healing from the symptoms and side effects of mental health disorders and chronic illness. 

Art therapy utilizes various artistic mediums, including: 

• Drawing 
• Painting 
• Sculpting 
• Paper craft 
• Collage
• Photography 
• Recorded art 

A therapist can tailor art therapy sessions to incorporate different forms of art a client enjoys or connects with on a deeper level. According to the What Is Art Therapy page on the Art Therapy Credentials Board website, “Art therapy uses art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork as a therapeutic and healing process.” The medium is less important than how the client feels when using it. Clients and clinicians collaborate to create a personalized art therapy experience. 

Elevate Your Mood With Transformative Art Sessions

Art therapy has many potential benefits, including increased mood and emotional stability. Clients gain insights and self-awareness by discovering connections between their internal and external experiences. Art therapy allows people to explore the subconscious links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. According to the previously mentioned page on the Art Therapy Credentials Board website, “A key goal in art therapy is to improve or restore the client’s functioning and his/her sense of personal well being.” 

People transform how they think about themselves, their condition, and others by reframing their experiences through visual arts. Art therapy is cathartic and gives people a sense of freedom to explore various aspects of themselves that they may typically suppress or avoid. Many clients who participate in art therapy use the skills and insights they learn to manage their condition long after they complete treatment.

Tailored Art Therapy Enhances the Effectiveness of Traditional Treatments

Wisconsin Wellness prioritizes a whole-person approach to treatment, guiding clients through personal growth and skill development. Art therapy is an excellent tool for increasing the effectiveness of individual therapy, support groups, and other treatments. Clinicians can easily tailor art therapy to address each client’s unique needs and preferences. 

According to the 2023 Michigan State University page The Benefits Art Therapy Can Have on Mental and Physical Health, “The advantages of art therapy are numerous and have been found to:

• Alleviate pain symptoms.
• Reduce stress.
• Enhance the quality of life [. . .]
• Improve ability to cope with pain and other distressing symptoms in children with cancer.
• Reduce stress and anxiety in children with asthma.
• Stimulate mental function in older adults with dementia.
• Diminish depression in [individuals with] Parkinsons.”

Art therapy is a holistic treatment that supports people on their healing journey. 

Navigate Life’s Challenges With Guided Artistic Expression

Guided artistic expression motivates, inspires, and uplifts people living with mental and physical health disorders. According to the Mission page on the official American Art Therapy Association website, “Art therapy is a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.” Art is a nonverbal language people use to express themselves and communicate feelings, thoughts, needs, beliefs, and ideas with others. Incorporating art into therapeutic practice allows clients to gain essential insights into their condition. 

Art therapy supports positive mental health by doing the following: 

• Providing people with a safe space to express complex, taboo, or traumatic thoughts and feelings
• Ensuring people in recovery have a place they feel comfortable expressing all aspects of themselves 
• Offering a holistic approach to treatment for individuals with chronic health disorders

Anyone can use art therapy to improve self-awareness and navigate challenges in treatment or long-term recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Art Therapy in Wisconsin

Art therapy is a popular service provided by many mental health treatment programs. Wisconsin Wellness offers art therapy as part of every level of care. However, despite its popularity, many people are unfamiliar with what to expect from art therapy sessions. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about art therapy. 

What Are Visual Arts?

According to the U.S. Copyright Office, “Works of the visual arts include a wide variety of pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, as well as architectural works.” People participating in art therapy often create photographs, paintings, sketches, sculptures, and other forms of visual art. Any visual art can be used in art therapy to facilitate self-expression and explore various themes or ideas. 

People often benefit most from mediums where they physically engage with the materials. For example, some people get more emotional relief from working with paint on canvas than from digital painting. Different areas of the brain are used when people physically interact with art materials, allowing them to process thoughts or feelings in a new way. Individuals often use art therapy with other artistic forms of self-expression, including music therapy or dance therapy.

What Modalities Are Used in Art Therapy?

Therapists may incorporate multiple clinical modalities into their art therapy sessions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common clinical modality used in art therapy. 

Some other modalities used to enhance the creative aspects of art therapy include:

• Psychodynamic therapy
• Experiential therapy 
• Cognitive therapy
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Exposure therapy
• Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)

Art therapy is highly flexible, allowing the client and clinician to collaborate and determine which approach to treatment will provide the best outcomes. The expressiveness and personalization of art therapy make it a helpful tool for enhancing the effectiveness of other treatments. 

What If I’m Not Creative Enough for Art Therapy?

Art therapy focuses on self-expression and not creativity. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do art therapy. Creativity is a skill, and everyone has creative potential. People do not need to be creative to benefit from art therapy. Clinicians guide clients through expressing themselves and their internal experiences using external artistic mediums. The art is often only shared with the therapist and loved ones. However, some people choose to display their art to peers or the public as a way to connect with others. A lack of creativity does not reduce the effectiveness of therapy sessions.

Is Art Therapy Just for Children?

Many people think of art therapy as something used to engage children. However, art therapy is helpful for all age groups. Anyone can benefit from participating in art therapy sessions. In some cases, art therapy is used to address age-related mental or physical conditions in older adults. According to Frontiers in Psychology, “Artistic and expressive group activities appear to stimulate socialization, which, in turn, mitigates the perception of loneliness and depressive symptoms, when present” in older adults. Children, adults, and older adults participate in art therapy to address symptoms of mental and physical health disorders. 

What Conditions Are Treated With Art Therapy?

Art therapy reduces stress, improves emotional stability, and decreases mental health symptoms. Stabilizing moods and emotions can help people manage their condition more effectively and improve their quality of life. According to the Mental Illness Journal, “Art therapy aids patients with, but not limited to, chronic illness, physical challenges, and cancer in both pediatric and adult scenarios.”

Some of the conditions treated using art therapy include:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Dementia
• Schizophrenia
• Chronic stress
• Major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Substance abuse
• Dual diagnosis
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Type 2 diabetes 
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Chronic pain

Palliative care and other services may also utilize aspects of art therapy. Engaging with art lowers blood pressure and improves overall health for people in treatment. Many individuals have multiple co-occurring conditions. Art therapy sessions can provide relief for symptoms related to all active disorders. 

How Can I Find Art Therapy in Wisconsin?

Some people may live in areas with limited access to art therapy and other complementary treatments. Wisconsin Wellness offers art therapy to individuals participating in treatment. Case managers and the clinical team also provide referrals and aftercare planning to ensure clients and people in the community can access essential support services, including art therapy, whenever they need it most. 

The following may offer art therapy:

• Psychotherapists
• Psychiatrists
• Counselors
• Self-help groups

Art therapy may be used to enhance treatment services, including:

• Psychotherapy
• Family therapy
• Support groups
• Group therapy
• Stress management
• Alternative medicine 

Individuals can locate professionals offering art therapy sessions in and around Appleton, Wisconsin, by contacting local clinics and therapy offices or checking online therapy directories. Healthcare providers and some insurance companies offer referrals and information on community-based resources in Wisconsin. A hospital may also provide art therapy sessions for individuals struggling with acute or chronic health conditions, including cancer. Wisconsin Wellness can direct individuals to treatment services in their area.

Is Art Therapy Evidence-Based?

Art therapy has been used for decades to treat mental health symptoms. However, research is still needed to determine the effectiveness of art therapy on certain conditions. According to one review of the research data, “There was a lack of evidence comparing art therapy with other treatment options; therefore, we are unable to make comparisons regarding the acceptability of art therapy compared with other potential treatments participants might be offered.” Despite a lack of scientific support, anecdotal evidence accumulated over the last 50 years has proven the effectiveness of art therapy in treating a wide range of disorders. 

Art therapy provides people with a safe space to explore self-expression and gain self-awareness. Wisconsin Wellness offers art therapy to clients experiencing mental health symptoms or disorders. To learn more about our programs and services, call us today at (920) 404-2100.