Learn 15 simple anxiety art therapy activities that can help reduce anxiety and lower stress. Feel calm instantly! Art Therapy Activities for Adults
"The healthiest form of projection is art" ~ Fritz Perls Here is a popular internet list of art therapy activities originally posted up in 2011 by the Nursing School Blog. I have since taken over the list and I consistently research current links that reflect the most inspiring art therapy...
You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from art therapy activities. Because art therapy activities are specifically designed so that anyone can do them, regardless of their artistic abilities. A…
Get Started With One Of These 12 Calming And Relaxing Mindfulness Art Activities Today. Find The Perfect Way To Express Creativity
De-stress with these easy, creative art therapy techniques.
Art Therapy Activity For Emotional Pain / Self Healing If you are dealing with any emotional pain or trying to heal your inner self, this is for you. Maybe you're dealing with heavy emotions, painful emotions, that have been a consistent presence in your life.
You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from art therapy activities. Because art therapy activities are specifically designed so that anyone can do them, regardless of their artistic abilities. A…
Use this art therapy exercise to help clients practice mindfulness and relaxation through awareness and control of their breathing.
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These ideas for meaningful art therapy projects for kids are fantastic for kids who might be struggling or going through a hard time. Or, just use these ideas to connect with your kids anytime!
I found this cute art therapy activity on Pinterest, from Emerly Arts, and decided to create my own version to share. The exercise can be used during a time of transformation, or just to help make …
"The healthiest form of projection is art" ~ Fritz Perls Here is a popular internet list of art therapy activities originally posted up in 2011 by the Nursing School Blog. I have since taken over the list and I consistently research current links that reflect the most inspiring art therapy...
Are you feeling anxious? Learn how art therapy for anxiety can help you express emotions and connect with others while creating art.
These art therapy for kids projects are a great way to help children deal with trauma, anger, or grief, and as part of therapy for kids with special needs.
Creative arts and support offer chance to break the silence
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." - Pablo Picasso Art therapy is a broad term used to refer to the practice of creating as a way
Learn how reverse coloring can defeat your art block and get you flowing with endless creativity - tips and techniques for all artists
When we engage in the creation of our own art forms, we receive big benefits to our minds, both physically and mentally. When we produce art with our own hands, there is increased neural connectivity in the area of the brain that deals with introspection, memory, and self-monitoring. by Caileigh FlanniganPaint, Sculpt, or Color Your Way to RelaxationIt seems that everyone today has some level of stress in his or her everyday life. Whether it is rooted in work, school, the past, or personal relationships, stress is a huge part of our lives. Stress can have many negative effects on physical and psychological systems. An inability to positively control or manage stress may lead to inappropriate behavior such as alcohol consumption, overeating, or neglecting feelings. It’s important to know that stress can be managed effectively, at very little cost, and in a fun way! Art therapy is a great therapeutic approach that you can use in your daily life to keep your stress levels low and your contentedness high.What is Art Therapy?Art therapy is an approach that involves the creative processes of art to improve one’s life. For example, drawing, coloring, painting, doodling, and sculpting are all examples of art forms that can be used as a means of therapy. Using art as a medium for healing promotes self-exploration, understanding, self-esteem, and awareness. It is a way for a person to improve their mental, emotional, and physical states, as well as their overall health. When you use imagery, colors, shapes, and designs as a part of your therapeutic process, your thoughts and feelings can be expressed through your art, rather than words that are often difficult to articulate to others. This means that you do not have to verbalize how you are feeling.Art therapy can be done in counseling, where you work one-on-one with a trained and certified art therapist. However, the healing potential of art is not only effective in a counseling or psychotherapy setting. Art therapy techniques and approaches can be completed at home, work, or school without a therapist. In some methods of art therapy, you are your own therapist.This is one of the great things about art therapy – you can practice antistress art anywhere! Art can be practiced at work, at home, on the bus, or during any downtime. Rather than stressing out about the next big meeting, you can color or doodle on some paper. You can release negative emotions about your job or personal relationships through artwork. This, in turn, helps overcome the stress, avoids further upset and creates a coping strategy for future stressful times.Who Can Benefit from Art Therapy?You don’t need to be a talented artist to engage in art therapy or to enjoy its benefits. After all, the goal is not to create a masterpiece but to express yourself freely through art; the artistic results are secondary to the emotional benefits. Art therapy improves the lives of many people. It can help people who have been exposed to loss or trauma. It can support people in overcoming addiction and mental health disorders. It has even been used in hospital settings for cancer patients. It’s also a common expressive therapy for children. The great thing about art therapy is that it can help the lives of so many people – even if you do not have a major concern or illness. Art therapy is beneficial to people who experience the stressors of everyday modern life.Have you ever noticed how expressive arts therapy is calming and peaceful? Have you ever come home from a long work day in front of the computer and needed an outlet that wasn’t a screen? Engaging in art techniques can clear the mind, let us put feelings and thoughts onto paper or canvas, and leave us feeling accomplished and calm. It is a great option for people who experience even minor stress or upset in their lives.Your Brain on ArtWhen we engage in the creation of our own art forms, we receive big benefits to our minds, both physically and mentally. When we produce art with our own hands, there is increased neural connectivity in the area of the brain that deals with introspection, memory, and self-monitoring. This means that this area is more active when engaged in producing art. Mentally, we become more psychologically resilient, we have increased positive perspectives, and become more self-aware. This makes us better at coping with future problems, stressors, or events. It is said that the pairing of actually creating the art (motor processing) and thinking about expression (cognitive processing) is what makes art therapy so beneficial.Types of Art Therapy for Different Feelings and EmotionsTo do art therapy, you can either take a nondirected or directed approach. A nondirected approach is flexible, and less structured than a directed approach. For example, you would draw, paint, color, or sculpt without guidelines. A directed approach is more structured in the sense that you choose an art therapy activity that relates to certain feelings and emotions. With either approach, your feelings are expressed, and your stress levels decrease. The benefits of art therapy are provided in both approaches. Here are some examples of art therapy activities related to feelings and emotions that you can try:Emotions:•Paint or draw your emotions. Here, you want to think about how you are feeling and put that feeling into paper, however you see it.•Create an emotion wheel. You’ll want to use lots of color for this activity! Label each emotion with a color that fits for you.•Design a postcard that you will never send. This activity helps with releasing anger in a way that never has to be presented to someone else.•Coloring books for emotions. You can buy, or print, certain coloring pages that were created to release emotions.Happiness•Make a collage related to a quote that speaks to you. Turn words that mean a lot to you and turn it into a visual that is inspiring.•Draw a wild invention. This activity will get your creative juices flowing and will most likely be wild and funny!•Draw animals you love. For some people, animals are a source of love and happiness. Draw the ones that you love the most (your own pet included).•Draw, color, or paint your idea of the perfect day or perfect home. This activity will help you create a visual of spaces and things that feel safe and warm to you.Relaxation•Paint or color while listening to music. When art and music are paired together, our brains and bodies can relax.•Make a mandala. You can either print one off or draw your own – this is a meditative symbol that is relaxing to look at and work with.•Draw something very big! Get out the large pieces of paper or a big cardboard box and get your body moving.•Choose colors that are relaxing and calming to you and only use those. Sometimes certain colors elicit different feelings for us. Choose ones that speak to you.•Draw, paint, or sculpt outdoors. The sights, sounds, and atmosphere of the outdoors, when paired with art, are very relaxing.Trauma and Loss•Create a collage of your worries. Put whatever worries you in your life on paper.•Turn illness into a masterpiece. If you or someone close to you is ill, turn those feelings into something meaningful.•Paint someone you have lost. If you have lost someone close to you, remember him or her and make that special person close to you again.•Draw a safe space. You can refer to your safe space when you need a reminder.Other Types of Art TherapyArt therapy is available in adult coloring books that are affordable, easy, and even portable. It would be best to go look at these books and take a peek inside. Think about which ones elicit different feelings, and choose one that speaks to you and how you are feeling or what you are going through.Another form of art therapy is paint nights. This type of art therapy is done in a group setting and often held at local restaurants and bars. You go with friends and sit with other people who are all painting the same picture. In the end, you see how everyone painted the same picture differently. You can also host your own paint night by gathering up some friends or family and purchasing some paint and canvas. You can designate a specific picture for everyone to draw, or you can leave it up to the group! Art therapy in a group allows for free expression in an environment that is safe and accepting.Art therapy is an easy, affordable, and beneficial way to express feelings, reduce stress, and remind us of the happy things. We are able to put difficult feelings into something visual and meaningful. When we draw, color, or paint, our brains become active and are better at helping us out with any future stressors.Be creative, expressive, and be you through art therapy!***Caileigh is a play practitioner who uses forms of play such as exploring the outdoors and experimenting with loose parts as a way to promote children’s development and emotional healing. She is spreading the word about the importance of childhood development through free play in natural environments.Original Article by PartSelect blogWritten by Caileigh Flannigan1.http://intuitivecreativity.typepad.com/expressiveartinspirations/100-art-therapy-exercises.html2.http://www.canadianarttherapy.org/3.http://www.arttherapyblog.com4.http://intuitivecreativity.typepad.com/expressiveartinspirations/100-art-therapy-exercises.html5.https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/psychological-benefits-of-art-therapy/6.https://mic.com/articles/106504/science-shows-that-art-is-having-fantastic-effects-on-our-brains-and-bodies#.f3SAZDswV7.http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0101035Readers may also likeThe value of Art Therapy for those on the Autism
Learn 15 simple anxiety art therapy activities that can help reduce anxiety and lower stress. Feel calm instantly! Art Therapy Activities for Adults
I have been thinking about trust lately and playing around with it in my art…I have been noticing all the ways that I experience trust. It really is one of the most indescribable feelings, or rather senses, that we have. As I experience trust I have been trying to notice if there a part of myself that isn’t being used to experience it. It seems that my body, mind, feelings and spirit (really everything!) come together to create a knowing that I then label with this word trust, but it really is s
Wondering whether to invest in senior art therapy? Here are 8 benefits of art therapy for the elderly, which also help senior caregivers.
Art therapy activities for relaxation will help you change the mood from stressed and hectic to calm and relaxed. Knowing how to de-stress and relax is an essential skill for a healthy life. These …
Editor's Note: We're happy to welcome Cassia Cogger to the Dear Handmade Life blog. We love Cassia's philosophy that art happens anywhere! Below she shares three artful self-care exercises to help you connect with yourself and relax through art. The instructions are loose and are meant to be a jumping off point. Take the pressure off
