What art therapy for adults is capable of. The main methods of treatment with art. The most effective art therapy techniques and exercises. Art therapy literally means art therapy. This method of psychotherapy is actively used in the treatment of psychological and somatic problems. Initially, the visual arts were used as a healing tool. Today, this method has been supplemented with other types of creativity: music, photography, modeling, literary creativity, dancing, acting, etc.
Tasks and functions of art therapy for adults
The main task of art therapy is to teach self-knowledge and self-expression in order to achieve a harmonious state of personality. The main method is sublimation, that is, the transfer of internal conflicts, tensions into a form more acceptable to society. In our case, to creativity.
Modern art therapy is capable of performing several functions at once:
- self-expression;
- stress relief;
- increased self-esteem;
- harmonization of the inner world;
- personal development;
- normalization of relations in society;
- awareness of psychological problems.
This method of psychotherapy helps to see and release negative emotions, inner experiences in a civilized manner, without prejudice to the people and things around. It allows you to survive and change them, thereby removing the burden of a difficult life situation and making life easier. In other words, creativity in tandem with psychological tricks bypasses the "censorship" of the left brain, which controls our words. And all fears, complexes and clamps come to the surface - on a sheet of paper, in dance movements, in the form of a sculpture, etc.
Using seemingly simple techniques, art therapy, imperceptibly for the patient, conducts diagnostics of his mental and physical condition, treats identified problems and simply brings a lot of pleasure. It is based on the effect of spontaneity, like any kind of creativity. But does not require special talents or abilities.
Art therapy can be called one of the safest, most versatile and enjoyable methods of psychotherapy, successfully applied to patients of all ages.
Basic techniques of art therapy for adults
As already mentioned, the main feature of art therapy for adults is spontaneity and the absence of requirements for the presence of abilities or talents. It is in this case, when the patient does not focus on how beautifully and professionally he creates (draws, composes a poem or a fairy tale, dances or sculpts), he is able to reflect his true inner "I" in the created image.
Modern art therapy treatment includes two main methods:
- Using a person's creative and creative abilities to identify, recreate and resolve a traumatic situation;
- Converting the negative impact of affect into a positive one, based on the nature of the aesthetic reaction.
Psychocorrection using creativity can be done in several ways. For example, work with a patient according to a certain scheme. In this case, a certain task is set before the person - to create a drawing (hand-made article) according to a certain template on a given topic. Here, attention is paid to the combination and brightness of colors, shapes and nuances in the execution of details.
Another way to conduct art therapy is to communicate “on free topics”. It assumes a free choice of topic, material, plot and tools for self-expression. At the end of such a lesson, it is the criteria for choosing the patient and the manner of performing the task that are to be evaluated.
It is noteworthy that it is possible to correct your inner state through creativity without the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist. Moreover, there is a clear position that art therapy is an "insight-oriented technique." That is, a technique through which a person must find his own problem. Therefore, if you decide to heal your soul in the art style yourself, remember a few truths:
- Do not hesitate or try to paint (sculpt, dance, compose) beautifully. The process itself is important - to draw, dance, mold your stress, fear or discomfort.
- It’s okay if you don’t deal with your creation right away - understanding the problem does not always come immediately. Therefore, it is better to preserve the results of your healing creativity and periodically review it - from different angles and in different moods. According to the dogmas of art therapy, sooner or later you will surely see both the problem itself and its roots.
- Art therapy is effective even when you do not fully understand its essence and mechanism of action. It heals "in fact", already in the process of how you create.
Varieties of art therapy for adults
Today, there are the following types of art therapy: isotherapy (drawing treatment), game therapy, music therapy, duns therapy (dance therapy), fairy tale therapy, sand therapy, phototherapy, color therapy, video therapy, multi-therapy, mask therapy, drama therapy (theater art therapy), bibliotherapy (treatment with books). In addition, creative treatment can take place actively (through self-creation of creations) and passively (using works already created by someone). It can be done independently, individually or in a group.
Isotherapy
Isotherapy involves the correction of the psychosomatic state using the visual arts. Most often - drawing. This is the most common method of art therapy, which is based on the dependence of the color design of the creation on the emotional state of its creator. So, the predominance of bright juicy colors in the drawing is interpreted as a positive creative self-expression, pastel colors - as a sign of a subtle and sensitive mental organization.
There are some tips for the success of isotherapy:
- In a state of aggression, anger, irritability, give preference to modeling - it copes better with strong negative emotions.
- Composing collages is also used as an art therapy technique, but it is better to use it already at the final stage of classes. Leave all the "black" work to the drawings.
- Provide yourself with a wide range of colors.
- The choice of the tool for creation is up to you. These can be felt-tip pens, pencils, pens, but it is better to give preference to paints. It is believed that working with a plastic brush gives more freedom and liberation. Such effects are especially important at the beginning of therapy.
- Leave aside the desire to draw beautifully and correctly - do not use rulers, compasses, etc. for this. Everything should be drawn by hand.
- As an object of creation, you can choose both already existing program drawings (archetypes), and create your own individual projects.
Music therapy
The effect of the active influence of music on the human body was noticed back in the 19th century. The conductor of this effect was precisely the emotions caused by listening to a particular piece of music.
The impact of music occurs through several mechanisms:
- Sound vibrations stimulate metabolic processes and can change some physiological parameters (motor function, respiratory, cardiovascular).
- Associative connections caused by the perception or performance of music affect the mental state of a person.
There are several types of music therapy: passive (listening to music) and active (singing, performing music, dancing).
The main stages of music therapy:
- Adjustment … At this stage, a melody (song) is selected that matches the mood.
- Maintaining … The next piece of music should gently and imperceptibly neutralize the feelings revealed by the first melody. That is, to inspire hope, to comfort.
- Anchoring … The third melody is a consolidator of a positive effect - to give confidence in one's abilities, to instill firmness of mind.
Recently, karaoke is gaining popularity, which is very actively used in Japan as a way to relieve stress. There are even special centers equipped with many of the most comfortable individual cabins made of noise-absorbing material and "stuffed" with appropriate equipment.
However, the primacy in terms of the effectiveness of the impact on the human psyche still belongs to classical music. Only she is capable of not giving the effect of satiety.
So, in case of depression, it is recommended to listen to Mozart's Requiem, the Introduction to Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony, or Grieg's Death. For anxiety - Strauss waltzes, preludes and Chopin's mazurkas. To remove aggressiveness - "Sentimental Waltz" by Tchaikovsky, "Impulse" by Schumann or "Italian Concert" by Bach. For cheerfulness - "Adelita" Purcell or "Chardash" Monti, for relaxation - "The Seasons" by Tchaikovsky ("June. Barcarole"), "Old Song" or "Pastoral" by Meringue.
Of course, you yourself can compose your own individual list of musical compositions for any mood. And not necessarily a classic - the main thing is for you to feel that it has a positive impact.
Important! Music itself is magic that can heal the soul. However, from the point of view of psychology, the greatest effect can be achieved not so much from listening to it as from performing.
Phototherapy
Correction of a person's mental state with the help of photography is one of the modern methods of psychotherapy that can solve many psychological problems, develop and harmonize the personality. For this, both ready-made pictures and specially created photos can be used.
The method is based on the work of the psychologist with the patient in the context of his perception of the photograph: emotional background, attachment to details, the time when it was taken. This can be a photo of the patient himself or clippings prepared in advance by a specialist, magazines, collages.
The first help to identify the problem in relationships within the family, the role in it and hidden grievances, unspoken emotions. They can also reveal internal complexes in relation to their appearance or position in life. This is especially important if the person has few or no photographs. The opposite fact can also alert the specialist - the presence of a large number of photos where the person is alone or is in the center of the plot.
Photos that have nothing to do with the patient often help to reveal secrets from his personal life, attitudes towards the opposite sex.
Phototherapy involves working in different angles: creating, human perception of photographic images, discussing them and adding (if necessary) a creative component. As the latter, visual techniques, the composition of parables, stories, fairy tales can be used. Such art therapy classes may include drawing, photo collages, making and playing with figures from photographs, artistic descriptions, and the like.
Human nature is multifaceted and changeable, and the person himself is individual. Therefore, the specific palette of art therapeutic techniques is constantly being replenished with new methods of self-expression and self-knowledge.
The most effective art therapy techniques for adults
There are a lot of exercises and methods of treatment with creativity. They can be practiced on their own or with the help of a qualified professional. Both the exercises themselves and their interpretation can be easily found in special publications or on the Internet.
We have made a selection of the most simple art therapy exercises for independent use:
- "Working with creative waste" … Conduct an audit of your boxes and take out everything that has not been needed for a long time, but it is a pity to throw it away (paper clips, candy wrappers, calendars, felt-tip pens, pens, etc.). Select from these "treasures" only those that you associate with something negative - resentment, fear, failure. Make a composition out of this building material, analyze it, thank each "brick" for the experience and life lesson and dispose of it.
- "The Tale of the Hero" … Take a piece of paper and a pen, create a pleasant atmosphere (light, music, comfortable chair or armchair), relax and write a story. Before starting to create a creation, decide on the Hero (Heroine), their character and lifestyle, place and time of action. Adhere to the standard scheme: the beginning, obstacles, overcoming them and a happy ending, where the Hero receives not only the desired reward, but also invaluable experience and knowledge that change his life for the better. Re-read the tale, find your resemblance to the Hero and determine where you are in the tale now and what you need to do to reach a happy ending.
- "My mood" … Draw your real mood on the sheet. To do this, you can use any method (landscape, abstract art, weather) and any tools (paints, pencils, markers). Take a close look at the drawing and try to determine what emotions it expresses - sadness, joy, memories, expectations. Consider if these emotions match your desires. If not, feel free to tackle the transformation of the picture to transform it into the desired mood. To do this, it can be drawn, painted over, removed lines or even parts of the sheet, cut off or supplemented with new elements.
- "We sculpt a monster" … In order to get rid of internal "monsters" (conflicts, complexes, fears and aggression), you can materialize and destroy them physically. For example, sculpt from a material chosen by yourself. Think about your biggest problem, visualize it and transfer it to the material. When the figurine is ready, tell her "in her face" everything that has boiled inside. After such a "soulful" conversation, neutralize it by remaking it into something more positive.
- "Cactus" … A very simple test in which you need to draw a cactus on a piece of paper using a simple pencil. The drawing is assessed according to the following parameters. Position on the sheet: in the center - adequate self-esteem, focus on the present; below - low self-esteem; at the top - overestimated self-esteem; on the left - focus on the past, on the right - on the future. Size: less than 1/3 of the sheet - underestimated self-esteem, 2/3 and more - overestimated. Lines: clarity - confidence, shading - a sign of anxiety, discontinuity - impulsivity, strong pressure - tension, weak - passivity, despondency. Needles: the more there are, the greater the level of aggressiveness.
Interesting! Such seemingly mundane things as manicure and pedicure, makeup and any handicraft are also considered methods of art therapy for adults. This also includes keeping a diary or blog. What is art therapy - watch the video:
Art therapy is a great way to solve your psychological problems through creativity. It is simple, accessible and capable of developing self-knowledge, teaching self-expression and increasing self-esteem.
