Ch 10: Expressive Art Therapy
Everything within the expression of art has meaning:
-Colors, shapes, and so on. -Interpretation of art therapy is best dne by the person who created it.
How to incorporate Art Therapy into Your Life Routine?
1. Drop all inhibitions about your artistic abilities. 2. Consider having on hand a good selection of art supplies including pastels, crayons, colored pencils, and large sheets of white paper. 3. Give yourself about 20-30 minutes to draw one or more themes. 4. It's important to remember to use whatever coors you wish. 5. Working alone on a picture may lessen one's inhibitions, but doing this activity together with a group of friends can really add experience, particularly when it comes to articulating your interpretation. 6. Consider hanging your artwork up on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, or your home office work board for several weeks so that you can see it regularly.
There are many ways to incorporate art therapy as an effective coping skill:
-Doodling to many forms of expressive art.
Art Therapy
-Expresses your emotions for that day. -Can help with chronic illnesses-Showing pictures of combatting cancer (Trying to enter into unconscious side). -Ex: Coloring book-Color in it,most people don't do it. Ego gets in the way (have different coping strategies we use).
Cathartic Nature of Art Therapy
-Known to help those who suffer from chronic illnesses such as cancer and lupus.
Activity 10.1
-Includes muscles of the soul you possess as well as tells you what muscles of the soul you need to work on. -Art Therapy Color Code: -Although there are exceptions, there is a consensus among art therapists (and even psychologists) that regardless of gender, nationality, or ethnic upbringing, each color used in art therapy represents an archetypal meaning. -Typically, the color selection, as well as the objects drawn (house, tree, etc.) often parallel emotional expressions of one's mental/emotional health. -The absence of a color does not mean a lack of something, rather the colors used express that which the unconscious mind wishes to covey at the same time of the drawing. The following suggests associations between colors and their archetypal meanings. -Color Codes: -Red= Passionate emotional peaks (from pleasure to pain) can represent either compassion or anger. -Orange: Suggests a life change (big or small and typically more positive than negative). -Yellow: Represents Energy (usually a positive message). -Green & Blue: Suggests happiness & joy (blue may even mean creativity). These colors also suggest a strong sense/desire of groundedness and stability in your environment. -Purple/Violet: Suggests a highly spiritual nature, unconditional love. -Brown (earth tone colors): A sense of groundedness and stability. -Black: Can either represent grief, despair, fear, or sense of personal empowerment. -White: Can either mean fear, avoidance, cover-up, or hope. -Grey: Typically represents a sense of ambiguity, uncertainty about some issue you are working on.
Benefits of art therapy
-Many of them: Inner peace associated with the resolution of stressors.
Art Therapy is an effective coping skill to express oneself:
-Non-verbally -Nonverbal communication is a significant aspect of the power of the unconscious mind. -Art therapy also serves as a healthy catharsis for unresolved issues.
