UPDATED: Have you tried Art Therapy?

[ELove]

I was thinking about giving art therapy a go. 

I see a psychologist, we've been focusing on diagnosis for a while now and we're starting CBT, I also half-heartedly practise mindfulness using the UK Headspace app (highly recommend), and I'm on medication. 

But my biggest issues are lack of motivation, focus, creativity, self-esteem and confidence. I think art therapy could be good for these, but I'm skeptical of alternative therapies and I want nothing to do with making scrap books and collages of self-love and positive-thinking statements! Also no mention of spirits or auras or the soul or whatever. I'm not down for that! 

 Does anyone have any experiences with art therapy? Are you an art therapist? Can you recommend one? 

Thanks ❤️ 

[geoff]

dear ELove, hi and welcome to the site.

I do like to draw, mainly animated characters, but in the house I used to live in with my wife (ex) and 2 sons, I would just out of the blue decide to paint some of the windows outside when I was depressed.

I did find it soothing, until I wanted to stop. Geoff.

[Robbo1985]

I find drawing takes my mind of things for a short time i also colour in with my 4 year old son Xavier until its decided im not doing it eight by him😊

Off topic but have you tried gaming?

I find that i can lose myself for a time in games and find it incredibly relaxing

[Doolhof]

Hi Elove,

I would love to have more time for art and creativity!

Some days I get my paints out and a canvas and just go for it with no real aim but to splash colour around and to see what happens. You can buy tubes of paint quite cheaply and can buy pads with canvas sheets in it.

Occasionally I try to actually paint something definite, other days I just let the mind do what ever it feels like.

I used to work in a child care centre and loved the art sessions. I liked finger painting as well.

You could do a collage but without the cute words of self-love or positive statements. Some people do collages with natural objects like leaves, flowers or shells for example.

These days there are a lot of books and magazines out for adult colouring with all sorts of designs. I haven't seen too many blokey ones though, maybe the makers of these don't seem to think guys would sit and colour in!

You could go to a library and check out the art and craft section and see if anything interests you.

Go to an art gallery for ideas!

Immersing yourself in creativity is very relaxing. Even cooking can be like a creative outlet. Especially if you think about icing cakes in a fancy manner.

I would be very interested to learn what you discover and what you find you would like to do!

From Mrs. Dools

[MisterM]

Not in a professional setting.
I write songs and perform and draw sometimes.
My own therapy.

[Doolhof]

Hi. It is excellent that you have discovered some ways to involve the art side of things into your life.

As long as you enjoy the activity, that is the main thing.

In time you may expand the variety of activities you enjoy, or maybe you will just enjoy the things you are doing now.

Do you have an original song you would like to share here?

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[gnomadicmind]

Hello Elove.

I have been to some pretty wishy washy art therapy sessions, collages and the like. No aura/spiritual jumbo jumbo though. Eek. I can empathise! There seems to be a strong correlation between mental illness and creativity! A little positive amongst the negative. I think it's important to express yourself creatively, and crafts are very important to me and help me be 'mindful' more than any book I've read and app. Although they have been, and continue to be helpful. I have mindfulness daily which forces you with little reminders through the day, to be mindful. This works well for me with the reminders!

What are your interests and hobbies? Or, what do you think you might like to do and get some satisfaction from?

Adult colouring books are all the rage at the moment but if you need a bit more of a challenge what about 'Zen Tangle'?

Minimal set up and ongoing cost, and you can take it with you everywhere. There are classes and books available and no doubt some YouTube videos to give you an insight. Google it and see what you think. 

Also what about a men's shed or community group? Do a bit of research and find out what's available in your area and what would suit you.

Would love to know what you decide to do! I NEED my hour of craft each day and it's so satisfying to create. I honestly think it enhances my ongoing therapy for depression and anxiety.

Above all, enjoy what you choose and have fun!

[Guest_2350]

Dear ELove,

my Mom does art therapy every week and really enjoys it. She has been painting for about 1.5  years now. In her art therapy there are no mind games attached. She chooses a picture and paints aquarell. She loves creating and focussing and she gets lost in the process. Her art teacher, a qualified psychologist, helps her when she does not know how to start or gets frustrated with details. She creates lovely paintings.

My Mom has been hospitalised a few times for 6+ months and beside the general treatment options (meds + psychologist) a lot of the focus has been on so called "alternative therapy". She has done mindfulness courses, practices QiGong weekly, they have taught her daily routines, she sees her psych weekly and a carer and it is helping her to live a relatively normal life again.

I personnally believe that treatments have to cover all aspects of life. I am only at the start of my own journey, but I know that I will need to look into all aspects of my life to get better. I need help to do that and I hope with the right team in place, I will get better eventually.

Good luck on your journey and just give it a try - you might just enjoy it!

[ELove]

Hi Mrs. Dools, sorry for the very very late reply! I haven't been on the site in a long time, I've actually relocated to the UK!

I ended up doing a six week art therapy course and can't even begin to explain the profound effect it had on me... It is very much about letting go of judgment and utilising creativity as a form of well... therapy, it's not about skill at all. Some tasks were very much mindfulness based, some felt more like meditations, and above all the community and supportive atmosphere was the most incredible thing about it. We all cried a lot, but we also had an extraordinary amount of fun.

[Doolhof]

Hi Elove,

Just noticed this thread has been updated. Thanks for sharing your post about the six week art therapy course. Sounds like it was excellent.

You mentioned you have relocated to the UK. Did you do this therapy in the UK or in Australia?

I like the concept of art therapy being mixed with a sense of community and support. Sounds like something I could get into!

Hey, thanks again for your post!

Hopefully others will come on board with their own stories about Art or craft as therapy.

I started to do some knitting...oh dear, it does look very interesting! Ha. Ha. Think I will be undoing what I have started and return to some crochet! At least I gave it a go.

We had a heavy frost here recently, so my sister who was staying with us, came with me out in the garden to take a lot of photos to capture the images. Nature offers so many options for being involved in art.

All the best to you Elove!

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools