5 Amazing Art Therapy Activities for Adults

From anxiety to PTSD, to grief to substance use, therapy with adults covers a broad range. Many adults struggle with things like unresolved loss, life transitions, identity development, and conflict in relationships. And there are some art therapy activities that work well with these common issues.

• A true fact-based on historical records tells us that during World War I and II, soldiers received art therapy treatments to recover from PTDS (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
• Art therapy can have a beneficial, transformative, even revelatory effect on patients seeking help for behavioral health concerns.
• For this project, we used blank mask templates printed on cardstock and decorated them using colored pencils, markers, and collage materials.
• An art therapy literature review published in Frontiers in Psychology (2018) looked at studies conducted between 2000 and 2017 to examine the efficacy of art therapy with adults.
• This art form is often used to relieve stress and relax the mind, making it a great tool for addiction recovery.

The University of Hong Kong, Centre of Behavioral Health, Hong Kong

It provides a safe and nurturing environment where individuals can explore their inner landscapes, confront emotional challenges, and discover new facets of themselves. The potential benefits of art therapy are profound, ranging from enhanced self-awareness and emotional release to empowerment and stress reduction. In this article, we will unravel the depths of creative recovery and how it can be a catalyst for healing and self-discovery. Container exercises are wonderfully versatile art therapy activities for adults and kids alike. Containers provide an excellent metaphor to work through a number of issues, including anxiety, unresolved grief, family secrets, and childhood trauma, to name a few. This art therapy activity for adults explores “unfinished business”, using the container as a metaphor for repressed/buried/unresolved feelings, regrets, goals, dreams, etc.

What Does Art Therapy in Recovery Look Like?

I have suffered for years from depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. The programs that are offered here at Sabino have been truly phenomenal in helping me recover. I also appreciated the professional staff that are here on duty 24/7, which helps create a safe environment. Sabino Recovery uses effective “one on one” methods that meet each person’s individual needs because they evaluate and have a better understanding of your personal traumatic experiences. Working closely with an art therapist, you will be guided through various creative exercises designed to enhance your overall mental well-being. As you engage in these art therapy, your therapist will help you gain insights into your thoughts and feelings, promoting a healthier relationship with yourself and your recovery journey.

Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy – Sally Atkins and Melia Snyder

Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available. Group goal-setting helps people in recovery set and pursue meaningful objectives together. By breaking down larger goals into manageable steps according to participants’ https://ecosoberhouse.com/ capabilities, the group gains a sense of accomplishment and enhanced self-esteem. Group reflection promotes self-awareness and emotional regulation, as participants learn from one another’s experiences and lean on each other for support. By addressing underlying issues and triggers, participants gain the tools to manage stress and cravings in healthy ways.

Drawing and painting

Whether their identity struggles are related to childhood trauma, unresolved loss, or a life transition, the Identity Collage art therapy activity can help them explore who they are. Because it’s collage, it’s art therapy for addiction super accessible for most clients and there is a lot of versatility in terms of what kind of prompt and materials you provide. While working with adults, you will likely come across a wide variety of issues.

Integrating Substance Use Services into the Healthcare System

The task is to create three self-portraits using any materials they like, such as drawing, painting, or a collage. The three images will become part of a mural that depicts the patient’s recovery process. Expressive arts therapy has been proven an effective approach for addressing substance use disorders. It helps individuals confront self-destructive thoughts, painful emotions, and deep traumas caused by various factors like physical abuse, depression, or drug and alcohol abuse. Our unique combination of naturopathic, allopathic, and evidence-based modalities ensures a holistic approach to treatment. Through expressive art therapy, you can access deep emotions, process your experiences, and express your feelings in a safe and nurturing environment.

• This activity can also be continued between sessions as an adjunct to therapy then discussed during sessions.
• Additionally, when you ask clients to place themselves in their drawings, you get lots of good information about where they might be stuck and why.
• The wall metaphor presented in this art therapy activity respects the power of the traumatic experiences.
• Unless you’re highly allergic, it’s hard to have a bad time when surrounded by animals.
• Photography used in a therapeutic context is often called photo therapy or therapeutic photography (Gibson, 2018).

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