Art therapy offers a way to work through some of the 12 Steps. A big part of the 12 Steps is self-reflection which art therapy facilitates. Art making can help make some of the abstract ideas addressed in the 12 Steps, such as denial, acceptance, and faith, more tangible. Through art making, participants can explore these complex concepts. Art therapy can also help with the common co-occurring mental health disorders that people struggling with addiction face such as depression and PTSD. Although people have benefited from art therapy for a long time, it’s become a more well-known term in the past few years.

• Plum Creek Recovery Ranchs clinically based treatment program incorporates art therapy with other evidence-based therapies.
• Cut up a painting you made and use the pieces to turn it into a collage — a new work of art.
• Art therapy goes beyond simple arts and crafts and coloring books, and you don’t need to be good at art to take part in this mental health care method.
• Provide them with paper and drawing tools.
• Freedom looks like …  Engage in visualization to create a piece of artwork that represents your idea of freedom and what it means to you.

Once they are finished, explore what they have created. Ask them how their meaning has shifted and how their new frame will serve them. Clients start by dividing a piece of paper into three sections. Feelings and associations related to the pain can get jammed up, repressed, or acted out/expressed in less than desirable ways. Assemble as many different kinds of old magazines as you can find. You may also want to include printed images, mixed media supplies, and found objects, depending on your client’s preferences.

Positive outcomes during addiction treatment include:

The courses listed below and other programs at EGS are the only expressive arts therapies training options currently available in Europe. Clients create a collage that explores the costs and benefits of staying the same, as well as the costs and benefits of making changes in their lives. Are you covered for addiction treatment? You don’t have to try to cope with life and addiction all on your own. Reach out to us now, no matter the time of day or night, even if you’re not sure what you want to do yet and just need someone to listen.

While these may all be enjoyable hobbies, they can also have many unexpected benefits. At Clearbrook Treatment Center, we are strong supporters of using art to help with the addiction recovery process. NuView Treatment Center is a top art therapy for addiction ideas leading Los Angeles outpatient alcohol and drug rehab program. Our goal is to inspire hope and create lasting change while you or a loved one are coping with the challenges of mental health and addiction – one client at a time.

What Are the Benefits of Art Therapy?

You’re not limited to pencil and paper. While art therapy typically incorporates visual media like drawing, painting, and sculpture, art can take many forms. If you like to sing or play an instrument, you can compose songs that illustrate how you’re feeling. If you’ve always dreamt of being an actor or actress, you can write your own script and create characters that represent your struggles. You may feel ashamed that you’re meeting with a nonprofit or a treatment center. You may have experienced isolation from your family that is difficult to discuss.

Expressive visual and symbolic communication allows people to express themselves when words don’t work. The Blanchard Institute cultivates a safe, comfortable environment for clients and families across North Carolina to be emotionally connected to their treatment provider. Our recovery management and alumni programs support a life-long recovery.

Mental Health Resources

Visit any bookstore or arts and crafts store, and you will see a wide selection of detailed, intricate coloring books marketed for adults to relieve stress. While these coloring books can be a great way to pass the time and may even help lower stress, they can’t replace real art therapy with a Registered Art Therapist. An art therapist offers a deeper level of support than you can find on your own. Art therapy is a valuable and effective form of treatment for addiction, as it allows you to express your emotions healthily and creatively. It has many benefits, including providing an outlet for self-expression and helping with personal discovery.