Trauma Healing through Art: Insights into Its Beneficial Effects

Trauma Treatment Through Creative Expression: Discover Its Beneficial Aspects

Art therapy, a unique blend of creative expression and talk therapy, is gaining recognition as an effective tool for addressing emotional issues, particularly trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.

Saba Harouni Lurie, a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified art therapist, and the owner of Take Root Therapy, recommends art therapy for its ability to help people express experiences that are difficult to access verbally. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who have experienced trauma, as the body can hold onto trauma, a phenomenon known as somatization.

Trauma, a response to deeply distressing situations such as a car accident, assault, or racial discrimination, can manifest physically with symptoms such as chronic illnesses or pain, sleep issues, and frequent headaches or chest pain. A 2021 study reports that art therapy may benefit children who have experienced trauma, while a 2019 study suggests that it is especially beneficial for survivors of prolonged or recurrent trauma.

Leela R. Magavi, a regional medical director for Mindpath Health, recommends art therapy for adults who have repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse and traumatic situations. It can help them piece together lost memories and heal.

Art therapy practitioners structure their sessions differently, but they often allow clients to use their medium of choice for expression. This freedom encourages individuals to explore their feelings and experiences in a way that feels safe and comfortable. After the art is finished, art therapists discuss with clients what came up in the art to help them explore different aspects of their experiences.

The benefits of art therapy include improved cognitive and sensory-motor functions, development of self-esteem and self-awareness, emotional resilience, enhanced social skills, reduction and resolution of conflicts and distress. It can also aid in slowing responses related to trauma, such as intrusive thoughts and stress, by quieting the mind and bringing awareness to the body.

Other therapeutic methods for trauma survivors include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and prolonged exposure therapy. Folks with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have neurobiological changes that affect emotional memory and Broca's area of the brain, which can make discussing, recounting, or processing experiences difficult. Art therapy, with its focus on non-verbal expression, can provide an alternative and effective approach.

Art therapy is not limited to those with a talent for the creative arts. Practitioners work with people of all ages and do not require participants to have a particular skill set. It is a method open to all who seek healing and self-discovery.

In conclusion, art therapy offers a unique and valuable approach to healing trauma. By combining creative expression with talk therapy, it provides a safe and effective means for individuals to explore their feelings and experiences, and work towards healing and recovery.