Art Therapy

Nan Little also focused on Art Therapy and depression. She stated that depression has been defined by some as anger turned inward. Art can help depressed individual discover their anger and express it in a healthy way. Art therapy has been used with suicidal teenagers and results showed that it had positive effects as part of an overall treatment plan (Art Therapy and Depression, 2006, [online]). Depression is still normal to people but when this depression became a major depression, this will lead to a suicidal tendency. This is when art therapy goes in action. Guilt, worthlessness and hopelessness are all emotions that can cause depression, and the creative process can help a person cope up with this emotions.

Art therapy is also beneficial to ordinary people who want to increase self-esteem and cognitive abilities (Benefits of Art Therapy, [online]). It is even used to help develop social skills. It can be beneficial not just to those who suffer from mental disorders or emotional abuse but it can assist those who are shy and withdrawn. As stated above, art therapy can help an individual achieve self-discovery and personal fulfillment.

Overall, Art Therapy can aid one to improve the quality of life and help improve his/her well-being on both physical and emotional levels (“Benefits of Art Therapy”, [online]). Art Therapy that rests on the position of art making in accessing and expressing meaningful self and social constructs encourages integration of feeling, cognition and sensation, which create new understanding. The connotation that art therapy is only for psychologically disturbed people was proved wrong because this kind of therapy could also be used in relieving stress and depression to ordinary people. It must be remembered that there is no right or wrong interpretation in art therapy because it is you yourself who will interpret what you’ve made. People must even encourage their peers and the people around them to use art therapy so they can gain benefits and help themselves out.