Monday, April 28, 2014

How To Do Expressive Therapies Using Art Forms

By Essie Osborn


Contrary to what most people believe about art being only a form of entertainment, art can actually be used as a form of therapy hence the saying that states that art nourishes the soul. In fact, there are many therapists these days who make use of expressive therapies or therapies that would utilize art forms. For those who do not know about this type of therapy, these therapy ideas may give him an overview about it.

If one would watch some crime scene investigation movies, there would be times wherein the investigator would talk to children to get them to talk about crimes that they witnessed. There would be times that they would make use of puppets and also let the kids use these puppets. This is one of the most effective ways to get bottled up children to talk as it would give them an alter ego.

Of course if one would make a puppet, then he would need some materials that would help him make his ideal puppet. In a therapy session, the therapist would be the one that would provide all of the items that the participants would be needing. Now depending on the artistic skills of the participant, the puppet can be a very simple one or an extravagant one.

Now there would sometimes be children or even teens that do not know anything about themselves. When this would happen, the therapist may resort to the paper bag therapy form in order to make them see themselves in a clearer light. Now this will actually help them find out more about their identity and will help them be able to find their own purpose in life.

The very first step here would be to get a paper bag and draw a self portrait on one side of the bag. The second step would be to draw a gravestone on the other side and write down all the fears that one would possess. The last step would be to put some items inside of the paper bag that would represent his own personality and his own characteristics.

Drama and theater art is extremely effective in order for participants to release all of their pent up frustrations on life. Now by taking the role and personality of a whole new character, they can go into a different world and see things in a different light. They will be seeing things in a perspective other than their own which makes them more empathetic.

Now if the therapist would want to evaluate how the mind of the participant works, then he may ask the participant to draw himself. By taking a look at the strokes and the style, the therapist would be able to know all about that person. He can tell what the person is like and how he acts.

Now if one would want to go into this field of therapy, here are some of the things he must take note of. Now these are some of the most common therapy forms that he will be using. Of course there are more but these are by far some of the most effective.




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