Painting as an Art Therapy

Drug addiction and art therapy go hand-in-hand when a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol seeks to find recovery
and rebuild their lives.

Many of the reasons for their drug and alcohol abuse are deeply hidden inside the person’s psyche and may be revealed
readily through art therapy where talking through the issues may not bring out the important triggers and personality
issues that caused the addiction to appear in the first place.

Whether painting, crafts, drawings, collage, or other forms of art are employed, the goal is to gain insight into
parts of the person’s thought processes of which they may not be aware so they can be addressed and methods to overcome
these issues can be learned.

Art
therapy for child abuse victims is another very important use of painting and other forms of fine arts. Children
often simply are unable to express their feelings verbally, especially when speaking about very sensitive, traumatic
issues such as abuse. However, many times their artistic creations reveal vast amounts of information, which might
otherwise not be accessible to the therapist or counseling professional. By using drama, music, and art therapy for
children who have experienced abuse, progress toward dealing with the trauma can be more rapid and effective, allowing
the child to enjoy a better quality of life.

Other uses of crafts, drawings, and painting as a form of therapy are autism and art therapy as well as Down Syndrome
and art therapy. Because autistic people and those with Down’s Syndrome, whether children or adults, have challenges
communicating verbally, painting and other art forms allows them to express feelings, explain emotions, and many
people with these disabilities are talented artists.

Programs for drama, music and art therapy for children or adults can be located at counseling centers, centers for
the disabled, and even in many community-sponsored programs. In drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, art therapy
is used to allow clients to express their feelings about their drug addictions. Counselors for abused children find
that this type of therapeutic approach is a key part of their treatment plans.

Drug addiction and art therapy, as well as using art for therapeutic purposes for anyone with physical, mental or
emotional disabilities or afflictions, should be considered an important part of recovery and treatment.

If you or
someone you love has experienced any type of trauma, disability, severe medical disorder, or other affliction,
talk to your health care provider about locating an art therapy program in your area.