How To Do Expressive Therapies Using Art Forms

By Essie Osborn


Art not only is for pleasure but sometimes it can also be used as a form of therapy in order to open up the mind and even heal some part of it. Expressive therapies by using art are commonly used by a lot of therapies in order to make a person feel better or make him more relaxed with himself. For those who are interested in this type of therapy, here are some ideas that many therapists would use.

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 in this type of session, the therapist would be providing the participant with a bunch of art materials that the participant can use. It is actually up to the participant on how he would want to customize his little puppet. Of course he can make it as beautiful as he wants or he can make it as simple as he would want.

Another one which is not as commonly used as the first one would be the paper bag art therapy. Now this one is usually used when the participant has identity issues or if he does not know what exactly to do with his life. This activity will help him be able to assess himself and how he would want to approach life as his very own person without considering outside factors.

Now to do this, the therapist must first give a paper bag to the participant and let him draw a self portrait there. Then on the back of bag, the participant will then make a eulogy wherein he will list down all his greatest fears. When he is done with that, he will be putting in some items that would symbolize what he is as a person and what kind of person he wants to be.

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 a very good way for the therapist to know what is in the mind of the participant is to ask the participant to draw himself. From there, the therapist and the participant will discuss what the participant sees after drawing the picture. This can also be used as a way for the participant to let out some thoughts.

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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