Therapy plays a critical role in helping people manage mental health issues and overcome drug and alcohol addiction. Much of the work of therapy involves addressing the thoughts and emotions that trigger substance use or symptoms of anxiety and depression. Yet accessing and naming certain feelings can be hard, especially for people who have relied on drugs and alcohol to dull or repress painful emotions.
The Expressive Arts Therapy program at FHE Health helps patients connect with their emotions, communicate what they are thinking and feeling and develop greater self-awareness. That, in turn, supports the primary work and goals of group and individual therapy. Expressive arts are one part of our approach to holistic rehab.
For more information about the Expressive Arts program at FHE Health, including the types of expressive arts we offer as an adjunct to therapy and how they benefit our patients, read on.
What Is Expressive Arts Therapy?
“It was a process but I came out a million times better than I was going in.” – Drew S.
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Expressive arts therapy is the use of creative expression in its various forms to support healing and recovery. As part of a patient’s treatment plan, expressive arts can help them unlock and release their emotions.
Creative expression, whether through art or writing, helps patients identify their emotions and put what they are feeling into words or images. Many patients also find that the creative process itself is a pathway to greater self-acceptance and closure regarding life issues that have contributed to addiction or mental health struggles.
Expressive arts provide enjoyable and meaningful outlets for self-growth and self-discovery. These opportunities to reconnect with oneself in positive ways can be very helpful during early recovery and can support long-term recovery.
Types of Expressive Arts Therapy
There are many types of expressive arts therapy, including visual arts, dance, drama, music and writing therapy. At FHE Health, we provide the following types of expressive arts therapy:
- Visual arts psychotherapy
- Writing and poetry therapy
Each of these expressive arts offers specific therapeutic benefits. In the next section, explore these therapies and what they can do for patients.
What Does Expressive Arts Therapy Help With?
Expressive arts therapy works for many different conditions and patient populations. At FHE Health, expressive arts therapy is used for a wide range of mental health issues as well as substance use disorders. Below you can explore what each of these therapies does and how it can benefit patients.
Visual Arts Psychotherapy
Visual arts therapy pairs creative expression through drawing with psychotherapeutic processing in groups. Art is a universal language that anyone can use. It’s also a means of communication through which patients can externalize their emotions, experiences and personal histories. Learn more about art therapy at FHE Health.
We use visual arts in the treatment setting to help patients:
- Become more connected to the present moment
- Reconcile emotional conflicts
- Encourage self-reflection and self-knowledge
- Develop adaptive coping skills
- Process trauma and related emotions in a safe, supportive environment
- Improve interpersonal and communication skills
- Encourage self-exploration and self-expression
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Gain coping tools for life after rehab
Various theories and techniques inform our approach to visual arts therapy, with the goal of helping patients:
- Become more self-aware and present in the here and now
- Develop a positive, healthy mindset
- Feel heard, validated and empowered in their recovery
Writing and Poetry Therapy
Poetry therapy encourages patients to create their own individual or collective poems. Through this process of creative self-expression, some people find they are better able to access feelings and memories buried in the subconscious and identify how these dynamics relate to their current life circumstances. This type of expressive arts therapy can also be beneficial as:
- A vehicle for expressing emotions that might otherwise be difficult to express
- A way to reflect and explore, increasing self-awareness and helping individuals make sense of their world
- A way for individuals to reframe and redefine their situation by unlocking new perspectives
- Validation of emotional experiences and a way to form interpersonal connections when people share these experiences with one another
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What Is Expressive Arts Therapy Like?
What expressive arts therapy is like depends on the type being used. For example, in a visual arts group, the therapist might invite patients to draw their diagnosis as a beast, creature, monster or villain. This might be followed by a group discussion in which patients are invited to share the negative thoughts and feelings their creature embodies and to challenge those thoughts and feelings.
In writing and poetry therapy, patients might write a letter to themselves or a loved one as a way of communicating feelings and expressing love, then share and reflect on it with the group.
Why We Offer Expressive Arts Therapy
At FHE Health in Deerfield Beach, we offer expressive arts therapy because of its benefits for a wide range of mental and behavioral health issues. When integrated with medical and clinical care, art and poetry therapy can enhance and support healing and recovery. They can also serve as tools for sustaining a healthy life after rehab. Expressive arts work alongside other holistic services such as breathwork therapy and yoga.
For more information about treatment at FHE Health, reach out to us at (833) 596-3502. Our compassionate counselors are available 24/7 to answer any questions.
