Fine art therapy, dance therapy, drama therapy, and music therapy are all innovative therapy approaches Gen Z relies on for their mental health.
Gen Z faces rising levels of depression and anxiety, and art therapy offers a creative way to manage troubles in life and explore your inner artistic self.
Through creative expression, creative therapies helps individuals process their emotions, reduce stress, while gaining insight into their feelings.
Types of Art Therapy
Benefits of Creative Therapy
So what are the reasons behind the increasing popularity of creative therapy?
Creative therapy is open to anyone of all ages and allows people to engage in new ways of communicating emotions.
Art therapy is not just for artists. Creative treatment is particularly helpful to anyone who finds it difficult to put emotions into words.
Art trauma therapies often have different creative treatment options for group or individual sessions to reduce anxiety. While you can work with your with a professional creative art therapist, creative therapy is also something you can practice individually.
How Does Art Therapy Help?
Mind UK states that artistic activities:
- Help you make sense of things and understand yourself better
- Give you a safe time and place with someone who won’t judge you
- Help you find new ways to look at problems or difficult situations
- Help you to talk about complicated feelings or difficult experiences
- Give you a chance to connect with other people
Let’s delve deeper into the different types of art therapy and art expression!
Fine Art Therapy
Fine Art therapy is one of the most popular forms of creative therapy. Sessions can involve a variety of art materials from paint and pencils to more digital mediums such as photos and videos.
You can follow a particular theme or allow yourself to get lost in the moment. There is no judgment and your creative freedom can run wild!
An art therapist can help you decipher what your art is trying to explore emotionally or you can use it as a personal outlet to do in your spare time.
Creativity in Therapy – The Magic
“Art speaks where words are unable to explain.” says textile artist, photographer and illustrator Pam Holland.
This nurtures new perspectives and insight by studying your art and looking deeper into the themes you create and the colors you are drawn to.
Science also has a part to play when creating your masterpiece! 🔮
Neuroscientists suggest that “the brain’s reward pathways become active during the creative process. This reward system, engaged during enjoyable activities such as eating and laughter, can also be triggered by creating art, leading to dopamine release.”
Dance Movement Psychotherapy
What is dance movement therapy? Otherwise known as ‘dance therapy‘, this method involves using body movement and language to express yourself.
Dance therapy portrays a lot of emotional undertones as it is by using different types of rhythms and music. You don’t need any experience, the aim is to feel more in touch with your body and give a diverse voice to your emotions and experiences.
When you feel more in touch with your body, it can help address difficult feelings such as how you feel in your skin.
Dance movement psychotherapy allows you to feel one with your body and take control, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
A study from the journal “The Arts in Psychotherapy (2007) found that dance therapy had a positive effect on participants experiencing symptoms of depression.”
How Dance Therapy Works
In a specialized dance movement psychotherapy session, the dance therapist will help you explore the meaning and emotions behind your movements. They can help guide your self-expression through movement to provide an outlet and assist you with the feelings that may be brought up.
Dramatherapy
Drama therapy helps explore personal and societal problems through roleplay, and voice work, providing a great way to express yourself through a storytelling narrative.
You don’t need any acting skills or experience; not all activities need to necessarily involve talking. Take miming for example! This allows those seeking the therapy to be as creative and spontaneous as they like.
Dramatherapy aims to build self-confidence and self-awareness. This can be done with a drama therapist one-on-one or in a group.
Drama Therapy Case Study
An article on Medical News Today states,
“A 2021 study of 14 randomized controlled trials, and one semi-randomized controlled trial that included 642 people, found that this intervention offered relief from various mental health symptoms.”
Participants have been said to have felt confident sharing a new personality side. This can also collaborate with additionally reflecting on their past personality.
Furthermore, this reflection into action helps solve problems, providing relief and personal growth.
Music Therapy
“Science has proven that music releases mood-enhancing chemicals into our body which music therapists can capitalize on to aid in the medical treatment of patients.”
The chemicals released include dopamine and endorphins, both of which are ‘feel good’ chemicals!
Musical therapy allows you to explore sound and music. This works as a way to communicate and explore your feelings. Music therapy is often used to help individuals with autism and ASD.
Image from Shutterstock
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapists can offer instruments for you to use or you can use the power of your voice. There are different types of music therapy.
Music therapy program sessions may involve listening to music and exploring the meaning behind the sounds or lyrics to see if they resonate with you.
However, if you prefer to do this by yourself, this also has many benefits! A lot of musicians use their music as a way of expressing their emotions, such as heartbreak or depression.
There is no right or wrong way to approach this; what matters is that you use it as a constructive outlet that can help you explore those challenging emotions more deeply or become accustomed to exploring happy emotions.
Science states that: “Being able to trigger a feeling of happiness, calm the heart rate and promote relaxation are just a few of the ways this therapy can be used in a medical setting.”
Benefits of Music Therapy
The benefits of music therapy include:
- Strengthening your communication skills
- Building self-confidence
- Regulating mood
- Helping you form healthy coping skills
Art Therapy Activities and Your Mental Health
As explored, these forms of creative therapy help us delve deeper into personal understanding.
It’s very easy to get caught up in your emotions and if you find talking therapy to be too daunting, this may be the better alternative for you.
Embracing these different methods of art therapy reflects broader values of authenticity and self-expression. Creative counseling is important to rediscover yourself while fostering a sense of connection and community.
A Future With Art Therapy
The future of therapy looks brighter, more colorful, and profoundly more human for those seeking personal growth and emotional relief.
Art psychotherapy provides a promising step forward in aiding mental health, with art expression.
Forms of Art Therapy – Q&A
Art Therapist Occupation
To become an art therapist, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in psychology, fine arts, or a related field, followed by specialized training and certification in art therapy. This includes studying various types of art therapy such as fine art therapy, dance therapy, drama therapy, or music therapy.
An art therapist, also known as an art psychotherapist, earns an average annual salary ranging from about £37,000 for starters to around £53,000 for experienced professionals. Salaries may vary depending on experience, location, and specific type of art therapy practiced, such as fine art therapy, dance therapy, drama therapy, or music therapy.
A degree in psychology, fine arts, or a closely related field is generally required, often followed by a master’s degree specializing in art therapy. This may cover various art therapy types, including fine art therapy, dance therapy, drama therapy, and music therapy.
No, you do not need exceptional drawing skills. What’s important is empathy, creativity, and the ability to facilitate expressive activities through different types of art therapy, including dance, drama, fine art, or music therapy.
Dance Therapy for Autism
Dance therapy, a type of art therapy focused on movement, helps individuals with autism by improving emotional and physical communication, reducing anxiety, enhancing body awareness, and encouraging social interaction through expressive dance.
Music Therapy History
Music therapy is a type of art therapy that helps individuals manage stress, regulate mood, strengthen communication skills, and develop healthy coping mechanisms through musical expression, such as singing, songwriting, or instrument playing.
Music therapy has been around for thousands of years as a natural form of emotional and physical healing, making it one of the oldest types of art therapy.
While formal music therapy programs developed in the mid-20th century, music as therapeutic art has been used since ancient times, long before modern classifications of art therapy types emerged.
