Art Therapy

The Canadian Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as a combination of the creative process and psychotherapy – a non-verbal way to facilitate self-exploration and understanding. Art therapy provides an opportunity to express difficult to articulate thoughts and feelings. It has stabilizing effects including distress reduction, increased self-awareness and the creation of new thought and behaviour patterns. Research studies confirm that art practice increases resiliency and contributes to psychological flexibility. Art therapy impacts the physical body in positive ways as well by normalizing heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels.

Therapeutic art making is all about the process not the finished piece of work. You do not have to be creative or “good at art” to explore your emotions through drawing and colouring, collage and construction. The practice of making art is similar to meditation and mindfulness. Trying something new by venturing outside your comfort zone increases your capacity to cope with the stresses of early recovery. Plus, it can be fun…