Art Therapy for Drug & Alcohol Addiction Recovery

This can include major job changes, meeting an important friend, graduation from college, or the death of a family member. As patients fill in where the milestones are on the timeline, they also draw symbols that represent the event. Art therapy for addiction can be an intensely reflective process. You can notice your creative output evolve as you reconnect with your innermost thoughts and feelings. The practice provides a safe and supportive environment for expression and can help people develop skills and insights into overcoming addiction and maintaining lasting recovery.

  • Researchers in a 2014 study examined data from close to 300 substance use disorder treatment centers, taking an in-depth look at how professionals treat SUDs.
  • Music encourages positive emotions, increased self-esteem, increased focus, and increased relaxation.
  • For example, Richardson et al. (2007) conducted painting therapy for six months in patients with chronic schizophrenia and found that art therapy had a positive effect on negative symptoms.
  • Just precisely how creative endeavors can help to improve emotion regulation is not yet entirely understood.
  • Yet, continuing the road to recovery means working to process and manage those difficult feelings in a healthy way, without drugs.
  • For example, if you have the urge to reduce stress by returning to drinking alcohol, this is where art therapy can become involved.

Around 37% of programs were accredited by either the Joint Commission or CARF, and more than half of the programs (61.5%) received revenues from Medicaid. Finally, programs reported that, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ on average, 43.8% of their counselors held at least a Master’s degree level of education. Feelings of shame and reactions of denial often accompany and help to perpetuate addiction.

Ways Art Therapy Can Help Treat Addiction

Nevertheless, these difficulties can be overcome due to great benefits of the art therapy. We thus humbly believe that art therapy has great potential for mental disorders. Expressive therapies are an excellent tool for individuals on the road to recovery.

  • Overall, 36.8% of programs used art therapy and 14.7% used music therapy, with 11.7% using both (not shown).
  • BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.
  • There was less denial found in their addiction, noting that making collages seemed to help them.
  • Art is a tangible visible object that may be easier to discuss in a group setting.
  • All you need to create zentangles are some pens and/or pencils and some paper.
  • However, despite the above advantages, published systematically review on this topic is lacking.
  • Using art can be an effective tool in helping you communicate your feelings without words.

Born and educated in Europe, she came to the United States to work at the National Institute of Mental Health. Once sober, many people find it difficult to fill all the hours they used to spend seeking and using drugs or alcohol. Relapse prevention techniques are essential for people aiming to finish their relationship with substance abuse and maintain sobriety. Many people lose touch with their true selves when their primary relationship is with drugs or alcohol. Art therapy allows people to access and explore their unconscious thoughts and emotions. This can help them gain insight into their addiction and the factors that contribute to it.

Traditional Approaches vs. Expressive Therapies

(2) Main contents of painting and drawing include blind drawing, spiral drawing, drawing moods and self-portraits (Legrand et al., 2017; Abbing et al., 2018; Papangelo et al., 2020). (3) Art therapy is mainly used for cancer, depression and anxiety, autism, dementia and cognitive impairment, as these patients are reluctant to express themselves in words (Attard and Larkin, 2016; Deshmukh et al., 2018; art therapy for addiction ideas Chiang et al., 2019). It plays an important role in facilitating engagement when direct verbal interaction becomes difficult, and provides a safe and indirect way to connect oneself with others (Papangelo et al., 2020). Moreover, we found that art therapy has been gradually and successfully used for patients with mental disorders with positive outcomes, mainly reducing suffering from mental symptoms.

Art Therapy for Addiction

Using both traditional and unconventional mediums, clients can communicate in a holistic way that enhances their wellbeing by reducing stress and depression, bolstering self-esteem, and providing a creative outlet. When utilized in conjunction with a drug and alcohol treatment program, artistic exploration gives clients the opportunity to express themselves through visual and symbolic mediums and communicate in ways that enhance traditional talk therapy. In its traditional application, art therapy is conducted by a master’s level professional whose training has prepared them for the highest ethical standards and culturally proficient work with diverse populations. By spending a few minutes to focus on an art project, people will gain a sense of accomplishment and perhaps some insight into their thoughts and feelings. Each of these art projects is a great part of a journey toward recovery and can be completed in a residential treatment center. If you or a loved one are suffering with substance abuse or addiction and want further help, Contact Steps Recovery Centers.