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Art therapy?

Art therapy?

Anyone have any experiences with Art Therapy, or are there any art programmes out there for folks dealing with Mental Illness?

I've been interested for a long time but don't really know where to start looking.

19 replies

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In response to: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

Hi Chookmojo, earlier this year I went through a difficult time and to help me get through it I searched the internet for drawing techniques. I came across something called Zentangle, which is like Doodling, but uses repetative patterns. It's therapeutic and quite relaxing. There's heaps of examples available on Pinterest and instruction on how to do new patterns.

I also did a couple of tutorials from Youtube of how to draw Celtic Knots. I enjoyed doing these and once I finished the tutorials I was able to make up my own patterns/designs.

All the best.

In response to: Re: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

I might try that it .. the structureds approach works well for me.

In response to: Re: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

Thanks for the suggestion, I have come across zentangles but never tried it. Might be the next step after building my confidence with colouring in. I have always been a doodler.

In response to: Re: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

I also have been enjoying colouring in. I have in fact started carrying a small colouring in book in my bag, so I can colour anywhere at anytime. 🙂

In response to: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

Hi @chookmojo
I attended an Art Therapy course through the- Adult Education Program, many years ago.
In one of the lessons we were asked to go paint a picture of anything that we wanted to express our- feelings/thoughts, or our journey, through.
This proved to be so interesting & it is so amazing what you learn about yourself after having the teacher help show you how to understand your own self better by translating the painting into your feelings, or some experience that can now be dealt with.
I hope that help you?
Bye 4 Now!
Bella. 🙂

In response to: Re: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

So, my mother invited me to an art therapy do that's being run by a friend of hers. Fortunately, I had a prior engagement, but I'm just surprised at the amount of 'yuck' I'm feeling right now. Messing up the page, being 'read' through what I make, being forced to do art for close to a decade after I knew that I wasn't interested (yes, I was that child who was like 'don't we have anything *better* to do?' when art was offered), my hands hurting and not ever ever being able to do anything like what I might see in my head. I read that art therapy is not about artistic skill... but my reaction to that is 'Bull.'

I'll just keep on repeating to myself 'it's not my cup of tea' and hope that'll be enough if I'm ever invited again.

In response to: Re: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

You made me smile @CannonSalt. I am a bit artistically challenged. So much that I became defensive about my understanding of colour and finally let nature be my medium through gardening. It was upsetting as often people think that aesthetics and artistic talent is more necessary for women.

If its not therapy and its forced .. its not therapy ... yeah maybe your style is elsewhere.

cheers

In response to: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

Art therapy is so calm and you are able to you to let your feeling outs. MY partner still has them and reminds me what I felt like at that time and how much I have progressed. Good Luck - GOOGLE your area for art therapy. All, the best

In response to: Art therapy?

Re: Art therapy?

@chookmojo, @Appleblossom

Art Therapy has helped me many times through my anxety and drepression and not to think about sad issues.. I was first introduced to it in a group seesion with painting, first of all stating a topic of what your world feels like now... My one at the time - was feeling lost and losing people close to me. I painted a large pink heart with black and pink waves to not access heart, pink for who I trusted and black who I had to block from my life at that time.

At, present I have adult colouring books which is enjoyable and the colours you choose bring the page to life and makes me happy concetrating and is like looking at a beautiful painting!

"A fresh outlook, a different aprroach and a lighter attidude... today is a new day!"

Take care everyone. @RoseRuby

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