Art therapy, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is a nontraditional type of therapeutic modality that is considered to be “not only compatible with but also essential to the success of treatment” for many individuals in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction. Art therapy can be extremely beneficial to rehab patients in many ways, often creating new avenues for recovery, self-expression, and confidence building.
Alternative to Talk Therapy
Many individuals, especially those in substance abuse rehab centers, struggle with talk therapy sessions. Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to speak about oneself to a counselor or psychologist, and it can take a long time for a person to warm up to this concept. With art therapy, it can often be much easier for a person to express their feelings because they do not necessarily need to speak about them directly, something that can make art therapy an alternative to talk therapy, at least in the beginning of treatment.
In addition, this program has also been found to be largely beneficial to adolescents who are struggling with drug abuse issues, as “the expressive arts program provides a means of accessing feelings that adolescent clients may otherwise deny, suppress, or lack words to describe.” Art therapy is a great way of easing patients into treatment and allowing them to start with something easier than traditional therapy.
Self-Expression
Art therapy helps you express yourself.
According to a study from the Journal of Addictions Nursing, “Main assumptions underlying art therapy are that the patient will be able to express him/herself through a non-verbal, imaginative, and creative exercise,” but the program itself can mean so much more. The self-expression that is often achieved through art therapy can create something amazing for the patient that they may have never experienced before. In addition, it allows people to learn a way to express themselves that will be available to them even when they leave treatment, as they can always return to the type of art with which they connected and create new pieces.
Confidence Building
Being able to create something and express feelings inside oneself is incredibly beneficial to one’s confidence level, allowing patients to feel better about themselves as well as happier. This program itself is often able to increase confidence levels in many individuals and help patients become stronger every day. Substance abuse often takes away many of the things that give people confidence and happiness in their lives, and when art therapy is able to restore some of these feelings, it is very helpful to a person’s overall recovery.
Art Therapy as a Part of Rehab
As stated previously, art therapy takes its place in a rehab program easily and can be a fundamental part of the program itself. While patients still often need the traditional methods of treatment, this option can open someone up in ways they never imagined or allow them necessary alternatives through which to heal, making art therapy an extremely beneficial addition to substance abuse rehab.
Do You Want to Find a Treatment Program Near You That Utilizes Art Therapy?
Call 888-646-0635Who Answers? today, and we will help you find a program where you can be treated with art therapy among other beneficial rehabilitation methods.
If you or a loved one are going through the struggles of drug addiction, this can be a very confusing and complicated time. It can be particularly severe if the addict is also facing a mental health issue as well, as the two together can present extra challenges and potential risks. What is Comorbidity? Comorbidity….
While itās easy to say that you donāt go to drug and alcohol rehab to make friends, itās bound to happen when you share the same living space with someone for weeks, engage in treatment together, and share the destruction that addiction has caused in your life. Some people discourage making friends during inpatient drug….
Deciding to be treated for alcohol abuse is a large step which many people are too scared to make. They fear the expenses, the withdrawal symptoms, and are often misinformed or misguided about current treatment options available to them. At one time, recovering from alcohol abuse was an unpleasant and costly matter as there were….
When you enter rehab you will quickly learn that the foundation of all types of addiction treatment is based on counseling. Rehab centers use many different types of counseling to ensure the complete recovery of those suffering from addiction to drugs or alcohol. In most cases you will encounter some combination of the following three….
About two years ago my mother-in-law mother came to us and admitted that she had become addicted to opiate pain medication and that when she couldn’t find pills she often would substitute heroin because it was more readily available and less expensive. We had suspected that there might be a problem for sometime but still….
The mugshot of people who have used meth over the years and rapidly progressed from average looking people to near death are plastered all over the internetāthe infographic is called the āFaces of Methā and for good cause.Ā Unfortunately, very few people have had the opportunity to actually hear the real life stories behind the photos….
More oftentimes than not, not finding affordable treatment help becomes the number one reason why people donāt get the help they need. As with any form of medical care, the costs of alcohol rehab treatment can be expensive and continue to rise with each passing year. Without adequate health insurance coverage, many people are left….
While increasing rates of substance abuse continue to warrant cause for concern, the increasing rate of alcohol abuse among older adults is one of the fastest growing health problems in the United States. Alcohol abuse carries a range of health risks, both physical and psychological. These risks increase substantially for adults aged 60 and older…..
When you enter drug rehab you will spend a lot of time with your drug counselor so it’s important that you understand who they are and how they can help you. If you don’t feel comfortable with your drug counselor than you won’t be able to get the most out of your treatment and therefore….
A recent study published by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America has found that teen girls are more likely than teen boys to find the benefits in using drugs and alcohol as a means of coping. In fact, a recent study found that more than 2/3 of teen girls have reported using drugs or drinking….
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
