Page 8 September 24, 2020 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
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Turning to art, music therapy during tough times
Health h • Fitness • Mind • Spirit piri p irit • Medicine dicine • Well-Being W
By Shelley Widhalm The Surveyor
Can art and music therapy provide relief from the stresses and unsettling emotions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic? Art therapy is known to help with emotional and psychological well-being, including self-discovery, self-esteem, interpersonal skill development and stress reduction. As a complement to traditional mental health therapy, art therapy also can help improve the mental health of those dealing with anxiety, grief and loss, dementia, depression, eating disorders, physical illness, trauma and physical illness, among other issues. Art is an expressive medium and engaging in it is a way to slow down and explore issues, emotions, feelings and responses to the interior and exterior world, such as what is being experienced right now with the pandemic and global recession. “Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages,” as stated at the website for the Colorado Art Therapy Association, www.arttherapycolorado.org, an affiliate of the American Art Therapy Association. Art therapy combines the disciplines of visual art, human development and psychology. It is taught by art therapists, who are master’s level professionals with a degree in art therapy or a related field. The therapists teach classes and workshops in a variety of places, such as art studios, schools, clinics, hospitals, elder care facilities and community agencies. What the therapists teach is something that anyone,
not just artists, can engage in, since the focus is on the process and the treatment and not the final product. Artists taking art classes learn
techniques and use certain mediums to create a finished product, while a session in art therapy is about the inner experience and finding meaning, connection and healing. The sessions might involve any number of art forms, such as drawing, painting, coloring, carving, sculpting, card-making or collage. As clients create the art, they may think about what they’re feeling and experiencing during the process and analyze the final product. They may process their feelings, engage in self-discovery and improve self-esteem from the sense of accomplishment that creating something brings. They also might experience an emotional release, accessing an outlet for expressing and letting go of their feelings about their personal lives or what’s going on in the world, such as the pandemic. Clients also might find the expression to be selfrevealing but sometimes painful as things are brought up and need to be processed.
Even without an art therapist as a guide, art can still provide therapeutic benefits simple activities can be tried that don’t require many tools and supplies, such as sketching, making collages or journaling. A therapist, however, can work with clients to identify the best activities that meet their needs, or if done in a group, the activities can help build connections with others. Another form of therapy is music therapy, which employs the use of music to help with physical, emotional and cognitive functioning. Research shows that music enhances neuroplasticity in the brain and, as a result, is an effective treatment for neurological disorders. Specifically, it can help with mental health issues, physical disabilities, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and other aging-related conditions. Research also shows that music can slow the body’s rhythms and alter mood, plus serve as a mental distraction and an outlet to express feelings. “Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music to accomplish functional, non-musical goals within a therapeutic relationship,” according to the American Music Therapy Association, as stated on its website, www.musictherapycolorado.org. Music therapists, who are trained and certified, work in various health care and educational settings to teach the form of therapy. It can involve something as simple as listening to music to writing a song, discussing lyrics, singing or learning how to play an instrument.
