Tag: arts therapy

When we think of mental health, we typically think of one-on-one counseling services between a patient and a licensed clinician.

But in addition to standard psychotherapy, people of all ages can benefit from artistic expression through workshops, museum exhibitions and other outlets where the arts are involved and creativity flows freely.

Creativity is something we’ve always done: From movement to dress, storytelling and decorating, notes Dina Palma, founder of START Creative Arts Therapy Services in West Islip.

“We’re just creative beings,” Palma said. “So, the arts really tap into this innate language we’ve always used to make sense of our experiences,” said Palma, noting that you don’t have to have any innate talent to engage.

START Creative Arts Therapy incorporates the arts into more traditional talk therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy. For clients who express themselves more through their art, therapy is often led with that creativity.

“The art will enable them to share their experience and learn from whatever they produce,” Palma said. “If they create a piece of art, we can really lean into it to learn what is the story behind this? What is the meaning making that you do? Where do you get stuck? How do we move through that?”

Art in many ways reveals things about a person they may not otherwise be able to express through words.

Drama and roleplaying can be used to help people tell their story in a different way and experience it from a different perspective.

If someone expresses an interest in writing, Palma or one of her therapists might assign a writing group on a regular basis.

“That would mean you’re engaging in this particular thing that might be good for you and building community, meeting people,” Palma said.

When people are crocheting, drumming or playing guitar their brains are engaging in a different way .

“It’s like when you walk and talk, versus just sit and talk, your brain opens up, and accesses new material and adds depth and meaning to these sessions in a way that if we were just talking, it might not,” Palma said.

Inclusivity for kids and adults

Supporting the well-being of children and families is integral to the Long Island Children’s Museum’s mission.

“We see that vision through a very holistic lens at the museum,” said Ashley Niver, director of education at the Uniondale museum.

With one-third of the visitors under age five, much of the programming is geared toward them and their accompanying family members, and includes music and movement workshops.

“Music therapy can be really a wonderful tool for anyone struggling with depression or any kind of mental health issues. It’s uplifting. It releases endorphins,” said Niver, adding, “We know that activity and kinesthetic learning is really paramount to supporting health and well-being for your physical, mental and emotional health.”

Supporting adults who might suffer from isolation and other emotional issues, the “Mini Mingle” workshop facilitates caregivers and parents to connect through shared experiences while engaging in playful learning with their kids.

To help instill a lifelong appreciation for the arts, the Little Learners Art Lab introduces children to the arts with new artmaking activities each week.

“We are always focused on the process over the product, so this offers a very open space for children to explore those skills and create without boundaries,” Niver said.

Their current “Emotions at Play” exhibit, which is based on the “Inside/Out” movie, deals with characters portraying the emotions of disgust, anger, fear, joy and sadness, as well as the concept of empathy.

“Those are really big emotions for children, and it can be really challenging to name those emotions or for caregivers to understand tools and resources into opening up a conversation about those emotions and supporting their child’s emotional well-being,” Niver said.

The museum’s puppet theater lets kids tell stories that can be rooted in emotions or experiences and its  sensory room offers a place for kids to decompress, disconnect and unwind while creating art.

Art, addiction and mental health

Addiction always involves some kind of mental health component and many people who are in recovery are also in therapy, notes David Zaleski, program manager at Family & Children’s Association’s THRIVE Nassau location.

“One of the things that we try to promote is a lot of creative endeavors to try and unlock some of the emotions that people have, and also explore where they’ve been and where they’re going,” Zaleski said.

In their Art Expression Fridays group, an art therapist presents a prompt, such as draw the monster that’s in you, and later goes through some of the psychological aspects that are exhibited in the art they’ve created.

Another art-based group, “Healing through the Creative Arts” includes coloring, painting, writing and craft projects.

Zaleski periodically runs groups on creative journaling, where anyone can participate, no matter their writing abilities.

“It’s just about expressing what’s inside. You don’t have to make a masterpiece. It just has to be whatever comes from your heart and mind,” he said, noting that by being able to share your emotions through these workshops, you feel more connected to others and accepted by them.

For the journaling groups, Zaleski has used as a prompt: “How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you,” by poet Rupi Kaur, which always elicits strong responses and self-revelations.