Art Therapy
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The creative process is healing in and of itself—satisfying and pleasurable, for both you and the patient. Being creative, especially in response to an event as disruptive as cancer, can mean doing something that the patient already likes to do, like playing piano, or taking up something entirely new, like watercolor painting or basket weaving. Sometimes it feels good to set aside all the “shoulds” and do something messy, sensual, and even childlike, such as making something out of beads or making a pot out of clay. The medium chosen is not as important as the pleasure and distraction from current worries and stressors.
Some cancer centers offer a formal therapeutic process called art therapy. Art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing (American Art Therapy Association). Art therapists work in a variety of settings, such as rehabilitation hospitals, mental health clinics, and schools, to help adults and children use the creative process to access inner sources of healing. A master’s degree in art therapy is required to practice as an art therapist. Freestanding arts centers like Smith Farm Center for the Healing Arts in Washington, DC, or Commonweal Cancer Help Program in Bolinas, CA, use the arts in workshops and retreats to help cancer patients rejuvenate.
Numerous studies have shown the benefits of art therapy:
- Forty family caregivers who participated in a regional cancer center’s arts program reported reduced stress, less anxiety, and more positive feelings.
- A group of breast cancer survivors wrote and illustrated their stories and presented them in an art exhibit. The women benefitted, but so did staff, family members, and visitors. As the authors noted, “Art can capture the most intimate and personal aspects of the cancer experience.”
- Nine adult bone marrow transplant patients used their time in isolation to draw twice a week to strengthen positive feelings, calm their distress, and explore spiritual issues about life and death in a safe setting.
Returning to a treasured art medium of childhood, or exploring something new, can bring joy during a stressful time.
For more information:
- www.Commonweal.org or 415-868-0970
- www.SmithFarm.com or 202-483-8600
- American Art Therapy Association at www.arttherapy.org or 1-888-290-0878
- Something Understood: Art Therapy in Cancer Care by Camilla Connell, Asimuth Editions Publisher, 1998
- Art.Rage.Us: Art and Writing by Women with Breast Cancer, Chronicle Books, 1998