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By: Kade Miller
It’s the middle of the semester, and your workload is finally picking up. You have three exams and a ton of assignments to complete within a week, and your professors may be doing little to support you during this time. On top of that you may have work, and things going on in your personal life that keep you busy. You also have a social life, because your twenties are the prime era for exploring yourself, going out and having fun. You may be incredibly stressed and the last thing you want to do is make art. However, there is much evidence to support art as a therapeutic practice and stress reliever. And the best part is, you do not have to be creative to participate.
What is art therapy? Art therapy began as a practice in the 1940s, but increased in popularity by the 1970s. It encourages the patient to interpret, express, and resolve emotions and thoughts through the art making process. This practice allows the patient to enter the process with a problem, and work towards a solution through thinking creatively. In a traditional sense, a therapist may guide the patient through a series of questions, and use the patient's art as a tool for finding a solution to their troubles. Alternatively, art therapy can also be done independently from the comfort of one’s home by being creative however they see fit. Art therapy draws on one's creative skills (no matter how strong), and allows them to express internal emotions this way. However, art therapy is not limited to visual art, it can also include dancing, acting, and music or performing.
Art therapy was found to be beneficial for those suffering an array of mental illnesses, including, but not limited to mood disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, low self esteem, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Sometimes, people do not know what they are feeling, or have not been diagnosed with any of the previously mentioned illnesses, so taking the words you cannot seem to verbalize, and communicating them into an art piece can be a healthy way to express one's thoughts. Making art can also assist in one’s challenging or violent behaviors, as it allows the patient to take their anger or frustrations out on something without causing harm to others. There are also a variety of skills that children and adults can learn from making art such as creativity, confidence, problem solving, perseverance, focus, non-verbal communication, receiving and giving constructive feedback, collaboration, dedication, and accountability. While college students likely already have a majority of these skills, it does not hurt to improve them through the art making process.
So you’re probably wondering now, how can this help me? Well during that stressful week, take some time out of your day to be creative, whether it be five minutes or five hours. The hardest part is making that time and beginning the creative activity. Draw some stick figures, or a whole portrait. Pick up an instrument or sing your heart out. Just be creative and feel the stress fall away.
About The Author:
Kade Miller '25
Art Education
Entrepreneurial LeadHERship Fall 2023 Student
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