Finding Inspiration and Healing through Art
May is mental health awareness month, and we think it’s is a great opportunity to share with you the wonders that art can do for your well-being. The Children’s Day team asks you to take a break from the hustle and bustle of your daily routine to go out into your community and inspire yourself with the beauty that surrounds you!
Art is all around us… right here in Passaic there are community murals painted on buildings throughout the town and the town’s very own Third-Ward Park begins to blossom with all of spring’s flowers. What art can you find in your community?
Third Ward Park in mid Bloom
We think this is also a wonderful time to highlight how having a registered, board-certified art therapist on staff benefits our students, their families, and our community. Art therapy is used as a tool for strengthening resilience, fostering social-emotional growth, and developing effective self-regulation in our students in order to give them the skills to succeed!
So, what exactly is art therapy?
Well, the American Art Therapy Association says: “Through integrative methods, art therapy engages the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct from verbal articulation alone. Kinesthetic, sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities invite alternative modes of receptive and expressive communication, which can circumvent the limitations of language.”
Art therapy in practice can draw from any form of art like finger painting, coloring, or even sculpture. But, it’s not just arts and crafts! This form of therapy motivates individuals to express themselves freely rather than concentrate on refining certain skills. Our therapist Erica Bogart tailors her activities based on the child’s individual needs so they receive the best care possible.
Here are a few beneficial aspects of art therapy the Children’s Day team finds the most rewarding to our students and community:
Self-Discovery: Having the opportunity to express yourself without limitations allows a student to reveal and recognize what emotions they are feeling! This also allows the art therapist to work with the student to understand their emotions- and the reactions that stem from those emotions- from a mental health standpoint.
Self-Esteem: Engaging in the process of creating art provides our students with feelings of accomplishment and allows for them to strengthen their self-appreciation and confidence. Students can feel proud knowing that a unique work of art was made all by themselves!
Stress Relief: Whether it be anxiety, depression, or other emotional trauma; stressors can manifest themselves in negative mental/physical ways. Having a healthy way to cope allows you to relive some of that stress and live a happier life!
Check out AATA’s website for a library of heart-inspiring stories by therapists in the field:
https://arttherapy.org/story-library/
https://arttherapy.org/about-art-therapy/https://www.rtor.org/2018/07/10/benefits-of-art-therapy/