Individuals with mental health conditions may not always be verbally expressive; however, they may display emotions through creative expressions such as poetry, music, or art. The use of artistic expression can help them reflect on their thoughts, challenges, and desires. Vincent Van Gogh projected his turbulent emotional experiences onto the canvas. He once said: “What lives in art and is eternally living, is first of all the painter and then the painting.”
The healing power of art has long been recognized by artists around the world, but it is now emerging as an evidence-based therapeutic modality for a number of different mental health conditions, including trauma, PTSD, depression, and even schizophrenia. By creating new avenues for self-expression, art therapy provides invaluable benefits for people struggling with even severe mental health challenges. And now, with mounting evidence of efficacy, we are witnessing an increased integration of art therapy within mental health treatment.
