More addiction rehabilitation centers are starting to incorporate a wide range of experiential therapies to supplement more traditional programming – and with positive results.
In recent years, art therapy has gained more traction as an effective vehicle to help expedite recovery. In fact, one recent study found that nearly 40% of substance abuse treatment programs use art therapy as part of their standard curriculum.
Art Therapy in Recovery
While it is becoming more common, unfortunately, it is still not widely understood. If your team of addiction recovery professionals recommends the use of art therapy as part of your comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment, here are a few things you should know.
- It can help you process emerging emotions. Drugs and alcohol can often cloud your mind and numb your feelings. That’s why it’s common for those in detox to process memories and emotions that may have been buried. Using art therapy, you can learn how to gradually express thoughts that may be too powerful to confront directly.
- It’s about the journey, not the destination. Don’t worry if you’re not a Picasso or feel like you’re not the “creative type”. Art therapy isn’t about creating a masterpiece, it’s about allowing yourself to communicate how you feel and release any pent-up emotions that may be lingering underneath the surface.
- It’s been around longer than you might think. While art therapy has been gaining in popularity in recent years, it’s actually been used by therapists since 1945 to help veterans overcome the trauma of serving in combat missions. Since then, it’s been used by the Veteran’s Administration at psychiatric facilities around the nation.
- Your art therapist can help you find the medium that’s right for you. One of the many benefits of participating in art therapy is that it is highly customizable. Based on your history of substance abuse and your goals for recovery, your recovery team might recommend a variety of therapies that leverage painting, drawing, dancing, sculpting and more.
Art therapy can help those on a path to addiction recovery deal with stress and uncomfortable emotions in a healthy way – serving as a valuable tool for personal growth and lasting sobriety.
Holistic Addiction Treatment at English Mountain Recovery
At English Mountain Recovery, we firmly believe in the power of holistic and 12-step based addiction recovery treatment protocols. In addition to art therapy, we offer a variety of other holistic treatment opportunities including equine therapy, music therapy, spiritual support and more. To learn more about our comprehensive addiction treatment and relapse prevention services, call (877) 615-8569.
