Art Therapy Group

Sometimes spoken language is not enough; when you are struggling with a mental health disorder, your feelings may be too overwhelming to adequately verbalize, and often there can be aspects to your life you are not comfortable talking about. Through our Art Therapy Group, you are given the tools to articulate these experiences visually in a supportive space. Alternative avenues to emotional expression can be particularly important for clients who have experienced trauma, who struggle with interpersonal function, and those who have difficulty opening up in traditional therapy. Art therapy can therefore be a vital component of treatment for many forms of psychological illness.

The process of self-examination through creative work can be profoundly liberating, as you are encouraged to create whatever comes to your mind and follow your own artistic and emotional instincts. Technical skill is irrelevant; the value in art therapy comes not from a visually impressive finished product, but from the creative process and intent. The benefits of our Art Therapy Group include:

• Externalizing your feelings in a tangible way and gaining insight into your own psychological state.
• Relieving painful emotions in a creative manner.
• Becoming cognizant of feelings you were unaware you had and uncovering obstacles to healing.
• Using your artistic production as a springboard for conversation and connection.
• Feeling understood and validated by both your therapist and your peers, expanding your ability to communicate.
• Enhanced confidence, imagination, and concentration abilities as you explore your creative potential and give form to your emotional state.

The benefits of art therapy include a biochemical component as well. When we view art, our brains release dopamine, the same chemical that is released when people fall in love, creating feelings of wellness, happiness, and pleasure. Engaging with art engages the innate healing abilities of your brain, giving you the opportunity to experience a sense of well-being even as you explore distressing topics. As such, art therapy can be especially useful for those who do not feel comfortable fully engaging in traditional psychotherapy.

Since our founding, Bridges to Recovery has integrated art therapy in our mental health treatment program with great success, and we believe it adds tremendous value to the therapeutic process. Working in a small group environment with the guidance of our experienced and compassionate art therapists, you are able to artistically experiment and share in a way that is meaningful to you within a supportive, accepting atmosphere. You not only experience the benefits of your own creative endeavors, but also bear witness to the artistic process of others, which can spark ideas, relieve feelings of isolation, and offer new perspectives that help you on your journey to healing. By sharing creative production, you form bonds with your peers that you can carry into other therapy groups, which gives you a sense of belonging. The insights you gain in art therapy can immediately be integrated in the larger treatment picture as you can take your discoveries and apply them to your work in other modalities, fully benefiting from the possibilities afforded by our immersive therapeutic environment.

We encourage you to contact us to learn more about the treatments offered at Bridges to Recovery, and how we can help you or your loved one start on the path to wellness.