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While substance abuse disorders themselves are a physical dependence on drugs or alcohol, these problems often stem from underlying mental health problems and can bleed into several areas of a person’s life. For a person to find lasting recovery from addiction, their treatment plan should consider all these factors. Art therapy is one effective tool used in some treatment programs that can promote comprehensive healing for those in recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction. Banyan’s Chicago addiction treatment center is sharing more about the benefits of art therapy for addiction and some art therapy activities that can make recovery more positive.
Sometimes words fail us, and it can be hard to articulate emotions or fears. Art therapy is a form of therapy that uses the creative process to help people explore their emotions. The goal of art therapy is to make people more aware of their feelings and give them an alternative way of working through them to promote better mental health.
Because mental illness and addiction are often connected, recovery art therapy ideas for substance abuse specifically focus on helping patients address their underlying emotions that may be contributing to their addiction and, in some cases, making their substance abuse worse. Using a variety of art therapy group ideas for addiction, patients, under the supervision and guidance of a trained art therapist, can use creative outlets and mediums to connect with their deepest emotions.
Cognitive benefits for addiction recovery include:
Especially when patients are hesitant to open verbally with their therapist, art therapy helps them to express themselves in nonverbal ways. Art therapy activities for recovering addicts have been shown to help break down a patient’s walls, promote emotional healing, and even improve a patient’s communication skills.1 To see the best results, art therapy should be used as a treatment method at a residential or partial hospitalization rehab.
Art therapy is about more than just painting a pretty picture. Trained therapists will use different art therapy prompts and techniques during addiction support groups to boost the healing process and see the best results for their patients.
Below are some common art therapy techniques used to treat addiction:
Patients receiving art therapy for their addiction may also engage in group therapy with other patients to encourage peer support and help them interact with others in similar situations. By adding art to the mix, patients can bond over their activities and connect.
Along with the different techniques used to induce healing, various substance abuse art therapy activities utilize different mediums. At our Illinois addiction treatment center, we encourage patients to engage in these various creative outlets throughout their recovery journey.
So, art therapy activity ideas that you can incorporate into your addiction recovery include:
If you are not working with an art therapist, you can still use these art therapy activities for substance abuse on your own. Do not be afraid to get creative with your personal resources. There is no wrong way to do art. The important thing is that the form of art you choose leaves you feeling better.
At Banyan Treatment Centers, we believe that art therapy and the brain go together and can be an effective means of helping some people heal and recover. Our Illinois drug rehab offers a variety of substance abuse art therapy activities to give our patients a comprehensive approach to recovery. This holistic approach to treatment gives each patient the greatest chance of finding lasting success in their sobriety journey.
For more information about our other therapies offered, call Banyan Chicago today at 888-280-4763.
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