Integrating Art Therapy into Mental Health Care: A New Perspective for Clinicians

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in complementary therapies for mental health, as more healthcare professionals recognise the value of alternative, more holistic approaches. One such therapy is art therapy, which offers unique benefits; particularly for patients who may be resistant to conventional methods. As defined by the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative processes, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship¹.

Art therapy helps patients express emotions and experiences that may be difficult or impossible to articulate in words, especially during challenging mental health crises¹. The process of creating art, rather than the final product itself, is integral to the therapeutic benefits. This creative engagement can improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, and reduce distress².

Despite being relatively new, research has identified a range of physical and mental health benefits of art therapy³. However, the evidence – while promising – remains limited regarding its effectiveness for serious mental conditions⁴. Yet, it has been shown to support patients’ growth by increasing insight, decreasing stress, healing trauma, enhancing cognitive and neurosensory capacities, improving interpersonal relationships, as well as boosting self-esteem by reinforcing a sense of self-worth⁵.

While art therapy is something that Orchestrate Health does not currently specialise in or offer to patients, this blog aims to explore its benefits and application, and provide insights and practical tips for integrating art therapy into clinical practice. In this way, we aim to support healthcare professionals in enhancing patient outcomes through emerging treatments in mental health, such as this.

Integrating art therapy in clinical practice: principles and history

Art therapy is a unique and dynamic approach to mental health care – engaging the mind, body, and spirit through creative processes. Its integrative methods provide alternative modes of communication that go beyond verbal articulation, making it a valuable tool in clinical practice. It makes use of kinesthetic, sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities to give voice to experiences that facilitates individual, communal, and societal transformation.

Core principles of art therapy

Art therapy operates on several core principles that drive its effectiveness in mental health treatment. It engages patients in a creative process that can be cathartic and insightful, helping them make sense of their emotions and experiences in ways that traditional therapies may fall short. It is also heavily adaptable to various emotional states and therapeutic needs, highlighting its therapeutic potential⁶:

• Cathartic expression: art therapy taps into the foundational human activity of creating and making sense of the world, similarly to how children initially learn to interact with their environment. This process can be especially liberating in helping patients make sense of complex psychological emotions, amidst the struggles that come with living with mental health conditions.
• No artistic skill required: patients do not need any artistic talent to benefit from art therapy. It allows them to express and process thoughts and emotions non-verbally, facilitating a deeper and new understanding of their inner state.
• Accessing the subconscious: art can bypass the logical and analytical parts of the brain, allowing participants to access and subsequently process hidden fears, defences, and important symbols within the subconscious.
• Self-awareness: creating art often brings unexpected memories, sensations, and emotions to the surface. Patients can explore these with curiosity, enhancing self-awareness.
• Material selection: the choice of art materials ranges from structured to more fluid, which can influence the therapeutic process. Structured materials like graphite offers control and certainty, which is beneficial for anxiety. While fluid materials like watercolours and clay encourage intuitive, playful self-expression.

Historical context and key figures

Art therapy, as we know it today, has roots stretching back centuries⁷. The use of art for healing purposes can be traced to ancient cultures, such as Navajo sand paintings and African sculptures, as well as Egyptian and Greek practices where visual art played a crucial role in rituals and healing^8-9. The Greeks, in particular, believed that art could restore balance and harmony to the mind, body, and spirit – the term ‘therapy’ is even derived from the Greek word ‘therapeia’ which means healing, or service⁹.

The formal recognition of art therapy as a distinct field began in the early 20th century. The term “art therapy” was coined in the 1940s by Adrian Hill in England and simultaneously by Margaret Naumburg in the United States; someone often referred to as the “mother of art therapy”⁸. Naumburg’s work in dynamically oriented art therapy, along with the evolving ideas about psychology and the unconscious, provided a foundation for the profession’s development.

As art therapy continues to evolve, it remains grounded in these historical contexts and core principles, offering innovative and effective approaches to mental health care. Understanding its origins and methodologies can help healthcare professionals integrate art therapy into their practice, enhancing patient outcomes and fostering a whole person approach to treatment.

The psychological benefits of art therapy: enhancing mental health through creativity

Art therapy offers a unique approach to mental health care, leveraging the power of creative expression to facilitate emotional release, reflection, and healing. By engaging in artistic activities, patients can explore and articulate emotions that might be difficult to express verbally⁵. The practise therefore operates on several psychological mechanisms which contribute to its effectiveness that, at its core, provides an outlet for expression. This allows individuals to communicate emotions and experiences that might be challenging to articulate with words:

• Facilitating emotional release: the act of creating art enables patients to release buried emotions in a safe and constructive manner.  
• Encouraging reflection: through the process of creating and then reflecting on their artwork, patients gain insights into their emotions and behaviours which helps in understanding underlying issues and promotes self-awareness.
• Promoting healing: engaging in art-making activities can activate the brain’s reward system, fostering a sense of accomplishment and boosting self-esteem. This is particularly beneficial for individuals struggling with low self-worth or depression.

Benefits for specific conditions

Art therapy has shown promise as a non-pharmacological, complementary therapy to help treat a variety of mental health conditions – including anxiety, depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, and neurodivergent conditions like autism¹⁰ – as it permits patients to open up and share their feelings, views, and experiences in a completely new way:

• Anxiety and depression: art therapy can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression in those struggling with medication non-adherence¹¹ by providing a means to express/vent and process negative emotions¹⁰. It helps patients develop improved emotional regulation and acceptance, as well as fostering goal-orientated actions¹², leading to improved mood and reduced symptoms¹⁰. Studies have demonstrated that painting, for instance, can help patients project and vent their fears and anxieties, thereby improving their overall emotional state¹².
• Schizophrenia: art therapy is also beneficial for patients with schizophrenia; many of whom remain symptomatic with a high suicide rate, despite pharmacotherapy¹³. It helps process emotional, cognitive, and psychotic experiences, reducing symptoms and boosting self-esteem¹³. Group painting therapy, for example, has been shown in some studies to reduce psychotic symptoms and improve social function in patients with schizophrenia¹⁴. in another study, art-therapy interventions helped to foster a decline in symptomatic manifestations of schizophrenia to a greater extent than in patients who received standard care only¹⁵. Interestingly, it was also noted that – by assessing characteristics of paintings – healthcare professionals can also judge patients’ health condition¹⁰.
• Autism: art therapy offers a non-verbal mode of communication that is particularly effective for individuals with autism¹⁰. It allows therapists to connect with patients in a comfortable and engaging manner, facilitating better understanding and treatment of the condition. Art therapy not only aids in treatment but also provides insights into the patients’ problems, making it a valuable diagnostic tool¹⁶.

How and why art therapy works

Art therapy’s effectiveness is rooted in its ability to engage conscious and subconscious mind in unique ways¹⁷:

• Reducing stress: creating art requires individuals to focus on the task at hand in the present moment, which can naturally reduce stress and anxiety. The flexibility and freedom that are inherent in artistic expression allow for patients to express themselves in an entirely new way in which they haven’t been able to do before, fostering emotional release.
• Enhancing cognitive abilities: research has previously identified a deep link between brain function and art – it’s been shown to improve cognitive functions. Engaging in creative activities can induce a flow state, whereby patients are entirely present, promoting brain healing and restoration. This can lead to improved memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
• Improving self-esteem: completing an art project that an individual has found challenging, and channelled their emotions into, can instil a sense of pride and accomplishment. Reflecting on this artwork also helps individuals understand their emotions better, promoting greater self-awareness.
• Encouraging emotional expression: for those who find it difficult to verbalise their feelings and emotions – or for those who can’t due to clinical manifestations such as trauma – art therapy provides the ideal starting point to be able to begin opening up. It facilitates a creative and safe space for emotional expression, enabling individuals to explore and release their emotions in ways which they haven’t been able to in the past.

Art therapy, with its myriad psychological benefits, stands as a powerful complement to traditional mental health treatments. By integrating creative therapies into their practice, healthcare professionals can offer an effective approach to patient care, addressing both the mind and the spirit.

Art therapy as a complement to traditional approaches

Integrating creative mental health therapies such as art therapy with traditional treatment methods can further bolster and enhance optimal patient outcomes. Art therapy offers unique benefits that complement Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), medication, and psychotherapy; providing a truly ‘whole person’ approach to mental health treatment.

Art therapy allows patients to express and explore their emotions in ways that traditional therapies may not facilitate. It helps to break down barriers and encourages open communication, making it a valuable tool for mental health professionals. For instance, patients who struggle to articulate their feelings verbally in CBT sessions may find it easier to express themselves through art. This process can reveal underlying issues that might not surface in conventional talk therapy, thus providing deeper insights for the therapist when compared to standard tests alone¹⁰.

Additionally, integrating art therapy with pharmacotherapy can enhance treatment effectiveness. A study indicated that patients receiving both art psychotherapy and medication experienced a significant decrease in depressive symptoms compared to those receiving medication alone. Although more rigorous research is needed, these findings suggest that art therapy can serve as a valuable adjunctive treatment¹⁸.

Integrative treatment plans

CBT and art therapy: sessions could begin with a traditional CBT, focusing on cognitive restructuring, followed by an art therapy session where patients can visually represent their cognitive distortions and coping strategies. This could then help patients to physically see their thought patterns and work through them creatively, enhancing the therapeutic process.

Medication and art therapy: this hinges onpatients maintaining their medication regimen while attending regular art therapy sessions. The art therapist collaborates with the psychiatrist to monitor progress and adjust treatments as necessary. Here, patients would benefit from the physiological stabilising effects of the therapeutic, while using art therapy to address emotional and psychological challenges.

Psychotherapy and art therapy: traditional talk therapy sessions are interspersed with art therapy sessions allows patients to more deeply explore and express feelings that are difficult to verbalise in new ways.This could enhanceemotional processing and self-awareness, making psychotherapy sessions more productive.

Enhanced mental health outcomes

Art therapy offers a distinct avenue for expression, reflection, and emotional release, making it particularly effective for patients who may struggle with conventional methods. By engaging the mind, body, and spirit, art therapy facilitates a deeper understanding and processing of emotions, significantly benefiting those with conditions such as anxiety, depression, and for neurodiverse individuals. The evidence supporting art therapy’s effectiveness underscores its potential to improve patient outcomes and foster a sense of self-worth and resilience.

At Orchestrate Health, we recognise the value of integrating art therapy into at-home treatment settings. Therefore, we always encourage healthcare professionals to explore and incorporate creative therapies like art therapy into their practice. By doing so, they can offer their patients a more comprehensive and enriched treatment experience, ultimately leading to better mental health outcomes.

It is clear that art therapy can have truly profound impacts on our mental wellbeing, with Margaret Naumburg, a pioneer in this field, famously stating: “I could say things with colour and shape that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”

References

• https://www.arttherapy.org/upload/2017_DefinitionofProfession.pdf
• https://arttherapy.org/about-art-therapy/
• https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/healing-through-art
• https://www.psychology.org/resources/what-is-art-therapy/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9472646/
• https://medium.com/@mprudhomme/basic-principles-of-art-therapy-14f55f86ac7e
• https://mindfulartstherapy.com.au/the-history-of-art-therapy-till-now/
• https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-25095-001
• https://mindfulartstherapy.com.au/the-history-of-art-therapy-till-now/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8397377/
• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10503307.2018.1425933
• https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01203/full
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11920-020-01188-7
• https://karger.com/psp/article-abstract/44/5/314/284875/Art-Therapy-May-Reduce-Psychopathology-in
• https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0112348
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12098-020-03430-9
• https://www.husson.edu/online/blog/2024/02/benefits-of-art-therapy
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9819126/