Hav ing worked through ta l k-based
therapies in the past—and since—Lewis
found that through EXAT, “using art in the
healing process allowed for a strong relational
connection with the therapist”; however, while
EXAT lead to “a huge shift” in mood and
energy for Lewis, he wasn’t always aware of
what, in particular, had shifted.
“No-one but the artist truly knows what the
images may mean,” Anderson remarks of the
visual arts created in therapy sessions:
“They each have stories that go with them,
some known, some not expressed. An art
therapist does not interpret art for a client.
What can help in the healing process is to
very objectively ask questions about the piece,
without judgement or bias.”
In his sessions, Lewis experimented with
writing, painting, spoken-word and movement.
“Looking back, the body-based work was
most helpful as a lot of the depression was
stemming from an unhealthy body image,”
Lewis reflects, “I was able to get in touch with
my body and learned to be more comfortable
with my weight, which also assisted in abating
some of the depression.”
While he is no longer a client of EXAT,
Lewis continues to source therapeutic benefits
from creative outlets.
A Look Down the Line
While many, like Lewis, have grown as a
result of art therapy methods, the psychology
and science communities have also given
a thumbs-up by recognizing the healthy
influence of creativity.
In “Everyday Creative Activity as a Path to
Flourishing”, a study published by The Journal
of Positive Psychology, researchers found
that pursuing “creative goals” during a day
resulted in a person’s “positive psychological
functioning” for that day. Essentially, creativity
stimulates well-being during the days that it is
practiced.
Another report, The Arts and Human
Development: Learning Across the Lifespan,
published in partnership with the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services,
observed that, “Children attending a preschool
that used an arts integration model made greater
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