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Art is a fantastic way to communicate emotions that people otherwise have a hard time expressing. For this reason, it’s become more common for a rehab center to offer art therapy among its services. However, few people actually know the benefits of this expressive, holistic treatment.

What Is Art Therapy?

young teen male painting during art therapy for teensArt counseling is a type of holistic care that involves expressing feelings and thoughts through artistic means. In general, it can involve painting, coloring, drawing, or sculpting. Also, art therapy can include nearly any kind of performance art.

The main goal behind art counseling is to get people to express themselves. In fact, creative expression is a great way to get them to open up. It’s also a good option for those who might lack the words or knowledge to express how they feel. Because of that, art therapy for teens is a popular means of reaching teens.

According to the American Art Therapy Association, it uses the creative process to improve people’s emotional, mental and physical well-being. It also claims that art counseling is useful for people of all ages. However, it admits that this strategy has a more significant impact on adolescents and young adults.

What Are the Benefits of Art Therapy?

Fortunately, a number of benefits come with using this form of therapy. Everyone responds to creative expression differently, but the benefits can be helpful in the recovery process.

Studies show that people who are open to the idea of art therapy tend to benefit more. Of course, some benefits are more common than others, including:

  • Increased self-esteem and self-awareness
  • Reduced stress
  • Enhanced development of interpersonal skills
  • Better conflict resolution skills
  • Improved anger and behavior management

All of these benefits can aid people who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction. For that reason, art therapy for teens is a great choice for those needing substance abuse treatment.

What to Expect From Art Counseling

In general, art counseling starts like any other form of therapy. People spend time talking with a therapist and creating a treatment plan. The main difference, though, is that the sessions involve some kind of creative expression through art.

During this form of experiential therapy for teens, the therapist typically allows them to express themselves before providing observations. The therapist might ask questions such as, “How do you feel about the artistic process?” He or she may also ask teens to talk about certain memories or traumatic events while they create art.

Other times, the therapist might simply observe the artistic process. During this time, he or she might not provide feedback or guidance. Instead, the goal is to see what the teens create on their own.

Once again, the point of art counseling is to get people to express themselves. Providing too much guidance limits their ability to show emotions.

Reach Out to Foothills at Red Oak Recovery for Teen Addiction Treatment

Are you looking for teen therapy services in NC for your son? If so, consider reaching out to Foothills at Red Oak Recovery. We specialize in providing addiction treatment for teens.

At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, we pride ourselves on offering a full lineup of programs for adolescents. Our goal is to create individual treatment plans that address your teen’s specific needs. A few of the programs that we use include:

Don’t settle for rehab centers that only offer traditional therapy programs. Ask our staff about other benefits of holistic services, such as art therapy. Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery today at 866.300.5275 to learn more about the benefits of art therapy for teens.