Emotional Art Therapy
Alexis Ramirez
Abstract:
Landscape painting, especially within the realm of art therapy, can significantly enhance the articulation of an individual's emotional condition. This therapeutic modality can clarify an individual's perspective on life and provide techniques to improve it. This essay draws upon diverse case studies focused on individuals with severe illnesses who incorporate landscape paintings and art therapy into their treatment plans. I present my research on Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) for individuals suffering from chronic illnesses, mind-body techniques for individuals with aphasia, art therapy for individuals experiencing immigration and refugee trauma, as well as other situations where art education is utilized for mental health therapeutic purposes.
Keywords:
Art Therapy, Landscape Paintings, Emotion, Nature
How to Cite this Paper: Ramirez, Alexis. 2024. “Emotional Art Therapy.” CUNY Manifold, June 2024. https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/read/emotional-art-therapy/section/e2c39aad-4374-4f45-b1e2-2c308701117d
Landscape art, especially in art therapy, can be a huge benefit when it comes to expressing how a person is feeling. This kind of therapy can illustrate a person’s perspective on life and provide ways to improve it. Before I focus on some examples of painting landscapes, I will explain how art therapy in a broader sense is beneficial for treatment plans. This essay draws upon diverse case studies including individuals with severe illnesses and the treatment strategies implemented by organizations through the utilization of art therapy. I conduct research on Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) for individuals suffering from chronic illnesses, mind-body techniques for individuals with aphasia, art therapy for individuals experiencing immigration and refugee trauma, as well as other situations where art education is utilized for mental health therapeutic purposes.
In the article “Mind-body and art therapies impact on emotional regulation in patients and with chronic diseases: a pragmatic mixed methods randomized controlled trial” by A. Le Rhun et al., it mentions how various people in France with chronic disease can be treated differently and, as a result, can change their well-being. According to the author of the article, “chronic diseases constitute a real upheaval in patients’ lives; a ruptured sense of security…” (A. Le Rhun et al., 2023, p. 2). Also, as stated in the article, "they result in a substantial deterioration of their mental well-being and quality of life…” (A. Le Rhun et al., 2023, p. 2). This explains why the majority of people with chronic diseases will change their behavior due to the environment and/or people around them. Due to this happening to them, there is an organization mentioned in the article called “Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE),” which can be helpful to improve and bring endurance to their self-care and psychosocial skills (A. Le Rhun et al., 2023, p. 2).
The group aims to facilitate emotional expression and alleviate individuals' pain associated with suppressed emotions. Moreover, the author emphasized in the article the importance of recognizing and embracing one's feelings instead of suppressing them (A. Le Rhun et al., 2023, p. 2). Hence, the organization provides a diverse range of treatments, such as art therapy, to their patients. Moreover, as mentioned in the essay, artistic creativity serves as the primary means of expression and communication (A. Le Rhun et al., 2023, p. 2). In the end, they exhibited enhancements in their psychological condition, notwithstanding their persistent illness. According to the text, it has been mentioned that there is a potential to greatly enhance the ability to regulate emotions (A. Le Rhun et al., 2023, p. 12).
While the previous article discussed the treatment of chronic diseases in France, this article focuses on individuals with a disorder that impacts their speech and writing abilities. The article “Mind-body and creative arts therapies for people with aphasia: a mixed-method systematic review” by M. Pieri et al. is about people in the UK who have aphasia, which is having a risk of developing negative feelings and having to rely on someone to communicate. As the author stated in the text, “cognitive demand on everyday tasks can lead to pwa to develop negative feelings…” (M.Pieri et al., 2023, p. 2). Also, as stated in the article, “a significant risk factor for both post-stroke depression and anxiety…” (M.Pieri et al., 2023, p. 2). This both proves that having a disorder like aphasia can create so many problems in a person’s life when it comes to their social life.
So, a study was conducted in order to extract data from the patient’s interactions with the test. Furthermore, as stated in the article, “to identify interventions that use mind-body and/or creative arts (M.Pieri et al., 2023, , p. 3). So they used various tests such as Taiji, observational drawing, drama class, theater workshop, and more (M.Pieri et al., 2023, p. 11). When it comes to the effectiveness of art therapy, it's a good experience for the patient to try and see what their limits are when it comes to their interaction with art. Lastly, as stated in the text, “...described by participants as a beneficial experience that had a positive impact on themselves (M.Pieri et al., 2023, p. 17).
When it comes to the health of the people who participated in art therapies, whether it was for their treatment or to see what ability is being limited by their condition, it can be said the same for the patients who don’t have a condition. In the article, “Out of our minds, Art therapy and mindfulness with refugees, political violence, and trauma” by Kalmanowitz Debra et al. touches on patients who have escaped from their home country or had to flee due to complications. As the author stated in the article, “...flee their country as a result of fear of serious harm, risk of violence, persecution, or a threat to their lives” (Kalmanowitz et al. 2016, p. 1). Also, as the author stated in the text, “The consequences of political violence extend over many years” (Kalmanowitz et al. 2016, p. 2). This piece of evidence shows that for a very long time, many people suffered due to the consequences of what happened in their home country, such as wars, violent protests, and even assaults from strangers. That is why being in therapy can play a part in improving their life, even if it’s just a little.
The article briefly discussed a patient and explained how art therapy helped the refugee. In the article, it states, “A young man from Somalia arrived to the group late and flustered” (Kalmanowitz et al. 2016, p. 4). Also, as it continues in the article, “...created an unsettled feeling in the studio that had already begun (Kalmanowitz et al. 2016, , p. 4). Furthermore, “the art therapist listened as Amiin recounted his experience over and over again (Kalmmanowitz et al. 2016, , p. 4). All this evidence shows that a patient named Amiin was nervous and afraid that, because of his tardiness, he would be sent back to his home country. But instead, the therapist suggested that he draw, which he did. As a result, it showed how quickly his behavior has started to change. As stated in the text, “This seemed to contain him, hold the problems, and move him from the confused state…” (Kalmanowitz et al. 2016, p. 4).
When it comes to art, the refugees were able to express how they were feeling mentally in their works of art, as well as show the trauma they had to endure. Furthermore, as stated in the article, “the use of art emphasizes a connection between the body, biology, and the mind” (Kalmanowitz et al. 2016, p. 2). The refugees were from different countries, so they were able to share their experience from different perspectives and mindsets. As the therapy continued, the refugees were able to organize their way of thinking, such as by being in a group. When they were in groups, it was easier to “share and normalize behavior and expression” rather than being isolated (Kalmanowitz et al. 2016, p. 3). Furthermore, the refugees were able to regulate, control their emotions, and find a way to act. As the article has stated, “moment awareness on many levels, including, for example, the senses, leads to action (Kalmanowitz et al. 2016, p. 4).
So now that everything has been explained as to how the fundamentals of art therapy can help people, here are some of the art therapists’ blogs about their patients’ artworks. The therapist’s name is Sara Roizen, and she explains how she helps her patients paint their feelings in artwork called “Emotional Landscape." As she quotes, “having clients create their own symbols for inner resilience using nature imagery (Roizen, 2018, para. 2). Also, she says that when it comes to communicating about the patient’s emotions, it seems easier when it comes to making art. Also, as Roizen quotes, “they were able to identify their resilient qualities quite easily” (2018, para. 3). That's why she needed to create a group that encompasses a range of emotions.
Within her group, she instructed her patients to engage in brainstorming and utilize the references she had gathered from other contemporary artists to explore how these references could be relevant to their own experiences. According to Roizen (2018), individuals should strive to connect with their emotions to the extent that they feel at ease. In addition, she provides them with art materials that they can utilize to depict their surroundings and also to create a sense of ease in their choice of medium. Finally, she instructed them to demonstrate a reaction to their work as a means of explaining why they were experiencing those emotions. According to the author, individuals are instructed to provide a written response to the artwork in the form of a poem, question, or dialogue (Roizen, 2018, para.9). In addition to everything mentioned, she elucidates her rationale for selecting landscape art as a means of conveying feelings. Finally, as the author asserts, "placing emotions within a larger inspired setting may create additional symbolic room for emotions."(Roizen, 2018, paragraph 10).
After talking about the blog of an art therapist, now this is about an art teacher sharing her experience about the emotional landscape. Her name is Lindsay Stripling, and she first mentions how she was able to learn and develop her skills in art. She then explains how she was able to make her own artworks based on using nature. Based on Stripling, as she quotes, “Using themes of nature as a tool to explore psychological tropes” (Stripling, para.7). Also, as she states, “...make us feel small and connected to something much bigger than ourselves” (Stripling, para.7). Lastly, she talks about how her work was able to help in other places. Lastly, as she quotes, “...worked on Hope Cards for KindSide, a mental wellness company focusing on tools that merge art and therapy” (Stripling, para.8). Based on everything she said, she expressed how interesting it is to work with nature in her artworks, especially in the emotional landscape.
To sum it all up, the emotional landscape can play a huge part in showing a person’s perspective when it comes to their emotions. From studies in different countries to blogs that people shared their experience when it comes to art therapy shows how beneficial it can be. Even if it’s not a cure, it can at least control the person’s feelings and have a sense of relief in releasing it all in a work.
Alexis Ramirez is an undergraduate student at Brooklyn College with an Arts major. His essay is about how art therapy can be a huge benefit to those who are struggling in life.
Works Cited
Le Rhun, A., et al. “Mind–body and art therapies impact on emotional regulation in patients with chronic diseases: A pragmatic mixed-methods randomized controlled trial.” BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, vol. 23, no. 1, 28 Sept. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04173-8.
Pieri, M., et al. “Mind-body and creative arts therapies for people with aphasia: A mixed-method systematic review.” Aphasiology, vol. 37, no. 3, 4 Mar. 2023, pp. 504–562, https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2022.2031862.
Kalmanowitz, Debra, and Rainbow T.H. Ho. “Out of our mind. art therapy and mindfulness with refugees, political violence and trauma.” The Arts in Psychotherapy, vol. 49, July 2016, pp. 57–65,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2016.05.012.
Farber, Adam. “Emotional Landscapes.” Art Therapy Spot, 23 Dec. 2019, arttherapyspot.com/2018/02/10/emotional-landscapes/.
Stripling Lindsay. “Painting the Emotional Landscape.”Communication Arts , 20 Oct. 2022,www.commarts.com/columns/stripling.