Art therapy bridges the gap between artistic expression and mental health care. Led by credentialed mental health professionals, it uses various forms of creative expression to help individuals process, express, and navigate complex emotions that may be difficult to verbalize.
For nurses and other healthcare professionals working on the front lines, the emotional toll of the job can lead to stress, compassion fatigue, anxiety, or even more serious challenges like moral injury and PTSD. Research suggests that art therapy can be particularly beneficial for healthcare workers, offering a creative outlet to manage stress and support mental well-being.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or seeking new ways to care for your mental health, this article explores how art therapy works and its key benefits for nurses and others alike.
What Is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is the use of visual arts, creative writing, theatre, dance, music, or other art forms to help people reach their mental, cognitive, or even physical health goals. People of all ages and backgrounds may benefit from art therapy, and artistic abilities aren’t necessary.
When it comes to mental illnesses or disorders, a review of 413 reports on art therapy found that people with depression and anxiety, dementia or Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism, and other challenges often saw positive outcomes (including relief from symptoms).
Evidence also shows that art therapy can help caregivers and those with physical illnesses. For instance, a study from the American Psychiatric Association discusses the use of art therapy by caregivers and cancer patients. It found that regular artistic creation reduced caregivers’ stress and anxiety and increased their positive emotions. The study also discovered that cancer patients who undergo just four hours of art therapy experienced decreased negative and increased positive emotions.
Stimulates Cognitive Function
Creating art is more than just a form of self-expression; it is also a powerful way to stimulate cognitive function. Cognitive impairment refers to problems with memory, decision-making, focus, and learning, among other challenges, and it’s often degenerative – making intervention essential.
When a person engages in an art creation process such as painting or drawing, several different brain functions come together to orchestrate the activity. For example, determining a subject, how to portray it, and where to place each mark or brushstroke requires decision-making.
Furthermore, motor skills are engaged when physically controlling the movements of art implements, and visual processing functions provide the feedback necessary to achieve the desired aesthetic outcome.
When different areas of the brain work together in this manner, it creates new neural pathways and strengthens existing ones. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, is crucial in adapting to new experiences and learning new skills. It can even help the brain recover from injury.
One example of this comes from a review and analysis of existing research, which was published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances. It concluded that visual arts-based interventions improved stroke victims’ success in daily activities and their upper limb function.
As a nurse, you may treat patients with cognitive impairments. Reaching out to a certified art therapist for assistance may be worth discussing with the care team.
Reduces Stress
Professional and informal caregivers often experience immense stress and burnout, which may be reduced through art therapy. Creating art— visual, musical, dramatic, or written—is inherently immersive. Deep concentration on art can quiet the noise that clutters the brain and causes anxiety or stress.
Any artist can attest to this experience, and scientific evidence backs them up. In one study published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, the cortisol levels of 39 participants of varying ages and backgrounds were measured before and after a 45-minute art-making session.
The results were profound. Seventy-five percent of participants had significantly lower cortisol levels after the session. In written responses, they reported that the activity was relaxing, enjoyable, and freeing.
Enhances Emotional Expression & Regulation
Art therapy encourages patients to explore and express emotions – something people with and without diagnoses may struggle with. To facilitate this, a certified art therapist creates a safe space and guides patients in the artistic process. As patients look inward to engage with their emotions and experiences, they can interpret their artwork to gain understanding, self-awareness, and a sense of control.
An interesting study published in Scientific Reports demonstrates the power of art for expressing and regulating emotions. Service members and veterans exhibiting post-traumatic stress symptoms created masks at the beginning and end of an eight-session art therapy protocol. People were asked to view the masks without context.
The objective participants consistently interpreted masks created early in the process as conveying negative emotions. Those made at the end seemed to show positive emotions. This suggests that participants experienced an emotional transition.
Other studies show that creative engagement activates areas of the brain involved in emotional regulation. Therefore, it is likely that art therapy can help people learn to manage their emotions.
Emotional regulation skills are essential in caregiving fields. If you’re experiencing difficulty with your emotional state, perhaps art therapy can help.
Improves Mood
A positive mood can help the body recover from illness and injury. Artistic endeavors can release dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone that drives motivation and creates a sense of pleasure.
Even without art therapy, creating art for art’s sake allows people to express themselves and work through problems. Exploring novel ideas or techniques can also create excitement and fun. All of this can make creating art a satisfying, mood-lifting activity.
A study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy supports this line of thinking. Researchers used brain imaging to detect blood flow during various art activities. The results showed that when subjects were engaged in art versus resting, there was a significant increase in blood flow in the prefrontal cortex, which helps with emotional regulation and is part of the brain’s reward system.
Since being in a good mood can help with recovery and promote a general sense of well-being, art therapy may help patients and nurses improve their quality of life.
Strengthens Focus & Mindfulness
Engaging in the creative process through art therapy can strengthen focus and mindfulness. For example, as an artist paints a picture, they pay attention to the feel and sound of the brush, the careful mixing of colors, and the precise placement of each brushstroke. Engaging in these tactile activities requires focusing on present-moment awareness, which is at the root of mindfulness.
Furthermore, because art therapy encourages mindfulness through these mechanisms, it is also an effective way to reduce intrusive thoughts. These disruptive notions are often driven by anxiety over “what-if” scenarios. Focusing on one’s art reduces anxiety by clearing the mind of anything but the moment at hand.
This ability to shift focus and reduce anxiety can be invaluable in the healthcare setting, where both patients and providers may be subject to high levels of stress.
