The Healing Power of Creativity
The Science Behind Creativity
The human brain is a marvel, and its ability to respond to art and creativity proves just that. Whether through observation or personal creation, engaging with art stimulates various regions of the brain that are associated with pleasure and reward, as well as decision-making and critical thinking.
As people engage in the creative art-making process, the brain releases a hormone called dopamine. This neurotransmitter sends chemical messages related to pleasure, motivation, and learning. The chemical release of dopamine not only provides feelings of pleasure but also reinforces a desire to participate in the stimulating activity again and again.
Depression and DBT
Depression is a complex and pervasive mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. People who struggle with depression often lack the motivation and desire to participate in daily tasks, even activities that may have been rewarding. One evidence-based practice used to treat people struggling with depression is called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
DBT is grounded in helping clients find acceptance in life’s realities and learning how to effectively implement changes to reduce negative behaviors. The “dialectical” component of DBT means the existence of two opposing concepts, like that of “acceptance” and “change.” DBT is a form of talk therapy that is especially useful for people who experience and struggle to regulate intense emotions.
Some of the main principles of DBT include distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, and emotion regulation. In DBT, the client and therapist work to improve client relationships through coping skills and effective communication strategies, working toward developing the client’s ability to identify, articulate, and regulate their emotions.
DBT and Art?
Art and creativity have the innate potential to help one capture the depth and nuances of the human experience and the emotions that come with it. In art making, abstract feelings and experiences become externalized and tangible, making them easier to process than if they were verbally articulated. Art and creativity can, therefore, lead people to gain increased self-awareness and understanding. Not to mention, the act of creating can be intrinsically meditative, providing respite from stress or anxiety, which, let’s face it, we all have!
Therapeutic art making and DBT both follow psychotherapy principles that allow them to be threaded together inside and outside of practice. DBT helps clients explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. The art-making process helps to foster this curiosity and exploration of the self. Additionally, DBT provides a structured approach to therapy, so the fluid nature of art could be complimentary when working with clients to identify the most pressing concerns related to their emotional experiences.
Art in Practice
Though formal art therapy has to be conducted with a trained art therapist, the unstructured experience of using art mediums as a form of self-expression and mindfulness practice can be beneficial for anyone. In any type of therapy, the trusting relationship between the client and the therapist is one of the most integral aspects of the work. There is a huge emphasis on client-therapist relationships in DBT work, so creating art together in session could be a way to strengthen the therapeutic alliance collaboratively.
The product of the art-making is not the focus of the therapeutic experience. Rather, it’s about what the creative process helped elicit. Engaging with art, even briefly, can be a restorative practice for the mind, offering insight into our emotional states and helping us find peace within ourselves. Embark in the powerful healing process of creativity today!
