Art Therapy Benefits for Anxiety & Stress at Work 9 Jan 2016 3:40 PM (9 years ago)
Our nation seems like it’s always in the grips of a stress epidemic. Stress and anxiety are disorders that affect more people than ever before, with research suggesting that work related stress costs the American economy $300 billion each year as a result of related health care costs and missed days at work. According to 76% of […]
Color Therapy & Healing – An Introduction 9 Jan 2016 7:03 AM (9 years ago)
It is everywhere you look, and everywhere you don’t look. You delight in its marvels consciously and sub-consciously. You see color all the time, but how often do you think about its origins and effects? In a series of articles, we explore this topic further. In this first article, we’ll review some basics of color […]
What’s Your Sign? A Therapeutic Arts Activity for January 8 Jan 2016 9:24 AM (9 years ago)
January can be a time for people to experience an enormous amount of pressure to drastically change themselves. Cloaked in the culturally accepted paradigm of New Year’s Resolutions, this is a precarious time for people struggling with body image issues and eating disorders. Food is not the Scrooge! Many of us fear food during the […]
Art Therapy & Art Related Christmas Gift Ideas 9 Dec 2015 12:01 PM (9 years ago)
Looking for a Christmas gift related to art or art therapy? Browse our online Art Therapy Store! The store is hand picked with books about art therapy as well as books related to arts, photography and more. For example you, or someone you know, may want a new coffee table art book? You could get […]
Last Minute Holiday Art Therapy Ideas 7 Dec 2015 10:01 PM (9 years ago)
The holidays can be a stressful time of year for a lot of people. Although many people are on vacation and have some time off during the holidays, it’s not always the most relaxing time. Stress during the holidays can stem from family, friends, finding gifts, holiday traffic, long lines, money…you get the idea. With […]
Art Therapy Activity: Faux Tarot 25 Nov 2015 11:53 PM (9 years ago)
Each year holiday advertisements for Christmas start earlier and earlier (this year I actually saw one before Halloween!) and with them comes the meta message for many folks that they need to shape up for the holidays. It won’t be long before the parties begin and we are thrown into the paradoxical mandate to, “look […]
A Thanksgiving Art Therapy Exercise For Groups or Individuals: Thank You Cards 25 Nov 2015 5:36 PM (9 years ago)
All too often we focus on the negative aspects of our relationship with food, and our bodies. We forget that we may have developed some of our attitudes and actions for reasons that, at the time, were the best coping strategies we could come up with. Eventually we may outgrow these strategies or they may […]
Art Therapy: A Useful Treatment for Veterans With PTSD 8 Nov 2015 5:10 AM (9 years ago)
With the ongoing existence of war in many countries around the world, there are many returning veterans in need of a variety of therapy treatments. Too often, these combat veterans have endured physical damage, experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or suffered a combination of both. In effect, PTSD also has physical symptoms including headache, gastrointestinal […]
November Art Therapy Activity: Child’s Play 6 Nov 2015 10:11 PM (9 years ago)
by Dr. Deah Schwartz This month I want to address something that arises for folks living in parts of the country where the weather is beginning to become more inclement and lulls many of us into a more sedentary mode. One of the tenets of the Health at Every Size(r) paradigm is incorporating joyful movement […]
You Hold the Keys to Loving Your Body During the Summer 22 Jul 2015 10:14 PM (9 years ago)
Humor is important, but the pain that people experience during the summer about their bodies is NO laughing matter. And the last thing that is helpful is for people who are feeling badly about not having the “beach body” that is being touted as the ultimate benchmark of success, is to then feel even worse […]
Memorial Day Thoughts & Thank You 24 May 2015 10:01 PM (9 years ago)
Many of us spend our lives in our proverbial bubbles, maybe even reading about how art therapy can help veterans with PTSD every now and then. However, we rarely take the time to remember those who have fallen and consider the many sacrifices all the men, women and their families have made – and continue […]
Autism and Music Therapy 24 May 2015 9:44 PM (9 years ago)
According to the CDC, 1 in 110 children have some form of autism. While symptoms vary from case to case, there are two essential characteristics of the disorder: the subject experiences 1) a deficit in “social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts,” and 2) “restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities.” Since autism is a spectrum disorder, there are […]
GE Healthcare App Taps Art and Music Therapy to Help People With Neurological Disorders 1 Feb 2015 1:17 PM (10 years ago)
The beauty of art is in the eye of the beholder. Art stimulates the brain to see familiar images. Two people can look at the same piece of art; one will see familiar faces while the other sees animals. Art has the ability to trick our minds into interpreting the meaning. Music, on the other […]
Art Therapy Activity: What’s on Your Plate? 4 Dec 2014 11:27 PM (10 years ago)
December 1st was Rosa Parks Day. What Ms. Parks did by refusing to give up her seat on that infamous bus was a brave and self-affirming act. She said, “NO” and change was ignited. There are many reasons for saying,”no” and while not all of them are as momentous as what Rosa Parks did, I […]
How Art Therapy Helps People with Dementia and Alzheimer’s 30 Nov 2014 7:26 PM (10 years ago)
Art therapy can be a useful and fulfilling activity to help those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. It can increase the quality of life for those suffering and become a way of expression, even after other types of communication start to fail. USA Today talks about some of the benefits of using arts therapy with […]
A “Creepy” Art Therapy Activity for Halloween 25 Oct 2014 10:49 PM (10 years ago)
It’s that time of year again, when the air and leaves are crisp. It’s a colorful time for many and winter is fast-approaching. Halloween is almost here which means Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it! This Halloween let’s try a festive art activity. But first a little refresher on the history of […]
Art Therapy Activity: Love Your Body Day Poster 12 Oct 2014 9:14 PM (10 years ago)
Love Your Body Day is October 14. This important event was started by the National Organization of Women because in their words: “Every day, in so many ways, the beauty industry (and the media in general) tell women and girls that being admired, envied and desired based on their looks is a primary function of […]
Art Therapy, Trafficking and Slavery: Utilizing the Arts to Help Heal Trauma 28 Sep 2014 10:21 PM (10 years ago)
Slavery survivors are working with members of the United States Senate to end human slavery and trafficking. The survivors want senate members to regulate the foreign labors recruitment process. Besides that, they are also stressing the need for art therapy and other rehabilitative services. The Human Rights Watch and Save the Children are two organizations […]
Expressive Arts Activity: Developing A New Frame of Mind 7 Sep 2014 11:11 AM (10 years ago)
For this month’s Therapeutic Tidbit I’d like to focus on the importance of breaking the silence and talking about what is going on. Sometimes this entails a re-framing of our frame of mind…here’s what I mean. The news of Robin William’s death in mid-August seemed to impact an enormous amount of people. It was shocking, […]
Art as Therapy by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong 27 Aug 2014 7:42 PM (10 years ago)
Overview of “Art as Therapy” by Alain de Botton Art as Therapy, by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong, invites readers to look at masterpieces of art in a new way. Rather than seeing them as simply objects of beauty to be admired, they can also be seen as having therapeutic potential. The book contains […]
Vanity Plates Activity: A License to Feel Good About Yourself 17 Aug 2014 2:49 PM (10 years ago)
Weighing the Pros and Cons What comes to mind when you think of the word confidence? It is a word that is bandied about quite extensively in our culture and means different things to different people depending upon the situation. When we think of a confidence game or con game the word confidence changes into […]
Cancer Patients & Survivors Improve Thanks to Art as Therapy Program 13 Jul 2014 7:59 AM (10 years ago)
Living Forward is bettering the lives of cancer patients and survivors through its unique program that aids many cancer patients and survivors in expressing their emotions and struggles through the power of creativity and art. We hope you’re inspired by this touching story about the Living Forward art as therapy program! Image credit: Scripps Media
Reflecting on Edith Kramer: Art Therapy Pioneer and Artist 22 Jun 2014 7:34 PM (10 years ago)
Table of contents: Reflecting on Edith Kramer Video: Art Tells the Truth Video: Edith Kramer: Art Therapy Edith Kramer Art Gallery On February 22, 2014, the world witnessed the passing of renown Art Therapy pioneer and social realist painter, Edith Kramer. Kramer was born in Vienna on August 29th, 1916, some two decades before making […]
Whoooo Knows Best? 15 Jun 2014 6:31 PM (10 years ago)
In this iconic cartoon (you can watch the full version below), a young owlet has to choose between following his inner voice and passion for jazz, or pleasing his father by singing what his father believes is best. With Father’s Day in June, it’s important for dads to remember to support their child’s autonomy, allow […]
Watch This Inspiring Story of an Art Therapy Program Helping People With Disabilities 8 Jun 2014 7:47 PM (10 years ago)
Watch this inspiring video about an art therapy program in Fort Lauderale, Florida helping people with disabilities communicate and express themselves in new ways. The program at The Ann Storck Center proves that creativity isn’t bound by disability, helps these artists pursue their dreams by selling works of art to the local community where it […]
You Won’t Believe What This Guy Does With a Dying Teenager’s Heartbeat That Lifts His Family’s Spirits 1 Jun 2014 10:01 PM (10 years ago)
Brian Schreck does something absolutely brilliant that you have to see and hear to believe. Watch and listen to what he does with one teenager’s heartbeat from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. This is probably one of the most symbolic and heartfelt ideas and gestures we’ve ever seen or heard.
Art Therapy Helps High School Students Express Themselves 18 May 2014 6:39 PM (10 years ago)
The discipline of art therapy is a fairly recent innovation in the repertoire of therapists; combining the use of both art and psychotherapy in order to connect with patients, art therapists utilize the therapeutic nature of creativity, as well as the patient’s own use of symbology, as a way to gain insight into issues affecting […]
You Are Amazing! 11 May 2014 6:23 PM (10 years ago)
by Dr. Deah Schwartz Therapeutic Tid Bit of the Month: You are Amayzing! This month you MAY notice the media gearing up trying to convince you how unamazing you are. It is their job to be certain that we dislike ourselves enough to spend the next month buying products and programs to drastically change our […]
Music Therapy Helps Teen With Down Syndrome (Video) 4 May 2014 10:54 PM (10 years ago)
Christina Clapp, a 14-year-old teenager with Down syndrome has been benefiting from a variety of therapies, but especially music therapy. Like other kids with Down syndrome, Christina has various behavioral issues and a difficult time staying focused. However, her passion and interest for music and music therapy help her overcome these issues and make progress […]
Dance Therapy For People With Dementia 27 Apr 2014 8:15 AM (10 years ago)
The following video provides a glimpse into how a rehab center is using dance therapy to help people with dementia. It’s an inspiring video that illustrates the benefits of expressive arts therapies with seniors. Read more about the benefits of making art accessible to people with dementia. The Rhythm of Life Video Transcript Speaker 1: […]
Art “Therapy” – A Student Documentary About Art as Therapy 20 Apr 2014 8:51 AM (11 years ago)
According to Wikipedia, “therapy” literally means curing, or healing. That is how art therapy is used in Art “Therapy”: A Documentary, which features five young people with some form of mental illness who have found ways of healing themselves through artistic expression. Here is the video along with a summary and transcript below. Michael suffers […]
Tuning In for April 13 Apr 2014 1:34 PM (11 years ago)
by Dr. Deah Schwartz Therapeutic Tid Bit of the Month: Tuning In In past issues of The Schmooze, I have covered many reasons why April is such a challenge. From stress-related tax deadlines and the numerous food-centric religious celebrations to the onslaught of bathing suit ads. It’s no wonder that in last year’s Schmooze I […]
Video: Art Therapy Helps Cancer Patients at Bennet Cancer Center in Stamford, CT 10 Apr 2014 10:18 PM (11 years ago)
Karen Wakely, an art therapist at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut, discusses the art therapy program she’s been running at Stamford Hospital for over 10 years. Rica Mendes, a breast cancer survivor and artist, talks about the benefits of art therapy. There is also a communal bonding that happens as they meet people going through […]
Teenager Loses Best Friend, Draws on Experience to Spread Support for Art Therapy 6 Apr 2014 11:00 PM (11 years ago)
Paula Smith is an inspiring role model for fellow students at the Classen School for Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City. At only seventeen, she has already demonstrated her leadership qualities, as can be seen since she has been awarded the title of Miss Bricktown’s Outstanding Teen. Paula is putting her reign to good use by […]
4 Reasons to be Happy About Britney Spears Joining an Art Therapy Session at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles 30 Mar 2014 11:08 PM (11 years ago)
Britney Spears is known best as an entertainer in the music world who recently made the transition to Las Vegas. However, the pop singer also demonstrated that she has a big heart when she paid a visit to an entirely different type of crowd. Taking time away from her busy schedule, Britney spent a morning […]
Art Therapy Helping Veterans 23 Mar 2014 9:06 PM (11 years ago)
They say, “War is hell”. A person never knows what to expect in the heat of battle. One moment the silence is deafening, and the next moment the countryside erupts in percussive explosions with the endless spray of bullets flying everywhere. Sometimes it is hard to tell, under the constant shelling and lifeless bodies strewn […]
Art Therapy & The Science of Happiness 18 Mar 2014 11:22 PM (11 years ago)
Special: Download a PDF of a body image outline, similar to what’s used in the videos. The following videos provide a brief, but insightful look into the positive effects that art therapy can have on people. You can also download the body image outline used in the art therapy activity, created by Soul Pancake. Enjoy! […]
The Healing Properties of Music Therapy 17 Mar 2014 2:23 PM (11 years ago)
We hope you enjoy this inspiring podcast that explores how music therapy helps people heal. If I had to give up all other therapies, if I could only keep one on board, I would choose music therapy in a heartbeat, because as I said before she encompasses so many other areas. This has been brought […]
Amy Winehouse Foundation Provides Music Therapy for Disabled Children 16 Mar 2014 10:17 AM (11 years ago)
Before her death on July 23, 2011, Amy Winehouse changed millions of lives worldwide with her songwriting skills and vocal talents. To help immortalize these gifts, as well as celebrate Winehouse’s love for music, the singer’s family and friends created the Amy Winehouse Foundation. Founded on September 14, 2011, the Amy Winehouse Foundation helps teenagers […]
Alice Herz-Sommer: “The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life” 8 Mar 2014 10:06 PM (11 years ago)
Photo courtesy of Nick Reed Ent. What’s on this page: Summary Trailer: The Lady in Number 6 About Alice Herz-Sommer Featurette: The Lady in Number 6 Movie Clip: Thoughts on Attitude & Grace Alice Herz-Sommer – Everything is a Present Book – A Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer Congratulations to […]
What Really Counts! 8 Mar 2014 3:45 PM (11 years ago)
by Dr. Deah Schwartz Therapeutic Tid Bit of the Month – Marching Forward If you are like most people, you thrive on positive reinforcement and disintegrate just a bit each time you are shamed or told you are wrong. So why do we give our power over to negative reinforcement oracles like scales, diet companies, […]
Music Therapy Helps Memory & Alzheimer’s Patients – Alive Inside Movie 23 Feb 2014 5:15 PM (11 years ago)
The following video clips are from a movie called Alive Inside that investigates the power of music therapy and its ability to help people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It explores how music from a person’s past can help unlock memories that have been locked away for many years. Together with Oliver Sacks, the movie investigates […]
Dutchess of Cambridge Opens Art Therapy Room 16 Feb 2014 7:31 PM (11 years ago)
Photo Credit: PA Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, visited Northolt High School in north-west London on Valentine’s Day. Kate is a royal patron of the Art Room which is the charity that created the art therapy room, and 5 others throughout Oxfod and London. The Art Room offers art as therapy to help boost […]
Fragile February: Handle With Care 16 Feb 2014 6:32 PM (11 years ago)
by Dr. Deah Schwartz Therapeutic Tid Bit of the Month When February rolls around there is a certain amount of vulnerability that many people may experience. The January resolutions some folks have made to drastically change their eating and exercise regimes, may have tapered off or come to a screeching halt as the reality of […]
New Study: Music Therapy and Video Project Helps Young Cancer Patients Cope 9 Feb 2014 1:44 PM (11 years ago)
According to a recent report released by the Indiana University School of Nursing, young people suffering from cancer felt better about themselves and their outlook on support and family after working on an extensive music project. All the subjects in the program were undergoing a series of risky intravenous, stem cell transplant treatments. The research […]
Calmanac by Dr. Deah Schwartz – About the Book and an Interview with the Author 2 Feb 2014 8:41 PM (11 years ago)
Many of you are already aware of the great work that Dr. Deah Schwartz does and of her contributions to the Art Therapy website, but you may not have been aware that she just recently completed a new book: Calmanac: Your Interactive Monthly Guide For Cultivating a Positive Body Image. Well, we asked Dr. Schwartz […]
Children of Peace Project: Digital Art Therapy in Uganda, Africa 18 Jan 2014 5:47 PM (11 years ago)
Although slightly commercial, the following video is inspiring and tells a great story of how art can be used to heal and help others around the world. The video is about Exile International and their efforts to help former child soldiers in Uganda, Africa through the use of art and creativity. They shipped a large […]
Note to Self – Therapeutic Expressive Arts Activity 16 Dec 2013 8:56 PM (11 years ago)
by Dr. Deah Schwartz The winter holiday season when stripped of the emphasis on commercialism and overindulgence is, at its roots, about joy, peace, and the changing of the season. Remembering to find time to tune into those aspects during the month of December is challenging but truly helpful if we want to stay connected […]
Sanity Clause – December Art Therapy Activity 8 Dec 2013 7:31 PM (11 years ago)
by Dr. Deah Schwartz This year I am going to stress the importance of finding your own personal “sanity clause”. Because the holiday season is a mixed bag of delightful and stressful situations disordered eating and body hate may get re-activated. A helpful antidote for the situation is to remember that the best gift you […]
Expressive Arts Activity: Love Your Body, Love Your Self 6 Oct 2013 9:06 PM (11 years ago)
by Dr. Deah Schwartz A predictable issue in October is the seasonal change and the obvious shortening of the days. The fall equinox arrives and there is less daylight. Frequently this means less outdoor time and a decrease in physical activity for kids and adults. Even for those who are not diagnosed with Seasonal Affective […]