Healing Through Arts

ART THERAPY: Healing Through Arts
By Gloria Ikibah
We may wonder what art therapy is but first of all; what is a therapy? Therapy is the act of caring for someone (as by medication or remedial training etc); Art therapy therefore is a form of expressive therapy that uses art materials, such as paints, chalk and markers, art therapy combines traditional psychotherapeutic theories and techniques with an understanding of the psychological aspects of the creative process, especially the affective properties of the different art materials. As a mental health profession, art therapy is employed in many clinical settings with diverse populations. Art therapy can be found in non-clinical settings as well as in art studios and in workshops that focus on creativity development. Closely related in practice to marriage and family therapists, art therapists in the state of California are certified additionally as MFTs. Art therapists work with children, adolescents, and adults and provide services to individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities.
Mr. Kent Onah a senior lecturer at the Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo state who is practicing Art therapy in Nigeria defines art therapy as a response to natural healing process using energies; he also added that art therapy is an art of creating a natural environment or activity that can generate healing. In his words “generally I call it alternative to drugs (synthetic substance)”.
We may then wonder what are the purposes or essence of art therapy. The purpose of art therapy is much the same as in any other psychotherapeutic modality: to improve or maintain mental health and emotional well-being. But whereas some of the other expressive therapies utilize the performing arts for expressive purposes, art therapy generally utilizes drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and other forms of visual art expression. For that reason art therapists are trained to recognize the nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are communicated within the creative process, symbols and metaphors which might be difficult to express in words or in other modalities. By helping their clients to discover what underlying thoughts and feelings are being communicated in the artwork and what it means to them, it is hoped that clients will not only gain insight and judgment, but perhaps develop a better understanding of themselves and the way they relate to the people around them. According to Malchiodi (2006) "Art making is seen as an opportunity to express oneself imaginatively, authentically, and spontaneously, an experience that, over time, can lead to personal fulfillment, emotionally reparation, and transformation. This view also holds that the creative process, in and of itself, can be a health-enhancing and growth-producing experience."
Kent Onah an art therapist and Senior Lecturer at the Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State who explained that there are classifications of art therapy Kent says that “just as there are different branches of art so also art therapy is classified into music therapy. Drama as therapy, painting therapy, drawing and colour therapy e.tc”, according to Kent Onah in art therapy “it is not essentially the product but the processes that is most necessary but in the case of painting both the product and the process are therapeutic”. In other words, in-depth knowledge is essential for a painter who wishes or desires to become a colour therapist or an art therapist and also having in mind that clinical training is very essential before one can be certified to practice.
With the sale of fake drugs around the globe it is most expedient or rather essential that we try art therapy which can and should be trusted. Basically colours has a way of adding life to a sick person that is why in most psychiatric and pediatric homes make use of colours to treat their patient by putting a work of art (painting) in the wards or room. Art in Nigeria is moving to a next level and is going beyond aesthetics and has to become relevant in the health sector according to Kent Onah. From my finding, art therapy is not practiced in Nigeria as a course or an area of specialty; it requires intense training and is not popular in this part of the world. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process of art is both healing and life-enhancing. Art therapists use the creative process and the issues that come up during art therapy to help their clients increase insight and judgment, cope better with stress, work through traumatic experiences, increase cognitive abilities, have better relationships with family and friends, and to just be able to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of the creative experience. The term art therapist is reserved for those that are professionals trained in both art and therapy and hold a master's degree in art therapy.
Art therapy is for everybody; for managers and staff under pressure, for people who are generally stressed and over worked, for people with mental health problems, for people with severe learning difficulties, for children and young people who have problems conforming in school with personal problems at home. Presently in Nigeria it is difficult to say places where it has been used but speaking to me Kent Onah says “it may be available in some hospitals” he adds but I know of it in Pax Medical Centre at Ewu, Esan- Edo State headed by Reverend Father Anslem Adodo”.
Kent Onah says that the methods of applying art therapy for healing are varied and depend on a great deal not only on the therapist preference but most importantly on the client’s level of receptivity. It is most important that the therapist properly evaluates the individual whom is been treated. He adds “we are each unique in our own way, therefore our needs are different and our responses vary accordingly. So one must learn to check out each problem and then apply the tools that will help in that particular situation”. Ken further explain that in art therapy, with some people, pure visualization of a colour, wearing or working with a particular colour may be sufficient and perhaps may even gives forth a greater vibrational energy than when the therapist is using a physical tool. On the other hand Kent says that some people may not realize the power of visualization, and it is very important that the physical application of the technique be seen which can be trace to the ancient African and Asian healing practices.
In art therapy, all colours are useful and are used in art therapy depending on the response of the client. However some of the physical aids that can be used are coloured light bulbs, coloured gels, lay of various hues or colours, solarised water, special oil prepared for colour therapy, coloured fabrics, pigments, coloured sand and brushes e.t.c
There is therefore need and most expedient to invest in art therapy because as an individual, on a personal level it could be used as a means of exploring inner issues. It is a safe way to express strong and sometimes sensitive or destructive feelings. It can be used for stress and anxiety management. To enhance communication between individuals, groups or professional teams. It is used to explore change. It is of particular benefit to people experiencing difficulties with written and verbal communication. As a professional manager of vulnerable people in the community, Art Therapy could be used to instill confidence and promote life enhancing change in the people for which you have responsibility. What skills therefore do you need? The simple answer is none. Art therapy requires no artistic ability. The Art Therapist offers guidance and support and the opportunity to explore issues of concern using a variety of art materials.
Here in Nigeria where NAFDAC and the government of Nigeria is totally against fake drugs we see instances where fellow humans can produce and sell harmful synthetic substances to unsuspecting humans like themselves it is therefore necessary for a further involvement in art therapy says Kent Onah. The practice of art has gone beyond aesthetics around the globe and should be reflected here in Nigeria in our health care sectors to give back to the society security in our health and treatments of various ailments. Art therefore must be able to contribute to good, safe and affordable health for all by the year 2020 because as the saying goes “health is wealth”, more so Kent Onah believes that God has given man everything he needs in life through nature and nature must be loved and appreciated he adds “our lack of awareness has rubbed us of these immense knowledge of living and staying healthy without the use of synthetic substances. The western world is fast catching up with this reality”. Art therapy and hospital art are closely related but the clinical application is different.