Eating Disorders And Art Therapy

Art therapy can be a very beneficial tool in the treatment of eating disorders. Here are some examples of how others have used art to help their recovery.


"FAITH. HOPE. LOVE. LIGHT. These are all real pictures of me. Now, a little more than a year later, my health and heart are filled with hope. We are all beautiful and we all deserve to live the lives we have dreamed. While in my eating disorder I was dead to the world, now in recovery I am a goddess of the earth. I never thought that I would survive the ups and downs of my recovery but pain doesn't last forever and the battle gets easier if you stand strong. God Bless, keep faith, RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. You are a blessing to this earth and you deserve all that you can dream."
Video by brittybr



"I've always found art to be a creative and soothing outlet for my emotions, particularly the art of collaging. These are a collection of collages from the past 5 years as i've worked towards recovery."
Video by Shanzeeegirl



"Karin used art therapy to deal with her eating disorder. Now she makes spoon pendants and sees the beauty that can be created out of mistakes."
Video by RealWomenRealAdvice



See also:
The Use Of Art Therapy In The Treatment Of Eating Disorders
Relapse Prevention: Eating Disorder Recovery

The Use Of Art Therapy In The Treatment Of Eating Disorders

What is Art Therapy?

Wikipidia

In part, art therapy, according to the American Art Therapy Association, "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 or a related field. offered in BS and BA degrees."

Typically included in the Art Therapy assessments are a series of instructed tasks which are later analyzed to gain further insight about the artist.

Types of Art Therapy Include:

• Drawing
• Creating mosaics
• Painting
• Clay making
• Sculpting"

Benefits Of Art Therapy

"The benefits of art therapy in aiding psychological trauma treatment are many. Art therapy helps reconcile emotional or life conflicts, release deeply repressed emotions and process through traumatic experiences, mental issues, anxiety, depression, and stress. The therapy can also enhance cognitive abilities, increase self-esteem, promote reality oreientation, and foster self-awareness."

THIN art therapy session by: april 1819





Another example of art therapy and eating disorders: Art Therapy: ED Sucks by banaphone2006


*Has art therapy helped you better understand your eating disorder? Has it helped with your recovery? Please feel free to leave a comment and share your experience with art therapy.



sources:
http://www.art-therapy.us/art_therapy.htm
youtube.com
wikipedia.com
http://www.casapalmera.com/articles/art-therapy/
picture source: MrsMenopausal