Art Therapy

Just about from few centuries art is being used to deal with emotional and physical problems as well as to encourage healing. However, from the last 30-40 years or so the art therapy is accepted as a science; and this credit goes to American Art Therapy Association, which is offering college degree programs in art therapy. Nowadays, art therapy is playing an essential role in a person who is combating with cancers like mesothelioma.

The very first question will arise in your mind and that is how does it work for a mesothelioma patient?

Different Forms of Arts Use For Mesothelioma Patients

Art therapy is used to support mesothelioma patients get to grips or express anxiety regarding their illness, particularly in the patients that are in their last stage. There are many mesothelioma clinics that are hiring art therapists in their staff and by making them a part of their medical professionals’ team, they are treating cancer.

An art therapist can work with an individual or with groups of patients, who are going about the same challenges. When participating in art therapy sessions, there is no requirement for a patient to be an artist or can be able to paint or draw.

Usually, this alternative treatment provides a patient to express themselves, whether by observing art or by creating art. A patient’s fear, anxiety and stress are also major concerns of qualified art therapists. For instance, patients that are combating with mesothelioma cancers are being asked to draw an image of them with cancer, and by this image, patients can usually express their concerns consciously or unconsciously regarding their disease. The art therapists are not expecting drawings to be master pieces; they just need these drawings for providing a vehicle to begin the conversation. This is not the only way of this treatment; this therapy may also involve observing at photographs or paintings provided by the art therapists. Then, after going through the paintings patients may be asked to express their feelings regarding what they have observed.

The next question must arise in your mind, does this treatment actually works?

There are numerous clinical trials of art therapy have been carried out for patients with different diseases and as well as disorders, which were both mental and physical that also includes cancer. In 2002-2006 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Kimmel Cancer Center situated in Philadelphia reported study on art therapy in cancer patients that showed a great reduction in anxiety and pain in those who attended eight therapy sessions of 2-5 hours.

A study by Dr. Jack Lindh of Umea University in Sweden after studying 41 breast cancer patients reported that art therapy is strongly recommended for the breast cancer patients because it provides a powerful tool in rehabilitation of breast cancer patients and also in other types of cancer. In this study, the remarkable thing was noted that in five therapy sessions that the women that were participating in these sessions of process and express; they have improved their quality of life.  Furthermore, their coping skills also improved who attended these therapy sessions.

In any case, art therapists never confess that they can cure the cancer. Though, the main objective of art therapists is to reduce a notable depression, anxiety or stress in cancer patients by providing them with an artistic passage. In addition, a patient who is experiencing chronic or acute pain if they attend art therapy sessions often reported reduction in pain as he was so engaged in the session that he did not feel any pain and discomfort.

Now, I want to share some really important points that you should know…

• Art therapy is completely safe for any age

• Patients should be not forced to engage in the activity during therapy sessions

• You should realize expressing emotions for some patients may cause temporary distress.

• Art therapy should be used in conjunction with traditional treatments and not alone as it is an alternative treatment.