Very few of us are award-winning artists of some kind, but that shouldn’t stop us from taking a little time to write, paint, dance or sing when the mood strikes us. In fact, one mental health professional contends that doing some form of art is actually a good move for mental health.
In a blog for The Huffington Post, Michael Friedman says he is “doubtful” of the link between art and madness; instead, he says he believes that art can positively contribute to one’s mental health:
“Clearly, art is not the source of the greatest happiness in everyone’s life, but it is a tremendous source of happiness for a great many people. … There are two dimensions to this. Art can be a healing force for people with mental disorders, including people with dementia, and art can contribute to psychological well-being of people regardless of whether they have a mental disorder or not. … Art also helps people to connect with and deal with their emotions. Art can help a person reach into largely unconscious parts of the mind and experience dimensions of self otherwise buried and voiceless.”
Looking to infuse a little creativity into your counseling work? Read Counseling Today’s “Working outside the box” to spark some ideas.
Heather Rudow is a staff writer for Counseling Today. Email her at hrudow@counseling.org.