Art Therapy & The Brain

Art therapy taps into the natural functioning of the brain to facilitate communication between client and therapist.  When feelings are so powerful or so deeply buried within an individual that verbal expression is difficult or impossible, the physical process of making art engages the right side of the brain (the area which deals with unconscious material), thus facilitating the release of any emotional material into the client’s artwork. The process of making art is also a wonderful way of exercising the brain because it is also an ongoing decision-making process. Composing and creating art requires that countless choices be made, such as which materials to use, which colors to choose, where to place elements within the image, how to create a desired effect, and how to make any necessary changes to the art to in order to make it better represent what one wishes to express. Scientific evidence has shown that art-making stimulates the brain to release the mood-elevating hormone, serotonin.  In addition, the attunement that occurs when a client spends an hour session being thoughtfully attended to by a therapist can cause the brain to generate an internal opiate release, which makes the client feel better.

"Brain Functions" by Elizabeth M. Doherty, ©2008

For further reading that helps to explain the neuroscience behind human emotions and why psychotherapy works, check out A General Theory of Love by Thomas Lewis, M.D., Fari Amini, M.D., and Richard Lannon, M.D. (Vintage Books, 2000), and The Mindful Brain by Daniel J. Siegel (W.W. Norton & Co., 2007).

*Information on this site does not constitute professional advice.