What Is Therapeutic Art?
The Definition Of Therapeutic Art
To define therapeutic art we first need to define therapy. The following definitions come from dictionary.com. The first definition states:
“the treatment of disease or disorders, as by remedial, rehabilitation, or curative process”. Their fourth definition is: “any act, hobby, task, program, etc., that relieves tension”.
Therapeutic , according to the same website is defined as:
“of or relating to the treating or curing of disease; curative”.
The conclusion of our definitions comes from life experience, along with previous students and members. We do not limit these two terms to illness or disease. We include the restorative process of the mind, body, spirit and soul which run through the heart . . . literally! So, the definition of therapeutic art for Altered Mess Studio is this:
“the act of participating in an artful program (journey) using projects to bring about change within the heart; or heart healing through discovery and recovery leading to a healthy mind, body, spirit and soul”.
Stinkin’ Thinkin’
Disease isn’t the only thing that tries to run our lives. Stinkin’ thinkin‘ is not a disease. It isn’t even a disorder. It is merely a mindset, hence the word thinkin’. Therefore, it is a mindset of the heart. A bad or wrong mindset can spawn depression. Depression may spawn disease if one is hooked into that state for a period of time. A mindset can be changed with help, such as therapy or therapeutic art.
In an outstanding article from reset.me, the first paragraph explains depression.
“It is not a surprise that all negative thinking is fear-based, but did you know that chronic negative thinking that goes on day-after-day creates stress that can damage the body and mind, resulting in disease and worse? Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, the mind/body has a hidden defense that safeguards it from the extreme damage of fear, anxiety and worry. That defense is depression.”
Another paragraph backs up my own thinking about this subject.
“Maybe you have blamed depression for your negative thinking, but I promise you, it is the other way around – it is your negative thinking that has caused depression. This is good news, because it means that by correcting improper thinking, you can rise up from depression.”
I encourage you all to read the full article by clicking on the link below:
https://reset.me/story/negative-thinking-the-number-one-cause-of-chronic-depression-and-how-to-overcome-it/
Stinkin’ Thinkin’ Vs. Positive Thinkin’
If you entertain a thought in your mind long enough, good or bad, eventually you will act on that thought. The first thought is filtered through your heart. Then it enters your mind. From there, the decision to ponder on a bad thought becomes a choice. The more you dwell on a bad thought, the bigger chance you have of reacting to that thought. Luke 6:45 says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Take that coupled with Proverbs 23:7, ” As a man thinks, so is he.” Wow! Truth bombs, for sure! Therefore, it comes back to the heart and how you are processing thoughts. Positive thinking lifts your heart out of decay, therefore your mind, body, and soul automatically join your heart and become elevated!
Options
Guaranteed, your thought-life controls every moment of your life. Options are endless to control your thoughts and what manifests out of them. The problem with saying that is a lot of people haven’t been taught how to control emotion, nor have been exposed to options. One place to start is in 2 Corinthians 10:5 which says, “. . . hold each thought captive”. What does that really mean? It means that we should be able to take in any thought without immediate reaction. By putting each thought in a box, it gives us time to process it with confidence. Sounds simple, but it really isn’t if you weren’t taught.
This is exactly why Altered Mess Studio is here! We help you to see into your heart through art. Your journey is awaiting, so you may discover and recover and step into your life!
All that said, I have to state therapeutic art is not a cure all. While it helps many people, it never replaces help from the mental health professionals. Sometimes it is hard to identify our own behavior in a crisis. But if you have thoughts of suicide or self harm, please seek help right away from your local mental health professional, such as a counselor, therapist, psychiatrist, sychologist, or refer to the numbers below:
YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY 911 (USA)
NATIONAL PHONE NUMBERS
- YouthLine (Ages 11-21) Text “teen2teen” to 839863 or call 1-877-968-8491
- Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-422-4453
- RAINN (Rape, abuse, incest) 1-800-656-4673
- VETERAN’S CRISIS LINE 1-800-273-8255 then press 1 or text 838255
- NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE 1-800-273-8255
- CRISIS TEXT LINE:
- USA OR UK Text “hello” to 741741
- Canada Text “hello” to 686868
- NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE 1-800-799-7233
Altered Mess Studio, owners and employees cannot diagnose any disease, condition or illness. Read our Disclaimer here: https://alteredmess.com/disclaimer/