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Benefits of Art Therapy

Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center leads the way with progressive, evidence-based programming to meet each child's individual treatment needs. Our experiential programs, such as adolescent art therapy programs, offer a more hands-on approach and our lakefront campus provides an ideal environment for healing the mind, body, and spirit. Traditional treatment, paired with adventure and nature excursions, artistic expression, or immersive equine experiences, creates a one-of-a-kind way for your son to find lifelong recovery. Our caring and professional team is ready to discuss substance use and mental health treatment plans with you today. Contact our team today at 662.373.2828 for more information about our therapeutic options.

What is Art Therapy?

Our adolescent art therapy program incorporates a variety of ways for residents of our treatment center to express themselves creatively. With the help of experiential programs, they can communicate their feelings without words. For teens who have difficulty connecting with their peers and family members, verbalizing how they feel can be their biggest hurdle. Art therapy programs can break this communication barrier and provide an outlet for your son to emotionally process and express any internal conflicts. Instead of internalizing these intense feelings, we encourage teens to choose pen and paper, paint brushes, sculpting clay, or other creative mediums to express themselves. This process allows them to open up more quickly to their therapists to explore conflicts and treatment further. Furthermore, substance use can compromise your child's senses over time. Art therapy program sessions focus on utilizing all five senses to activate areas of the brain connected to memory, spatial placement, body awareness, and decision-making. When teens can engage in art, they achieve concentration and mindful wellness while they suppress their cravings. An art therapist's role is not to dictate what to create or interpret the meaning of your teen's art. Art therapists allow residents to express themselves in whatever way speaks to them so that they are comfortable telling their own story of substance abuse and mental health issues.

Health Benefits of Art Therapy Activities

Art therapy is available as a complement to traditional mental health treatment. Once a teen begins to learn who they are through their creativity, they can quickly develop coping skills to beat their addiction and treat their mental health issues. The aim is to manage behaviors, process feelings, relieve stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem. Whether it's helping your son acknowledge and recognize feelings that have been lurking in his subconscious or giving him a feeling of self-accomplishment, the benefits of art therapy gives them a healthy outlet for expression and stress relief. Art therapy can engage your son in more ways than one. Benefits include:
  • Stress relief
  • Opening the mind creatively
  • Invigorating various inactive parts of the brain
  • Mindfulness
  • Increased self-confidence
  • Self-discovery

Contact Our Team to Learn More

The teenage years can be rough for teens who have substance abuse or mental health issues. These conditions prevent them from expressing themselves positively or healthily. Many teens struggle to verbalize the anxiety, pain, or emotions they feel. Fortunately, art therapy provides an alternative way to communicate. This type of hands-on therapy can break down the walls much faster, which allows us to get to the root cause of pain instead of struggling to find the words to communicate with a therapist. Our art therapy program is one of the many holistic therapy programs we may recommend. In addition to adolescent art therapy programs, other programs include:
  • Adventure & nature therapy
  • Music therapy
  • Equine therapy
  • Fly-fishing therapy
  • Yoga therapy
Contact the caring team at our adolescent boys' treatment center today at 662.373.2828 to learn more. Our family-owned center is dedicated to helping boys and their families navigate their recovery.