Rehab Centers That Offer Art Therapy

In addition to providing an abundance of evidence-based treatments, more drug and alcohol rehab centers are also taking a holistic approach and offering services like art therapy. This type of holistic therapy, which uses activities like painting, drawing, and sculpture to inspire creative expression, is valuable in addiction recovery for a variety of reasons.

Among the many benefits of art therapy for addiction treatment is the fact that it can utilize non-verbal communication, promote emotional healing, and boost the confidence and self-esteem of patients.

Read on to learn more about art therapy and integrative rehab programs that offer it, and more about how you or your loved one can access this type of addiction recovery treatment and more.

Art therapy is a hybrid field of therapy that is considered to be a combination of art and psychology. It is used in many instances, most commonly when treating children, and can also be used in addiction treatment.

The idea of visual arts therapy is to help people explore and express their emotions and unresolved trauma and then develop self-awareness and boost self-esteem. It does this primarily through bridging the gap between verbal and non-verbal communication as forms of emotional expression.

Art therapy as a professional tool began in the middle of the 20th century, however, art was used in treating psychiatric patients as early as the late 18th century. Art therapy as we know it today as a subset of psychotherapy was developed during World War II by a female Bauhaus artist known as Friedl Dicker-Brandeis.

The therapeutic process of art therapy is about the journey of creation and making associations between what is happening in a person’s inner world vs. what they choose to display in their outer world through their artwork.

At the same time, it is never about the end product or the work’s artistic value, especially in terms of the artist’s skill level.

People who enter addiction recovery often have mental health issues in addition to their physical issues, and art therapy can help offer support for both.

Art therapy is a process that promotes creativity and allows people to explore their emotions in a safe environment. This process can both increase a person’s self-awareness and reduce their stress and anxiety.

It also promotes trauma healing through mindfulness and encourages people to stay focused on the present, which can serve as a useful coping mechanism in stress management and when coming up against triggers and past traumas.

Many people who are on an addiction recovery journey report having pent-up emotions and difficulty in expressing them properly or in a verbal manner.

Art therapy offers a safe alternative for people who are unable to express themselves in traditional ways but who still need a way to release and showcase their emotions.

While art therapy can provide benefits in several situations, it can prove especially beneficial for people who are living with alcohol use disorders and substance use disorders of other kinds.

Art therapy can provide a release through non-verbal expression for those who struggle with verbal communication, as is not uncommon for people with mental illness and substance use disorders.

In this sense, people who are uncomfortable talking about their emotions and traumas may feel much more comfortable exploring them through art, causing them to open up in ways they had not previously considered. Because of this, art therapy is not only effective as a tool in addiction therapy but in trauma therapy as well.

Creating art can also foster a strong sense of accomplishment and thus boost a person’s self-esteem and confidence, regardless of the quality of their completed work.

In addition to this, art therapy can also help people to develop emotional resilience and discover a sense of personal empowerment that they may not have believed they were capable of previously.

Art therapy can come in many diverse forms, which can then attract people from a wide range of interests and skill levels. Different types of therapy can also prove helpful for different disorders and situations.

Drawing and painting can help people process some of the more abstract ideas that are associated with addiction, such as guilt, shame, and denial, and express them in a more tangible form on the canvas.

Not only can this help people cope with their feelings of cravings and withdrawal, but it also allows them to work through their emotions and express them to others without fear of judgment or criticism.

Sculpture and collage work are both forms of three-dimensional art that can promote problem-solving skills and give people insight into their struggles.

Often considered one of the more challenging artistic modalities, sculpting can not only greatly challenge those who choose to practice it, but it can also force them to confront some of the personal issues that have been holding them back or leading them towards addiction.

Digital art and mixed media are modern techniques that are being incorporated into art therapy rehab programs to reach tech-savvy individuals.

Digital art and mixed media therapy can push boundaries and break with tradition and also have the added benefit of being able to reach wider audiences if that is a direction that the individual is interested in exploring.

Rehab centers can vary significantly in what they offer and it is important to ensure that you choose one of high quality for yourself or a loved one and one with a high rehab program variety.

When considering a treatment facility, take the time to research each option thoroughly and, if possible, visit in person to gain a clear understanding of the environment and services provided. Make sure that art therapy is a central element of their program and that the staff includes certified art therapists with specialized credentials in this area. This will help ensure that you or your loved one receives high-quality, effective art therapy as part of the overall treatment plan.

Factors to consider when choosing a rehab center include:

• Is the facility accredited by organizations such as the Joint Commission or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)?
• Does the facility offer both evidence-based treatment options and holistic options?
• Does the facility have positive reviews and testimonials available to the public?
• Is the facility staffed by healthcare providers who are certified, licensed, and specially trained?
• Does the facility offer individualized treatment plans for each unique patient?

Art therapy is offered in both inpatient treatment programs and outpatient treatment programs. The level of care that a person chooses will depend on their preferences and needs, as well as what they can afford or what is covered by their insurance.

Those who choose inpatient rehab are likely to be suffering from a more severe addiction or those who have tried outpatient therapy and found that it was not intensive enough.

Outpatient rehab, on the other hand, may be best for people who are looking to maintain their everyday activities such as their job, school, or family responsibilities.

Those looking for more intensive forms of outpatient treatment can also explore intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) or partial hospitalization programs (PHPs).

The mental health professionals who perform visual arts therapy are important in that they must guide patients through the process while also making them feel comfortable.

Any person working as an art therapist in a rehab center should have art therapist qualifications and certifications in both art and mental health treatment so that they can adequately provide psychological support.

This often means a master’s degree in art therapy or a related field, as well as a degree in psychology or psychiatry. This can vary per state, however, and some states may require more or less certifications and licensure than others.

Using art therapy as a component of the addiction recovery process requires certified art therapists who are experienced in guiding patients through art as a means of fostering healing and providing emotional expression and release.

Counselors who provide art therapy are also required to create a safe space for their patients to express themselves creatively, while at the same time providing constructive feedback that does not make them feel judged.

While art therapy can provide a lot of benefits to patients in rehab, it can also present challenges and even cause some patients to feel overwhelmed or insecure.

One of the biggest art therapy challenges patients face is self-doubt in their artistic ability and self-criticism over their work in feeling that it is somehow not good enough.

Therapists can help people overcome this challenge by providing a safe space and ensuring patients that the quality of their art is not as important in this setting as much as the process of healing through creating it.

Working with art therapy can oftentimes bring up deep emotional wounds, memories, and traumas that the patient had tried to suppress or put behind them.

An experienced therapist can help guide patients past these difficult and intense moments by providing them with emotional safety and allowing them to feel secure and supported, while never pushing them to go farther than they are comfortable with.

Anyone interested in art therapy as a rehab option may be concerned about the costs and whether or not this type of addiction treatment program is covered by insurance.

Art therapy costs can vary depending on a lot of factors but tend to average between $50 and $200 per session.

Factors that influence the cost of art therapy rehab program pricing include:

• Location
• Level of care
• Duration and frequency of treatment
• Type of art therapy
• Individual therapy vs. group therapy
• Residential treatment vs. outpatient treatment
• Whether the treatment center accepts insurance or offers financial assistance

Art therapy is likely to be covered by insurance in alcohol and drug addiction rehab centers that are inpatient, though it may not always be covered in rehab centers that are exclusively outpatient or that only provide art therapy.

The best way to ensure that you will be covered is to contact your addiction treatment insurance provider or the rehab facility directly and ask before beginning treatment.

As time goes on, art therapy is likely to continue to grow as a tool through addiction treatment programs of all kinds and in treating people of all ages.

One of the biggest emerging art therapy trends for integrating art therapy into addiction treatment is the introduction of virtual art therapy and digital art platforms. These will likely continue to expand tremendously as art mediums, especially as technology improves and with the increasing use of AI as an artistic tool.

We are also likely to see an increasing recognition of art therapy as a core treatment in holistic rehab programs. We may even see rehab centers that are centered around artistic expression as a means of providing addiction treatment innovations to those who have tried other types unsuccessfully.

As more research in art therapy is done to support the effectiveness of art therapy in treating addiction, we are likely to see art therapy more and more and also incorporated both as a holistic treatment option and as an evidence-based one.

There will be more options and variety available in art therapy programs as well, in addition to other forms of artistic expression such as music and dance.

Not all rehab centers are of equal quality, and it is important to find a center that offers art therapy that is also a good fit for your needs and preferences.

It is not always easy to find art therapy rehab programs as an option specifically, but they can be found if you know where to look or who to ask.

Art therapy rehab center resources include:

• Online directories for recovery centers
• Your primary care physician or a mental health professional
• Patient review forums
• Recommendations from friends and family

When researching and finding a rehab center, you should always prepare a set of questions to ask when calling or visiting.

Questions to ask potential rehab centers include:

• Is your art therapy provided in an individual or group setting?
• What type of art therapy do you offer?
• What credentials do your art therapists, clinicians, and other staff members have?
• What is the success rate of your alcohol and drug rehab program?
• Do you offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)?
• Do you offer aftercare and relapse prevention support?
• Do you offer detox or medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol and opioid use disorders?

Here are questions that are commonly asked about the use of art therapy in addiction treatment centers.

For those who are looking for a unique and holistic way to heal emotionally through creativity and personal growth while struggling with a substance abuse disorder, art therapy could very well be a good choice for you. This valuable treatment option is not available at all drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers, and those that do offer it are not always easy to find.

This is where RehabNet.com can help, as we have helped countless individuals living with addiction find the best treatment centers in their area. Contact us today to find out how we can help you to get started.