Crayons and Canvases: Why Your Therapist Might Hand You Art Supplies
Manage episode 483948619 series 3563553
It’s "therapy on steroids." Join us as we discuss the therapeutic power of art therapy and creativity with Susan Kappel, a licensed creative arts therapist with 30 years of experience. This captivating conversation explores how creative expression provides concrete form to our abstract emotions and can lead to mental health breakthroughs.
Susan takes us on a fascinating journey through the evolution of art therapy from a little-known approach to an evidence-based treatment modality. She shares powerful stories of healing from Alzheimer's patients to military veterans with PTSD. These examples illuminate how art therapy bypasses verbal barriers, allowing people to process emotions they might not yet have words to express.
Whether you're curious about alternative therapeutic approaches or simply looking to understand the healing potential of creativity, this episode offers valuable insights into how art can be wielded as a powerful tool for mental wellbeing. As Susan reminds us, "It's a choice to feel differently than you're feeling right now" – and creative expression might just be the key to making that choice possible.
Chapters
1. Introduction to Susan Kapel (00:00:00)
2. What Is Art Therapy? (00:02:38)
3. The Evolution of Art Therapy (00:05:46)
4. Working Through Trauma with Art (00:10:45)
5. Success Stories and Resistance (00:15:23)
6. Art Therapy in a Digital World (00:24:06)
7. Symbolism and Metaphors in Art (00:31:19)
8. Final Thoughts and Conclusion (00:45:31)
14 episodes