Sculpture in art therapy

one of the tools that comprise art therapy . Sculpture is a comprehensive artistic discipline that engages the entire body. The material used, such as wood, clay, stone, and other mediums, is of great importance depending on the desired therapeutic approach. Sculpture art therapy is therefore an additional tool available to healthcare professionals.

In the arts, sculpture has always held a special place since antiquity. Associated with architecture, its impact on the people made it an ally of those in power. Sculpture as a form of art therapy is also used in psychotherapy during workshops focused on a specific therapeutic project. A sculpture session in art therapy is generally led by an artist who has undergone specific training to become a therapist. This discipline has become a valuable tool for improving the health of individuals experiencing psychological difficulties. It is also very useful as a treatment for families.

Sculpture therapy appeals to the senses of touch and sight

It gives patients the possibility of a new language. Modeling, pottery, stone or wood carving are techniques that can help the therapist to elicit the emergence of emotions.

Sculpture can help fight illness, as it offers the patient a powerful three-dimensional expression.

Dementia, cancer, mental illness, or a life crisis. This form of therapy can help both those who are ill and those who are simply experiencing difficulties in their lives. Rüdinger Mövens, head of the art therapy program in Copenhagen and at the Vitsø Art School, explains.

For everyone, art offers an excellent opportunity to create change

And this is especially true for those experiencing psychological difficulties. In sculpture therapy, the patient is actively involved in the healing process.

It's a process where you provide your own therapy, not medicine.

First, it is necessary for the therapist to build a space of trust, in order to make a better diagnosis.

For the patient, it's more about being in a creative process, in order to release what cannot be expressed in words. They must have a great deal of freedom if the method is to be beneficial.

However, this does not mean that the therapist should leave the patient alone during the creation of a work of art. It should be a supportive and non-directive approach. The goal is not the physical result of a sculpted piece, but the process itself, which allows the mind to free itself.

A work of art can be anything from a clay sculpture to a wire assemblage, regardless of its appearance. Yet, upon closer inspection, the medium itself becomes significant. The material affects us, independently of how it is worked.

Therefore, it is a set of factors that come into play and that the therapist must consider in order to treat his patient.

The therapeutic value of sculpture in art therapy is often in the details.

During a session in a workshop, a person may sometimes focus on completing a small detail. This can sometimes become obsessive. It's important to understand why, as it can be significant. And it's also through this process that the patient can actively cope with their illness, by gaining some understanding of their artistic choices.

Group therapy

Even in group therapy, each person's work is individual. The group can nevertheless enhance each person's experience. Confrontation and sharing foster self-awareness.

Patients feel that they are becoming richer on the inside. They gain access to a new world. And, instead of being trapped in their own inner world, they step out of their comfort zone and discover sensations that open up new perspectives.

Working with clay, modeling

The medium used in sculpture is important. It acts as an intermediary between an inner and an outer reality. Clay is a malleable substance through which one physically feels its creative action. Once fired in the kiln, the work reflects what has often been lacking in life: a concrete, tangible, and unalterable reality.

Stoneworking

Stone symbolizes eternity and the mineral world. It is a durable material that requires a certain level of skill to work with. Acquiring expertise through training workshops is essential. It is not a medium suitable for everyone. Sculpting it can also be dangerous. However, if the therapist and artist can ensure safe sessions, this technique will produce excellent results.

It should be noted that the rock has energizing properties. Mastering it creates a powerful psychic lever. The results are generally excellent.

Woodworking

What is true for stone is also true for wood, with some notable differences. Wood is a living material. Moreover, it must be carved according to its own characteristics. The most commonly used type of wood is poplar, for its malleability. Having few grain lines, poplar proves safer and easier to work than oak, for example.

His work requires extensive training. Using cutting tools is very dangerous. A fairly long apprenticeship is necessary just to work with wood safely.

Sculpture in healthcare settings.

Sculpture therapy releases blocked emotions through the three-dimensional creation of forms originating from within. The therapist must, of course, be receptive to this art form, but they don't necessarily have to be an artist. The desired outcome isn't necessarily aesthetics. What matters is the journey that leads to a form of liberation.

The presence of artistic creation in hospitals is not always directly linked to therapy. Artists also contribute to beautifying healthcare facilities and hospitals.

There is a Culture & Health quality label in the Île-de-France region. This initiative recognizes healthcare facilities that are committed to integrating art into their environments. The Coubert Medico-Social Platform [77], like the Saint-Maurice Hospital [94] and the Diaconesse Croix-Simon Hospital Group, are among these healthcare facilities that value art. While not officially certified, numerous initiatives exist between doctors, healthcare professionals, and artists.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch

Art is an integral part of our humanity. Art therapy has great benefits. For some, it involves colors and shapes, for others, movement or words. Art therapy through sculpture offers a wide range of techniques.

Creation is a lever for creating an inner life and initiatives, which we potentially develop in and around ourselves.

Art therapy addresses the human need for treatment. More specifically, sculpture therapy is a major way to empower the patient.

It's a support for well-being.

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