Healthcare professionals use innovative techniques and complementary therapies to support clients struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health disorders. Many treatment programs combine evidence-based and holistic modalities to help clients heal. Creative therapies offer a unique opportunity for clients and clinicians to engage on a deeper level and address underlying issues affecting client health. Driftwood Recovery uses creative therapies to improve treatment outcomes for individuals with SUD or mental health issues.
What Are Creative Therapies?
Creative therapies combine psychotherapy with art, music, crafts, dance, and other forms of creative expression. People use creativity to explore their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in a safe and nonjudgmental space. According to the Journal of Addictions Nursing, research studies into the effectiveness of art therapy “suggest several benefits for SUD patients, such as decreasing denial, reducing opposition to alcoholism treatment, providing an outlet for communication, and lessening shame.” Driftwood Recovery encourages clinicians to use creative therapeutic approaches to help clients address the effects of SUD and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Some of the most common forms of creative therapy include:
- Art
- Music
- Dance and movement
- Drama therapy
- Writing or journaling
- Play therapy
- Photography
- Digital art
- Combining multiple creative modalities (e.g., playing music and writing lyrics)
Creativity is an excellent tool for regulating and processing emotions. Artistic therapies and creative activities can reduce the risk of relapse and improve overall mental wellness. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to support clients’ artistic endeavors during and after treatment. Counselors, therapists, and support staff build meaningful relationships with clients by helping them explore artistic interests through therapy.
How Do Creative Therapies Improve the Client-Clinician Relationship?
Therapies incorporating art, music, and other forms of creative expression help clients identify and process emotions, build communication skills, and set boundaries. The client-clinician relationship can be complicated for some people. Creative therapies provide clients with additional support and guidance. Healthcare professionals also use creativity to problem-solve challenges in recovery and build more meaningful connections with clients.
Mental health and addiction recovery experts face multiple challenges in developing trusting relationships with clients. Some individuals in rehabilitation may have a history of trauma or abuse that leaves them afraid or emotionally closed off. To build a collaborative relationship, staff must bridge gaps between themselves and clients using healthy and practical tools, including artistic activities.
4 Ways Creative Therapies Improve Treatment Outcomes
Therapy helps clients heal, grow, and reintegrate into the community. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “In general, the goals of psychotherapy are to gain relief from symptoms, maintain or enhance daily functioning, and improve quality of life.” Below are four ways healthcare professionals can use a combination of creative therapies and psychotherapy to improve treatment outcomes for clients with SUD or mental health disorders.
#1. Enhanced Client Engagement
Artistic activities are often considered more fun than traditional talk therapy. Clients who find therapeutic exercises fun and enjoyable stay actively engaged with their treatment plans. Therapists and other clinicians collaborate with clients to determine which form of creative expression best supports their healing journey. Driftwood Recovery offers multiple artistic activities and therapeutic modalities to ensure clients can access various support services. Staff members reduce workplace stress and improve treatment quality by increasing client engagement.
#2. Deeper Client-Clinician Connection
Art is often meant to be shared. Clients benefit from using their art to communicate complex ideas, thoughts, or beliefs with their loved ones and care team. Therapeutic activities involving art, music, writing, and other forms of creative expression can deepen the bond between clients and clinicians.
#3. More Significant Therapeutic Impact
Psychotherapy is often used alongside creative outlets to enhance the therapeutic process. According to Frontiers in Psychology, “The overall goal of its practitioners [of art therapy] is to enable clients to change and grow on a personal level through the use of artistic materials in a safe and convenient environment.”
Artistic self-expression allows clients to experience more profound insights about their condition and may help them build better coping skills. As a result, healthcare professionals may not have to work as hard to guide these clients through their recovery journey. The positive impact of artistic therapies can cause clients to heal more quickly from the effects of SUD or mental health disorders.
#4. Reduced Emotional Burnout for Therapists
Many therapists and counselors experience emotional burnout if they do not take the time to reduce stress in the workplace. Creative therapies are an excellent tool for managing stress and creating a supportive environment for clients.
Creative therapies reduce emotional burnout for therapists by doing the following:
- Encouraging emotional expression of complex topics and feelings
- Providing a sense of emotional renewal
- Offering clients and clinicians a break from traditional treatment methods
- Improving work satisfaction
- Fostering empathy and connection
- Reducing compassion fatigue
- Encouraging mindfulness
Clinicians need to practice self-care at home and work to focus on providing the best treatment to clients. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to practice self-care and take advantage of alternative therapies to reduce stress in the workplace and create a positive client experience.
Innovative therapeutic techniques and creative treatments allow experts to practice greater flexibility with clients. Individuals taking advantage of holistic therapies incorporating art, music, and other forms of creative self-expression often report better treatment outcomes. Many new therapeutic modalities have been created to address trauma, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. Some artistic therapies have been tailored to address specific disorders and mental health issues. The addiction recovery and mental health experts at Driftwood Recovery use creative therapies to reduce stress in treatment programs and improve client engagement. Every treatment program offers multiple artistic activities and therapeutic modalities. To learn more about our programs and staff, contact our office today at (512) 759-8330.