Complimenting ED Treatment

 

 

 

 

In a perfect world everyone would experience the powerful benefits of working with colour, wet-on-wet, light&darkness… 

As an artist I’ve taken this type of “work” for granted- it’s as basic as breathing- but I do believe art evokes such deep emotion and response from both its creator as well viewer. 

European countries have a much more open and progressive dimension with utilizing Art Therapy in clinical settings, and it’s always frustrated me how the US is sometimes so stagnant and defensive- almost ambivalent of the postitive benefits of art within healing, outside of a grossly predominant kitschy craft, popsicle sticks stuck with felt balls nauseum. 

 

 A multi-collaborative treatment component within ED recovery, incorporating Art Therapy,  painting, charcoal work, etc. can open many dimensions towards multiple approaches (and you do find some practices that incorporate AT- but still so few and far between that do justice to form) complimenting treatment and opening additional avenues of expression and potential dialogue- especially when sufferers are medically stable enough to engage more broadly within their recovery goals, and are able to be more of a participant within their continued treatment. 

 

Many residential treatment programs incorporate AT within their weekly schedule for patients (and this is great!) but what about those that are not hooked into a IP/OP program that believes in multi-disciplinary treatment apporaches towards ED recovery? Finding an excellent AT is as difficult as finding fully trained and experienced medical Dr’s who have working knowledge of ED’s.

               “Healing requires movement, inner movement

          for change and growth.  One of the greatest gifts of

     our time is for encouraging such movement in artistic therapy.”

                                  -Adam Blanning, MD

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