Using Art Therapy to Engage the Mind, Body, and Spirit to Cope with Tinnitus

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Perhaps because the world of music and art is occupied by people with extraordinary talent and training, the world of Art Therapy seems like a place where you need a portfolio to get an appointment. That misper- ception means that many people who might benefit from it may not understand its purpose, application, and power to address such issues as anxiety, depression, and addiction. To learn more about Art Therapy and how it can be applied to coping with tinnitus, the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) interviewed Cara Fisher Wellvang, an Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor at the Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA) and Linden Oaks Hospital edge of artistic traditions, visual me- CFW: As with all forms of therapy, in Chicago. dia, and advanced training in clinical there are many ways of implementing psychology. Some applications of art and measuring progress in Art Ther- Joy Onozuka (JO): What exactly is therapy include improving cognitive apy. Some clients are seeking long- Art Therapy? and sensorimotor functions, fostering term therapy and continue to work self-esteem and self-awareness, cul- with their art therapist for months or Cara Fisher Wellvang (CFW): Draw- tivating emotional resilience, promot- years; others may choose to attend ing on the American Art Therapy ing insight, enhancing social skills, a limited number of sessions. The Association (AATA) definition, Art and reducing and resolving conflicts treatment setting, insurance cover- Therapy is a mental health and human and distress. age, and goals of the individual client services profession that integrates can affect the decision as well. Many art making, creative processes, and JO: How do you measure progress? art therapists are dually licensed as applied psychological theory within Is progress self-sustaining, or do peo- counselors, so — depending on the the psychotherapeutic relationship. ple typically engage in Art Therapy for client’s needs and the licensure of Art therapists use interventions to long periods to maintain their sense the therapist — they may act as the support the personal and relational of well-being? client’s primary therapist, co-treat goals of clients informed by knowl- him or her alongside another primary

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therapist, and/or be integrated into music, dance, drama, writing, or other tinnitus. Art Therapy certainly can the client’s treatment team. forms of creative expression. be a beneficial part of treatment for tinnitus. JO: Does insurance cover Art Therapy? JO: Is there research that shows the benefits of Art Therapy? JO: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CFW: This is a somewhat tricky (CBT) is an evidence-based method question — the simple answer is yes, CFW: A great deal of research has for coping with tinnitus distress. Is sometimes. It depends on state laws been done, or is being done, on the CBT applied in Art Therapy? and the individual art therapist’s licen- benefits of Art Therapy. For more sure. Art Therapy has its own licen- information on that, I’d suggest CFW: There are art therapists who sure board (Art Therapy Credentials referring to the AATA website: use numerous theoretical models, Board), and, as I mentioned, many https://arttherapy.org/upload/ including CBT, in their work. Gener- also are licensed as counselors (Na- media-kits/Research-fact-sheet.pdf ally, the therapist will use principles tional Board for Certified Counselors). of CBT as a basis to guide the ther- JO: Those bothered by tinnitus often apeutic process; however, there are JO: What do you say to the person are distressed, because the sound many different ways that CBT can who feels anxious and stressed about disrupts their ability to sleep, concen- be incorporated into Art Therapy. For participating, because he/she lacks trate, or enjoy things that previously example, art could be used to help artistic talent? gave them pleasure. This can result illustrate some of the abstract con- in anxiety, chronic stress, depression, cepts or principles of CBT, practice CFW: Everyone has the capacity for isolation, and feelings of hopeless- cognitive and behavioral skills, or help creativity and the ability to engage in ness. How might Art Therapy help? clients to see a visual representation Art Therapy, no matter their familiarity of their change/progress over time, to or comfort with art or art materials. CFW: Through Art Therapy, partici- name a few possibilities. Many adults find the process of creat- pants develop ways to express and ing art to be a daunting or intimidating communicate experiences they find JO: Are certain methods of Art task, due to past experiences with art difficult to verbalize. As a result, it Therapy better than others for reduc- and/or social constructs around what can help individuals increase feelings ing depression and anxiety? Is there constitutes “art” or being an “artist.” of empowerment, hopefulness, and research that shows the benefits of In Art Therapy, there is great value self-worth. Art Therapy also can help one type over another? in the process, as well as the prod- participants build a sense of connec- uct. We often remind people that, tion to themselves and others, as CFW: Art Therapy interventions because art is a mode of self-expres- well as build a sense of belonging to include a diverse range of art media sion, there is no right or wrong way a community. and experiences, many of which have to create. Many people who did not Through Art Therapy, participants shown effective results in treating previously identify as “artists” can can strengthen the practice of mind- anxiety and depression. Because find meaningful ways of engaging and fulness and begin to use art as a cop- individual experiences with art and connecting through art media and cre- ing skill to help manage symptoms reactions to various materials differ ative experiences. That being said, we of anxiety and depression. I have so greatly, a process that may benefit also recognize that individuals have had many clients who have experi- one client may increase symptoms their own personal preferences, and enced anxiety, depression, irritability, in another. To select effective treat- Art Therapy may not be for everyone. isolation, chronic stress, and suicidal ments, art therapists incorporate Others may prefer to connect through ideation, in conjunction with a variety their clinical theoretical orientations, of medical issues, some including training in specific media/processes,

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and the client’s needs to create an nicate about a difficult emotion or therapist to be present and cannot be individualized treatment plan. Specif- experience. Therefore, using struc- done independently. That being said, ic research focused on anxiety and tured activities doesn’t always allow if one finds coloring books to be a depression is growing, and there for the most creative expression and useful tool, or coping mechanism, that are many interesting studies in the self-exploration, even though it can be is great! It is just important to know Journal of the American Art Therapy helpful in certain circumstances. the difference between recreational Association detailing this. activities that can be used as coping JO: Are you surprised by the popular- skills, art as a therapeutic tool, and Art JO: It’s been suggested that struc- ity of coloring books among adults? Therapy as the treatment intervention. tured creative expression — like col- Is there merit to the claim that they oring a mandala — as opposed to free reduce stress? To learn more about Art Therapy, form drawing, is better at reducing see: https://arttherapy.org/ anxiety, because it requires greater fo- CFW: I’m not surprised by their pop- about-art-therapy/ cus. What are your thoughts on that? ularity. In our society, artistic ability is often thought of as a skill that you ei- Cara Fisher Wellvang received her Masters of CFW: It is true that it could be one ther have or you don’t, which is some- Arts in Counseling Psychology, with special- way of reducing anxiety for some thing art therapists would dispute. ization in Art Therapy from Adler University (formerly the Adler School of Professional individuals, but I would not say that it For many people, as they age, they Psychology) in Chicago, IL. At the Institute for is necessarily “better.” Some individ- tend to feel increased pressure and Therapy through the Arts, Cara works with indi- uals may appreciate structure, while judgment around their artistic abilities. viduals and families and runs groups in nursing homes, residential facilities, schools, and com- others may find structured activities As this happens, their interactions munities throughout Chicago. At Linden Oaks, to be constraining and stressful. A with art in general tend to decrease. Cara works in the in-patient and out-patient qualified art therapist can help an in- Coloring books have become a bridge psychiatric treatment settings with adolescent, dividual, or group, explore what feels for many to reintroduce art-making in adult, and geriatric populations, providing Art Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She most comfortable, and also may help a safe and comfortable environment. works with clients to address such issues as participants engage with art practices Coloring books are a great recreational chronic mental illnesses, neurodevelopmental in new, or less familiar, ways to try to activity and can be stress-reducing disorders, social isolation, acculturative stress, facilitate growth and encourage new tools for many people. The common school, and family challenges. She uses a variety of approaches in therapy that integrate art, forms of expression. Sometimes the misconception is that coloring books play, and creative expression. processes are used to help under- are Art Therapy, which is not the stand, explore, express, or commu- case. Art Therapy requires a qualified

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58 Tinnitus Today Spring 2018 www.ATA.org special feature  Color Me Calm

What do you do when you’re unable of coloring to distance oneself from to do the things that keep your mind negative thoughts and emotions, off tinnitus? Many people utilize which exacerbate anxiety. Moreover, purposeful distraction to keep their research is finding that coloring does attention off their tinnitus on days promote relaxation. And in the world when it’s more bothersome than nor- of screens and constant connection, mal. Some pick up a pack of colored coloring can provide a quiet medita- pencils and turn to a page in a col- tive reprieve, partly because it has a oring book. The recent craze in adult clear beginning and end. coloring books speaks to the power

Credit: Felice Kite

We’d like to invite you to color the page above to see if doing so provides you with a sense of calm and distraction from your tinnitus. Let us know your thoughts by emailing: [email protected]