Expression therapy, also known as creative arts therapy, is the use of art as a form of therapy. The process of creating an art piece or learning a dance is emphasized rather than the final product. Through art and music, people coping with physical and emotional symptoms can express themselves to better understand their feelings.
Music therapy promotes healing through a creative outlet. It encourages emotional expression as well as promotes social interaction to relieve symptoms. In combination with other conventional medical treatments, music therapy can help ease chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Whether it’s learning to play an instrument or delving into the rhythm of the music, patients saw a decrease in mood swings and relief from insomnia.
The benefits of art therapy range from improving mental and emotional to physical symptoms, including social skills. This is yet another outlet for creative expression on your own or with others that can improve overall quality of life. With all the pain that comes with cancer and its treatments, art therapy has shown to help patients turn their emotions into art. While the overall picture or sculpture has importance, the choosing of colors and emotional experience of creation is the true healing benefit of art therapy.
Greater self-awareness and a sense of well-being can be achieved through dance therapy. Dance helps relieve muscle tensions, change body perception, and improve mood. Any exercise can energize your body, but dance is an engaging activity that benefits the circulatory and respiratory system without feeling like a strict gym workout. Dancing can be invigorating and can produce more energy, relieving stress and depression.
Writing can help cancer patients sort their feelings towards their condition and other emotions simply by putting pen to paper. Tracking symptoms and reactions is a more personal comping mechanism that is a complimentary way to support groups and psychotherapy. Cancer patients can write how the feel, what they’re feeling, and anything else that comes to mind in a way that can release stress in a private way. Through writing entries and thoughts, poetry and songs are formed for even more expression.