About Art Therapy: Interview with Patricia Vallecillo
«It is essential to know ourselves, understand how to handle and validate our emotions. We must understand what things we like and how we can maintain good mental health.»
Our first interview is dedicated to a subject that, we believe, combines characteristics from two essential topics for the content of our blog: Art and mental health.
Art therapy is not a well-known profession in Honduras. That is why we have invited Patricia Vallecillo, a Honduran specialized in Art Therapy and Special Education at Mercyhurst University, to tell us more about this form of psychotherapy and its benefits.
When and how did your interest in Art Therapy begin?
I have liked art all my life, and I've felt that, when doing art, you are in a moment where you can express and connect with yourself. It's a time that relaxes me and allows me to find aspects of myself that I do not know or do not dare to explore in another way. Before entering university, I was deciding whether to study psychology or art. That was when I found art therapy, a psychological therapy that uses art to facilitate self-expression, which is the perfect combination of what I like the most: creating and helping others.
What is #ArtTherapy, and what is its function?
Art therapy is a psychological therapy that uses art as a tool to facilitate expression. It allows people to explore their feelings and work on their conflicts. The session is guided by an art therapist, who asks questions and listens to what each person has to say about their creation; this means that it is a safe space where people can express themselves without being judged or diagnosed.
Who should choose art therapy? Is there a specific patient profile to practice it?
Anyone can practice art therapy. A person with a psychological or psychiatric diagnosis can try it to work on those matters. But a diagnosis is not necessary. People who want to improve their mental health, work on their emotions, resolve conflicts, or express and get to know themselves better can also go. There are no requirements other than being willing to work on yourself and have an active role in the therapy.
What are the benefits of art therapy techniques for an individual?
There are many benefits of art therapy, and it will depend on what the patient is looking for with the therapy. Among the benefits are: solving internal conflicts, improving emotional well-being, learning to work on emotions, and knowing ourselves better. Strategies for stress and anxiety management, self-esteem improvement, and grief management can also be learned. There are many more advantages, but in general, all those that help us have better mental health and well-being.
How can the inclusion of art impact the mental and academic development of children?
Art brings many benefits to our mental health and general well-being. It helps us take a break from our day-to-day and be able to see things from another perspective. It also allows us to enter a state of "flow" where our mind disconnects from the rest of the world and focuses on what we are doing. It also gives us self-confidence by reminding us that we can bring our ideas and feelings to life.
As for children, art helps them develop their fine motor skills, but it also works on their self-esteem and self-pride. Children, when seeing their creations, feel proud and see what they are capable of achieving. We are all artists and children know it and enjoy it. There are also advantages to integrating art into school, as children can connect more with the content of the class. Children's interest grows when presented with an artistic activity, and if it has an academic objective, they will be learning in a dynamic and hands-on way, allowing them to learn and retain more information.
What are some of the misconceptions that people have about art therapy?
People tend to think that art therapy serves to give a "diagnosis" based on their artistic creation. The most common question I have been asked is, "If I draw you a picture can you know my problems?". But an art therapist does not diagnose and does not make interpretations of the drawings people make. During therapy, it is the patient who expresses the meaning of each part of his drawing. For example, sometimes, they might give meaning to the colors used.
Another misconception is when art therapy is thought of as being the same as regular art. Yes, both types of creations bring many benefits, but art therapy is always handled by an art therapist, who works on specific aspects of the patient that need improvement. And art is the creation that we do independently.
What suggestions would you give to someone interested in venturing into a career in art therapy?
My recommendation for someone who wants to start a career in art therapy, and any other profession in mental health, would be that they need to work on themselves and their mental health. It is essential to know ourselves, understand how to handle and validate our emotions. We must understand what things we like and how we can maintain good mental health. In the same way that you will motivate your patients to express themselves, you must take the time to express and know yourself.
What is your opinion about the understanding that the current Honduran society has regarding mental health?
Unfortunately, in Honduras, there is a taboo around mental health. The person seeking psychological or psychiatric help is believed to be "crazy." When in reality, they are a brave person who has decided to work for their well-being. People tend to minimize a mental health diagnosis and not believe in all the consequences it can have on people's daily lives. I think that since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a little more conversation about mental health and the importance of taking care of it. It is essential to keep talking about these topics to erase the taboos in our society.
Before ending, what word of advice would you like to give to our readers?
My advice would be that all take the time to take care of their mental health. Doing activities that we enjoy always helps us feel better. And for those who are in a silent battle, of which only they know of its presence, I want them to remember that they are not alone and that they should express their distress with someone they trust or with a therapist.
Follow Patricia on her Instagram account: @vivirconartehn
Comments