APRIL 2020 79 WOMANSDAY.COM
Health
The latest news and wisdom so you can live life to the fullest
De-Stress With Art
F
eeling overwhelmed? You might
want to bust out that pack of colored
pencils stuck away in a drawer. A
new study found that after caregivers
took part in a free-f low ing coloring
session or a guided art therapy workshop with
access to a variety of art supplies, they reported
feeling better, more confident, and less stressed
and anxious. “When we create, we’re using our
senses and engaging in a form of problem-solving,”says study author Girija Kaimal, Ph.D., associate
professor at Drexel University and president-elect
of the American Art Therapy Association. This
gives us a sense of accomplishment, she adds, and
lets us express emotions we can’t put into words.
In fact, researchers see so much potential in art
therapy that they’re even investigating virtual
reality software that allows people with cognitive,
sensory, or motor disabilities to draw, paint, or
sculpt virtual masterpieces.GE
TT
Y^
IM
AG
ES
.