The Healing Power of Art Therapy in Telehealth Mental Health Care

Art therapy in telehealth mental health care combines evidence-based creative interventions with professional therapeutic guidance, offering clinically-proven benefits for stress management, emotional expression, trauma processing, and mental wellness through secure virtual sessions with licensed mental health professionals.

Ever feel like words aren't enough to express what you're going through? Art therapy opens a powerful new channel for healing and self-discovery, even from the comfort of your home. Through guided creative expression with our licensed therapists, you can unlock emotions, reduce stress, and find clarity in ways that traditional conversation alone may miss.

Effectiveness of Art Therapy: Potential Health Benefits Of Working With A Licensed Clinical Social Worker Through Telehealth

The effectiveness of creative therapeutic approaches has been well-documented, with current research highlighting numerous potential benefits for mental and physical health. Art therapy interventions, when facilitated by licensed professionals, have become recognized as effective complementary approaches used by mental health practitioners in various settings. This article explores the role of creative expression in mental health based on clinical research by mental health experts.

What is art therapy in telehealth?

Creative expression has been an integral part of human existence for millennia, aiding with expression, healing, teaching, and learning. Art therapy utilizes creative expression as a therapeutic tool, and when incorporated into telehealth sessions with licensed clinical social workers, it can be particularly effective. Various creative approaches can be incorporated into virtual therapy sessions, including guided drawing, painting, writing exercises, and other expressive activities.

Creative therapeutic approaches show benefits as stand-alone practices, but their effectiveness is typically greatest when integrated with other forms of therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Psychodynamic approaches that incorporate creative expression focus on the subconscious mind, revealing unconscious thoughts and beliefs that develop in childhood. Expression through writing, drawing, and other creative forms can tap into the subconscious mind and bring underlying cognitive processes to light during telehealth sessions.

A 2014 randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of psychodynamic group art therapy for treating patients diagnosed with schizophrenia found that patients who had attended group art therapy had significant improvements in self-awareness of their emotional states and that of others. Creative therapeutic approaches may even help prevent mental illness by assisting people in processing trauma and improving self-esteem.

Benefits of creative therapeutic approaches in telehealth

Creative therapeutic approaches support mental health by improving cognitive function, self-esteem, self-awareness, emotional resilience, and social skills. These interventions have been used to support the physical and mental well-being of individuals and communities with therapeutic, preventative, and rehabilitative effects.

In this next section, we explore the evidence-based benefits of creative therapeutic approaches from the standpoint of mental health researchers.

Stress management

Stress is one of the major contributing factors to mental distress and physical illness. Research suggests that creative therapeutic approaches might be an effective way to relieve stress and reduce the impact of stressful life events on the mind and body, even when delivered through telehealth platforms.

One study found that just 45 minutes of creative activity reduced the levels of cortisol (stress hormone) in the brain for 75% of adult participants. To determine the actual effectiveness of creative interventions, we need to look at a larger review of data.

A systematic review of 37 studies on creative therapeutic approaches found that creative interventions reduced stress levels for around 80% of participants. This research suggests that most adults who participate in creative therapeutic activities benefit from stress reduction, making it a valuable component of telehealth therapy sessions with licensed clinical social workers.

Creative approaches for depression & anxiety

Creative therapeutic approaches have potential benefits for people experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms. Creative expression may help individuals safely express strong emotions, build self-esteem, and process past traumas, even in a virtual setting. In one study on the benefits of clay art therapy, researchers found that one of the potential prospective benefits of creative approaches for mental health disorders like chronic depression and anxiety is that it can improve emotional regulation.

One of the largest systematic reviews yet on the effectiveness of creative therapeutic approaches for depression and anxiety looked at the data from over 400 different clinical studies. It found that creative interventions had positive effects on individuals living with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment, and more.

Researchers have also noted that the expressions made by individuals during creative therapeutic activities could help licensed clinical social workers make more accurate assessments and deliver more effective care to their clients who live with depression and anxiety.

Self-esteem

“Men’s Sheds” is a project that aims to reduce social isolation for men by allowing them to go and practice woodworking, pottery, photography, and art. Research shows that this type of community-based creative therapy group improved the social skills, self-esteem, self-worth, and cognitive functioning of participants–leading to improvements in overall physical and mental well-being.

Self-image can be a vital component of personal transformation and improving overall well-being. Research supports the idea that creative therapeutic approaches can be effective self-esteem-building activities. Creative expression can enable people to see that they do have the power to create the life that they want and improve their sense of independence and responsibility.

According to a scoping review by the World Health Organization, music therapy can improve self-esteem, self-image, and confidence for individuals processing past traumas or experiencing mental health conditions. Drama activities were also found to improve self-image for teens with body image concerns. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may also be able to avoid and prevent victimization by using creative therapeutic approaches to improve overall self-esteem.

Creative approaches & autism

According to the DSM-5, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communication, and building relationships. Creative therapeutic approaches may be an effective way for adults and children with autism to build social skills, improve self-esteem, and express themselves through creativity rather than verbally, even in telehealth settings.

Building confidence through creative therapeutic approaches can aid people with autism in having more fulfilling social interactions and expressing themselves more openly. A study from Iran on the effects of creative interventions on children with autism found that attending painting therapy groups improved their ability to express their feelings and interact socially.

Creative approaches & PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that typically occurs where someone has difficulty recovering after experiencing a traumatic event or series of events. Symptoms can include intrusive, distressing memories, nightmares, dissociation, changes in cognitive functioning, physiological stress, and more. Creative therapeutic approaches may be an effective tool for coping with the symptoms of trauma and healing from it.

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available through ReachLink’s licensed clinical social workers.

Creative therapeutic approaches for combat veterans with PTSD have been found to have some benefits, such as helping to improve the recall of suppressed memories. A randomized controlled trial from 2018 found that creative interventions could help veterans to remember, express, and safely process past traumatic memories.

Pain management

Chronic pain and serious health conditions such as cancer can contribute to symptoms of depression and mental distress. Creative therapeutic approaches may be an effective way to reduce physical pain for patients by relieving stress and anxiety. The American Cancer Society recommends creative therapeutic approaches as possible complementary therapies for coping with the effects of cancer.

A study on the benefits of creative therapeutic approaches for patients undergoing chemotherapy found that attending creative therapy sessions even short-term improved the mental and physical health of the participants. The positive effects of the creative therapy sessions were still present in a 4-four month follow-up, showing the potential for long-term benefits as well as short-term ones.

Creative therapeutic sessions through ReachLink

If you are considering incorporating creative therapeutic approaches into your telehealth sessions with a ReachLink licensed clinical social worker, it can help to know what to expect. There are different types of creative activities that can be adapted for telehealth, including guided drawing, painting, collage, writing exercises, and more. Some people may worry that they are not “good enough” at creative activities to participate in these approaches, but there is no need to have preexisting experience or to be “good” at it to benefit from the therapeutic effects.

Many clients report feeling more comfortable opening up and expressing themselves when involved in creative therapeutic activities because the focus shifts from verbal communication to artistic expression. This can help bypass barriers such as verbal inhibition, anxiety, or difficulty articulating emotions. Licensed clinical social workers at ReachLink are trained to guide clients compassionately through these processes, ensuring a safe, supportive environment even in virtual settings.

In conclusion, creative therapeutic approaches offered through telehealth have demonstrated significant potential to improve various aspects of mental and physical health. From stress reduction and enhanced self-esteem to supporting individuals with depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism, and chronic pain, these interventions provide valuable tools in comprehensive care. When integrated with professional guidance from licensed clinical social workers, creative expression becomes a powerful avenue for healing and personal growth, accessible to individuals regardless of location.

If you are interested in exploring how art therapy and other creative modalities can support your mental health journey, ReachLink’s telehealth services offer a convenient and effective way to connect with experienced professionals. Embracing creativity within therapy not only fosters emotional resilience but also empowers you to unlock new pathways toward well-being and recovery.