Bren Guerrero
When one first hears about occupational therapy, arts and crafts immediately come to mind. It’s almost a cliché; a pair of inseparable best friends. There are many reasons for this; occupational therapy has roots in fine motor skill tasks, some of which are not necessarily occupationally relevant or client-centered. The field of occupational therapy has evolved drastically since its genesis in rehabilitating wounded soldiers and patients in mental health institutions. The gracious participation and work with these populations, along with many others, has allowed the field to value the client’s priorities and engagement in purposeful and meaningful occupations.
However, arts and crafts are valuable occupations to many individuals, and occupational therapy has adapted to using these mediums to place client values first in scientifically supported ways. Mirroring occupational therapy, art is all around us. There’s a home for expressive arts in occupational therapy that allows individuals’ talents to shine and add meaning to life.
Expressive art is the process of utilizing various art forms and modalities to cultivate creative expression and “enhance personal growth, awareness, and healing” (Pepmeyer, 2020). Some examples include painting, dance, storytelling, and music. Expressive art values the process of making art rather than the final product; what matters is the journey of healing and creativity the artist embarks on. Engaging with different artistic mediums, such as painting and technology, increases sensory input and stimulates motor development in individuals. These baseline outcomes increase self-esteem, hope, and autonomy over one’s life. These are valuable attributes all individuals should possess. Feeling confident in one’s creative abilities provides generalizable skills. When one is empowered by creative expression through expressive arts, other occupations, such as education and daily living activities, are improved and strengthened.
For example, when someone engages in storytelling, they increase their neuroplasticity by activating many parts of the brain, strengthening alertness and memory, and often practicing community building by sharing the story with others. The individual has fostered a sense of community and belonging while also strengthening various cognitive abilities. These improvements will generalize how they engage socially in various settings and beyond the expressive storytelling medium. The individual has made new friends, boosted their self-confidence, and improved their quality of life.
Works Cited
Pepmeyer, B. (2020, August 6). Expressive art in OT: Enhancing creativity in the clinic -article 5313. OccupationalTherapy.com https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/articles/expressive-art-in-ot-enhancing-5313
