Why Creativity is Important for your Mental Health
When we look back at our childhoods, many of us can recall the times we drew on walls like coloring pages, dressed up for afternoon tea parties with our favorite stuffed animals, and played with the latest action figures. We envisioned ourselves as superheroes conquering evil monsters and built forts as tall as skyscrapers, using blankets, chairs, and pillows. During those early years, we were invincible and allowed our imaginations to run wild with excitement. The world was a fascinating place that we were eager to explore.
Why is Creativity Important?
Creative exploration is vital to healthy cognitive and emotional development. It provides the foundation by which we learn to process new information and understand our experiences. Creativity sparks new ideas that help broaden our perspectives. Oftentimes, we can get stuck in rigid thinking patterns; only approaching situations with what has worked for us in the past. However, creativity drives innovation and encourages us to think outside the box. It promotes a trial-and-error process which allows us to work through problems, take risks, adapt to challenges, increase mental flexibility, and build resilience. When we look at the advances in society through technology none of it would be possible without creativity.
Benefits of Creativity & How to Enhance It
Creativity can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve your mood, self-esteem, clarity of thought, and expand self-expression. When you spend time engaging in activities that you love it boosts dopamine and endorphins, bringing a sense of joy and contentment. Writing, dancing, crafting, singing, drawing, collaging, cooking, brainstorming new ideas for a project, knitting, and designing are just a few of the many ways that you can tap into your own creativity. The process of self-discovery and developing new skills is one that we can experience at any stage in life. When was the last time you expressed yourself creatively?
What is Creative Arts Therapy?
It is a form of therapy that allows you to process your thoughts, emotions, and experiences through creative expression. Creative Art Therapies can help address trauma and painful memories that may be too difficult to put into words. By processing through modalities such as: Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, Drama Therapy or Music Therapy, you can gain insight that allows you to deepen your connection to self and widen your capacity of expression. The creative process fires off neurons in the brain that generate new neural pathways and connections that facilitate healing and change. Creativity expands the mind, promotes learning and growth, supports resilience, and allows us to integrate our experiences in a truly embodied way.
Elizabeth Gilbert author of Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear states “A creative life is an amplified life. It is a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting.” In conclusion, I implore you to embrace your creativity with curiosity and playfulness. Tap back into the memories of your childhood when you were eager to discover the world around you, without fear or judgment. Indulge in the process of self-exploration without restriction. Allow your imagination to run wild again with pure excitement and joy.
- Brittney Gibson, LCAT
Services Offered At Repose Therapy
At Repose Therapy, our goal is to provide the best HOLISTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY services among other evidence-based therapy services to you. We enjoy working with college students, mothers, parents, couples, and individuals who are seeking better mental wellness in their life. If you’re struggling or trying to find a way to move forward, then our DIVERSE TEAM OF THERAPISTS would be thrilled to work with you. If grief counseling isn’t the service you’re seeking, no worries. We offer other services at our ONLINE THERAPY OFFICE IN NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT, AND NEW JERSEY. Other services include EMDR THERAPY, ANXIETY TREATMENT, PTSD TREATMENT, AND TRAUMA THERAPY, THERAPY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS, MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH, MARRIAGE COUNSELING AND COUPLES THERAPY, THERAPY FOR TEENS, LGBTQIA+ THERAPY, ART THERAPY, DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY.
Additionally, we offer many GROUPS at our practice including an adult DBT skills group MANAGING EMOTIONS WITH DBT and Art Therapy, MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY, EMBRACING YOUR BODY, and a Ramadan group. If you’re interested in any of our other services, please reach out, we cannot wait to work with you as you improve your well-being and begin your journey toward healing.