Addiction recovery: Harness the Healing Power of Art and Music Therapy

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Ms. Peterson’s mission is aligned with that of RecoveryPride, which is to celebrate sobriety and those who achieve it.

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Recovering from drug and alcohol addiction is not an easy feat. Often, those recovering feel a lack of control over their lives. Incorporating alternative methods, such as art and music therapies, alongside a traditional rehabilitation approach provides an enjoyable and expressive way for clients to work toward recovery. Not only does it help addicts cope, but it helps build self-esteem.

Being an artist or musician is not necessary. These are judgment-free spaces, and the only thing required is the desire to participate.

Expression Through Art

In art therapy, certified therapists from the American Art Therapy Association teach clients to use creative activities as a safe form of expression. Their goal is not to focus on the aesthetics of the art, but rather the treatment itself and give patients a new nonverbal tool to communicate with. Whether it’s watercolor, acrylic, or oils, painting is a wonderful way for those suffering with addiction to cope. Not only is painting a quiet, soothing activity, it allows an artist to bring out whatever emotions they’re dealing with onto the paper or canvas and leave it there. Because drugs and alcohol can dull a person’s emotions, painting can bring you back to yourself, little by little.

When paired with talk therapy, this becomes a powerful way to describe and communicate feelings. Once those feelings are released, the art itself becomes a tangible object that opens up paths of communication for discussion with the therapist and with peers.

The Power of Music

Music is processed through the entire brain, making it a powerful therapy treatment. Methods range from listening to music to writing lyrics to physically playing instruments and singing. Trained music therapists practice the Iso Principle, in which they take their cues from their patients. This helps them guide clients through their emotions, such as bringing a high energy patient down to a relaxing state through improvising music.

Even with no prior experience, playing an instrument is a great way for patients to try something new in a safe environment. This teaches them a way to manage their stress, fears, and anxieties. Drumming has particularly been proven to help balance and uplift patients.

These techniques promote self-exploration and self-expression in individuals. When done in group settings, it encourages cooperation toward a common goal and improves social skills. Not only that, it has also been proven to help reduce physical pain as well as positively affect heart rate, blood pressure and vital signs.

A supplement to the 12 steps

When paired with a 12-step program, art and music therapy are proven to be incredibly effective. As of 2014, a study found that 36.8 percent of sample programs offered art therapy as a part of their recovery process, while 14.7 percent offered music therapy and these numbers are growing.

The same study also examined how art helps promote the cognitive brain process of valuing choice and decision making, while music therapy enhances a motivation for change. For these reasons, art and music therapy are particularly helpful in facilitating the first step. The act of being creative helps patients come to terms with their disease and creates a positive image of recovery, which in turn opens them up to receiving treatment.

Seeking Help

Confronting the emotions that get tied up in addictions is an intimidating process. It is common for recovering addicts to feel shame and guilt over their past and therefore be unwilling or unable to talk about it. Many times, these feelings get knotted up and buried deep down.

Both art and music therapy provide a safe alternative for facing and unleashing those feelings. It is a powerful coping and recovery method that should not be overlooked.