Art therapy is a diagnostic and rehabilitation method that uses activities such as drawing, painting, photography and dance to express emotions and concerns. It also increases self-awareness and relays information about traumatic events or...
Art therapy is a growing way to analyze children for mental and emotional problems. As the Western Journal of Medicine notes, "Imagery taps into a person's earliest way of knowing and reacting to the world." This makes it a valuable practice to...
Children with cancer have emotional needs that require just as much attention as their physical needs. Young cancer patients experience fear, anxiety, depression and other emotions associated with serious chronic illnesses. Some medical facilities...
Art therapy may be one of the most valuable tools of discovery in helping children deal with mental and emotional stress. When you suspect a child might be suppressing emotions or having challenges communicating her feelings, encouraging her to...
Children with cancer and other serious illnesses spend much of their lives in medical environments that are often frightening and confusing, and endure painful procedures they do not always understand. Art therapy can help these children express...
Art therapy uses the process of creating art to improve mental health. A 2006 study published in the "Journal of Pain and Symptom Management" supports the use of art therapy in reducing pain and anxiety for hospitalized cancer patients. And...
Communication through art has its roots back as far as caveman times, when pictures were painted on cave walls to express feelings and record activity. However, the concept of art therapy is much newer; psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud discovered that...
A panic attack manifests in different ways for different people. While some experience a feeling of anxiety and worry, others feel an increased heart rate and some others might have headaches, dizziness and trouble swallowing. No matter how your...
Whether you are caretaker for a mentally challenged 28-year-old, or you have a mentally challenged person in your family, learning how to correctly discipline a mentally challenged adult is not so different from disciplining a mentally challenged...
The rhythmic beats of hand drumming entertain and inspire movement, but the percussion instrument may benefit your mind and spirit as well. Some therapists use hand drumming as a holistic treatment for depression, anxiety, trauma and cognitive...
Dementia is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that seriously impairs memory and various cognitive functions. Medication is used to alleviate behavioral and sleep-related symptoms to improve quality of life and end of life care for sufferers....
The World Health Organization estimates that hundreds of millions of people worldwide suffer from mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Unfortunately, many individuals never seek treatment for their mental health, because of stigma and...
Active release techniques are used by physical therapists to address flawed adhesions that impair the function of muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Adhesions, which consist of specialized proteins collectively called fascia, normally are...
Autism is a complex neurological disorder where faulty connections in the brain impact social interaction and communication skills. Certain types of brain exercises, however, may improve these neurological connections. The more effective...
Overcoming grief is no easy task, for children or adults. However, recognizing important developmental capacities of a child experiencing grief is the first step towards addressing its treatment. The National Cancer Institute posits that prior to...
In the past, heroin and other opiate addictions were generally treated like a disease of the brain rather than a complex behavioral and psychological condition. Fresh directions in treating opiate addiction in holistic drug rehabilitation centers...
Self-confidence is trust in your own ability to perform well in any area of life. Your level of self-confidence determines, in large part, what you believe you are able to attempt and accomplish. For this reason, a high level of self-confidence...
One of the main reasons young children struggle with anger management is because they often do not have the language to match their emotions. When a child experiences anger, fear, worry or sadness, he generally cannot easily identify his feelings...
Cancer is no longer the immediate death sentence it once was. There has been a shift to treating cancer like a chronic disease, with an emphasis on living with cancer in the best way possible. With early detection and current treatments, many...
One of the most important things loved ones and people who take care of Alzheimer's patients can do is find ways to keep them active. Engaging a person with dementia and keeping him focused may be difficult, but giving him a chance to teach or...
Various methods of counseling and services are available for children who struggle with behavior issues, but sometimes the best way to get a child to express himself is through art. Drawing, coloring, painting, sculpting and other forms of art...
Adults with developmental disabilities face many challenges. Although some individuals are able to work and are relatively self sufficient, others are not. There are a variety of activities that can help adults with developmental disabilities to...
If you have an autistic child, or you teach children with autism, you may be looking for a way to positively stimulate their minds and enhance their basic learning skills. Teaching them art can do that, because the design, color, form and texture...
The death of a loved one causes shock and pain for those who were closest. The acute pain caused by the feeling of grief and loss can be consuming, without a way to feel normal again. If someone you love has been dealing with a death, it can be...
The human brain is composed of two hemispheres, controlling opposite sides of the body and specializing in different tasks. The brain's right side controls the left side of the body and uses intuition and imagination to handle creative tasks, such...
In addition to its crippling emotional and cognitive effects, PTSD has several physical symptoms that are effectively treated with modern psychotherapies. These effects include difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, startle response when...
"He who sings frightens away his ills," wrote Cervantes in his book Don Quixote. Research is beginning to confirm that singing is indeed good for your health and well-being, according to Health Central.
Clinical depression is a medical condition which must first be treated by a physician. After doing a thorough assessment, your doctor can determine the type of medications you need. Although medications are the primary tool for dealing with...
Children who experience the death of a loved one need a safe place in which to discuss their feelings. There are many therapeutic groups around the country for children who've experienced loss. Many times, children are split into different groups...
Meditation can assist the ADHD adult with mental focus and control. Yoga, martial arts and dance are a few physical activities that may help an adult with ADHD. Learn how to live with adult ADHD in this free video.
Preparing your clients for a massage is key to being a massage therapist. Learn the art of massage therapy in this video.
Choosing a massage area of expertise is key to any massage therapy career. Learn the art of giving massage in this health video.