POSTER PRESENTATION Art Therapy For Wellness - A Positive Psychology Approach

INTRODUCTION: Psychiatrists have mostly focused on Art and mental illness, the major focus being on Schizophrenia, Mood disorders and Personality disorders. Creativity and Mood fluctuations have also been studied. The real progress of mankind has depended upon the great contribution of specific individuals who were original, creative, iconoclastic. To view such individuals through the lens of their idiosyncrasies is not fair to them or to their contribution to social progress. Art is one such creative medium of expression that combines a unique perception of the artist with fantasies and reality. Art which expresses feelings have hogged the headlines over art that expresses thought. Art as a therapy for those who seek to express their inner angst may be cathartic. Art as a therapy that seeks to bring to life their ideas on canvas may be illuminating and bring clarity. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of Art on the perception of wellness and positive emotions through 3 case studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In non-psychiatric wellness seeking group of people who were interested in concept based art for specific occasions as a tool of inspiration, based on their individual autobiographical life stories, a concept was created, implemented as Art by the presenting Author in Acrylic painting on Canvas and handed over to the interested volunteer person. A detailed concept note was also given detailing the art. The client’s response was recorded and analysed. As a pilot 3 case studies are presented. RESULTS: In this poster three examples of original creative art for wellness painted in acrylics on canvas by the Presenting author are displayed and their interpretations given describing the positive emotions they evoked for the concerned individuals who had no psychopathology or Diagnosis but wanted to expand their sense of well being invoking Positive Psychology. DISCUSSION: Vastly superior psychopharmacological and biological treatment is available for major mental disorders but for adjustment, stress or adaptive problems therapy that is cathartic, insightful and creative can unleash a positive spirit and attitude to overcome phase of life and other adjustment problems. This expression is bound to be unique, original and autobiographical with enormous meaning and significance for the client in a very personal way. CONCLUSION: Like personalized medicine, Art therapy has enormous personal significance and is highly individualized. Art for exploring positive emotions, adaptive thoughts and creative communication points to its utility as an agent for creating Wellness.