How could creativity help your mental health and well being?
For me, creativity has always been my safe place. I have suffered with anxiety from a young age, so I always loved having something that could help focus and calm my mind. It has saved me a lot of times, but specifically in October 2022, when I went on stress leave from my job at a homeless shelter. I crocheted a lot during my time off, and then after returning to work in February 2023 and struggling even more, I knew it was time for a change. After a chat with my therapist, I applied for the Textiles Program at the Kootenay Studio of Arts and started there in September 2023. I enrolled for the course primarily to give myself a break from the every day stresses of life, an opportunity to experiment and explore, whilst being open to the opportunities that may come from it.. and now we’re here. Creativity for me is my biggest form of therapy, so that’s why I asked Jordan from Black Dog Studio to share some information about Art Therapy and how it could help our mental health and well being.
People have been creative since the beginning of time, and why is that? It is the human way of expression. Through art, we can find a voice for our most vulnerable and big feelings. We can make sense of our internal world by making it external, and that's why art is important. Without getting too into the neuroscience behind it, basically, art can lower your cortisol levels (reducing stress), improves focus (gets you in the flow state), provides catharsis (reducing anxiety), raises serotonin levels and can stimulate the creation of new neural pathways (new ways of thinking).
Art therapy has been around for a long time, but has been gaining credibility in the past few decades through qualitative research. It is now recognized as a mental health profession, and I have been working in the field in a community agency as a child/youth mental health counsellor for the past three years. Julie and I started Black Dog Studio in 2022, and we have been loving having the opportunity to be alongside clients in their creative process. We have seen so much healing and hope in our little studio.
Personally, art has been so supportive throughout my entire life. As a bouncy kiddo (and I mean really bouncy), art gave me the opportunity to regulate. It was super important that I had down time to process feelings and be still. I took to knitting and painting and drawing, and I am so glad that I did. As I got older, I learned to turn to creativity on the tough days. In the last few years, I have had many injuries which have impacted my ability to bounce around, and has brought up a lot of negative feelings. When things feel hopeless, art is always there for me. And even better, I have had the opportunity to process my own art with an art therapist. Something about having someone facilitate discussion and witness my art has been the most healing experience. I recommend trying it to everyone!
At Black Dog Studio, we work with all people, and want to make this accessible by offering group workshops and sliding scale options for individual sessions. My approach to therapy is guided by a trauma-informed, positive framework, focusing on illuminating one's own capacity to live a vibrant, authentic, and meaningful life. Black Dog Studio features an art wall stocked with everything from plaster cast and orbies, to ukuleles and electric guitars. We're big fans of a good free pile, and make every effort to use recycled materials when possible. We're committed to working with you to find the creative medium that suites you best. I have been running a monthly textile arts group, called "Sew Club". This is one of my favorite groups, since we do such a big range of projects – from sewing to stitching to tie dye to crocheting. It's very energetic and people seem to really love it!
If you are interested in learning more about what we do, or joining in on the fun & healing, please email jordyn@blackdogstudio.artor check out our website www.blackdogstudio.artor our insta @blackdogstudio.art https://www.instagram.com/blackdogstudio.art/