The Neuroscience of Art Therapy for Addiction and Trauma

Long-term recovery from substance disorders can be elusive, as each individual may have complex needs that can be hard to uncover and address. This book shows how art therapy may reduce treatment episodes and expedite recovery by identifying comorbid disorders and engaging clients with treatment-resistant conditions like trauma, learning disabilities and brain injuries. It also demonstrates how art therapy reconstitutes areas of the brain to restore resilience and relational wellbeing. Example art therapy exercises offer ways to increase self-esteem, clarify and regulate emotions, and improve cognition and decision-making, as the transition to recovery is achieved.