Art therapy is much more than a creative outlet for people living with Parkinson’s.
It empowers people with Parkinson’s to adapt, engage in meaningful activities, and have a better quality of life despite the challenges posed by the condition.
What is art therapy?
Art therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses creative processes to improve physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. For people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), art therapy can offer numerous benefits and serve as a complementary treatment.
Benefits of art therapy for Parkinson’s
- Improved motor skills: Art therapy can enhance fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which are often impaired in people living with Parkinson’s. Activities like painting and sculpting help maintain dexterity and reduce tremors (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 2023).
- Enhanced cognitive function: Engaging in creative activities stimulates cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. This can help slow cognitive decline associated with Parkinson’s (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 2023).
- Emotional and psychological benefits: Art therapy provides an outlet for self-expression, reducing anxiety, depression, and stress. It can improve mood and overall quality of life (PCLA, 2022).
- Social interaction: Participating in group art therapy sessions fosters social connections, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 2023).
Mechanisms of art therapy
Art therapy works through several mechanisms:
- Neuroplasticity: Engaging in creative activities promotes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections. This can help compensate for the loss of function due to Parkinson’s (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 2023).
- Visuospatial function: Art therapy improves visuospatial skills, which are often affected in Parkinson’s. This includes better perception of space and motion, aiding in daily activities (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 2023).
- Stress reduction: The creative process itself is calming and meditative, helping to lower stress levels and improve mental health (PCLA, 2022).
Art therapy as a treatment
Art therapy is used as a complementary treatment for Parkinson’s. It is often integrated with other therapies, such as physical and occupational therapy, to provide a holistic approach to managing symptoms. Studies have shown that regular participation in art therapy can lead to significant improvements in both motor and non-motor symptoms (PCLA, 2022).
Art therapy and Parkinson’s in Australia
In Australia, several programmes offer art therapy specifically for people with Parkinson’s. One notable programme is Painting with Parkinson’s, founded by artist Nancy Tingey. This programme uses a structured methodology to improve physical, emotional, and social well-being through art. Workshops are held regularly, providing a supportive environment for participants to explore their creativity and manage their symptoms (Painting with Parkinsons, 2023).
I would like to share my art story. I have always loved art and have been drawing doing anything creative for as long as I can remember. I eventually became an art teacher and loved my job, I would always make up samples for the students as I was working with them to show them how easy and enjoyable making art can be, and to motivate them into doing amazing work to give them confidence. I had started a painting of my daughter’s cat, but then I started having problems with my health and got really depressed, a symptom of Parkinson’s unknown to me at the time. This painting tool me nearly seven years to complete and it was the last ” normal” painting done before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Once properly diagnosed and treated, my depression left me, my tremor improved and I had to change the way I worked, (it took me many, many attempts to do the whiskers). One day, I had made my husband a cup of tea, and whilst giving it to him, I was shaking so bad, I was spilling a lot of it. As I had a “resting” tremor, he suggested, tapping my thumb while carrying it, which actually worked, because my hands were no longer resting, and so the tremor disappeared. With this in mind, I decided to use small nozzle bottles to paint with as I needed to squeeze the bottles to use them, thus making sure my hands were not in a resting position. This worked and so I am able to paint using this technique. The second painting of two childhood budgies was completed in one week as opposed to years for the cat picture. The size of both paintings is 1.2 x 1.8 metres. You just have to work with what you’ve got and find the best way of achieving something, albeit a little differently. ~ Hellen M.
How do I access art therapy?
Accessing art therapy services can make a significant difference in your symptoms, socialisation and nurture your boosted creativity!
It’s advisable to explore all available pathways to find the program that best suits your needs. Look to:
- check with your local council for any art programs they put on for the community
- your state-based Parkinson’s organisation for advice on programs to access, they may have one in their office
- NDIS or My Aged Care plan supports may support art therapy as a complementary treatment, be sure to check current supports available with your support coordinator.
Infosheet under review
References:
- Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. (2023). Art Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease. Retrieved from https://www.parkinson.org/blog/research/art-therapy
- PCLA. (2022). Understanding Art Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease. Retrieved from https://pcla.org/understanding-art-therapy-for-parkinsons-disease/
- Painting with Parkinsons. (2023). Painting with Parkinsons Program. Retrieved from https://paintingwithparkinsons.org.au/
