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Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT)

19 Jul 2021
- admin
Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) is a relatively new but very effective method of psychotherapy that helps in expressing emotions and gaining emotional strength. MBAT can be used as a self-therapy measure for learning more about oneself and gaining mental stability and fortitude. Alternatively, it can be analyzed by a psychologist to understand the person’s feelings and emotions.

Mindfulness is primarily a Buddhist concept and it focuses on realizing what one’s emotions and consciousness truly are. It usually involves methods like meditation. Art Therapy focuses on making art like drawing, painting, sculpting, or even making music as a way to relieve stress and understand one’s own psyche.

MBAT can help its users in several ways; it can be a source of emotional support and strength. One can gain knowledge of their underlying emotions and other issues. It also helps in mental stability and in the treatment of conditions like eating or anger problems, depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. It helps in increasing focus and attention all whilst helping one to accept them and raise their own self-esteem. It is cost-efficient and helps to combat stress as well.

So, what can be the ways of practicing MBAT? We can draw a picture of ourselves and accept all the flaws that we made; we can paint, draw (digitally or by hand), sculpt, and use various means to express ourselves. We can take our time studying art, feeling it with all our sensations. Anything like drama and music-making can also be good. MBAT can be used across all age groups and is incredibly easy. People near the end of their lives can use it to gain some inner spiritual peace while children can use it for their parents to analyze any underlying issues, younger generations can use it to improve their focus and alleviate some stress from their lives.

I had an extremely little amount of focus or mindfulness during my school years and some of my college years. In my late college years, I increasingly started to use MBAT both as a hobby and a form of therapy to know more about myself. I used to draw and paint abstract art or pictures of birds and nature. During the time we have spent at SOIL so far, I have increasingly began to use and be encouraged to use MBAT for increasing my focus. Our interactive sessions, as well as cold callings during classes and the case studies we had to discuss within our groups, helped me increase my mindfulness.

Till now, I have reached an intermediate level in my art skills and I have also started learning Madhubani. I have come to the conclusion that to persist is necessary as distractions are never-ending in life. I try to avoid my reactions by focusing on my work and doing activities that provide peace to my mind, which includes painting and watching videos. Our mentors have constantly taught us that to calm down in the face of imminent problems is the key to success. By calming down we are able to keep all our problems in check and also increase our focus and mindfulness, this helps us to face problems. Overcoming our deepest fears and issues is important. I have learned to accept myself for who I am, and this has given a boost to my self-esteem and allowed me to value myself a bit more.

I would like to conclude with the fact that mindfulness is something not easily found in people. But with enough practice and with the guidance of my esteemed mentors at SOIL, I have been able to reach a certain level of peace which has given a boost to all my abilities like focus and rational thinking. Being encouraged to do art has helped me find my inner creativity, alleviate stress, and give me a sense of satisfaction.

By Adity Mohanty
PGPM – Human Resources, Class of 2022