Why Do The Youth Need Art Therapy?

In a study published in Art Therapy, researchers found that cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) decreased in 75% of participants who had engaged in artistic production

Professor Kaimal, also a recipient of NEA funding, discussed her prolific research utilizing physiological data and biomarkers such as cortisol to measure the impact of studio arts versus coloring books on levels of stress and affect. She spoke to the use of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) as an emerging and accessible tool that can test the efficacy of art therapy interventions compared to alternative treatments and non-clinical applications such as meditation and yoga. Dialogue following the individual presentations, on what came to be affectionately known as the “Therapy Panel,” focused on topics including the importance of non-verbal therapies in the treatment of trauma, the role of memory as engaged by art making, and the power of the arts as a mechanism for healing.

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