Art therapy, a new lease of life between caregivers and patients

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Get better through art, it is possible. So much so that hospitals are increasingly relying on art therapy to relieve patients, and are realizing that it also soothes caregivers. In an oncology or palliative care department , for example, it is not obvious to bear emotional pressure without an escape.

Working in a department where death lurks is exhausting. Caregivers, overwhelmed by a hellish pace and waves of contradictory emotions, therefore seek to alleviate this emotional overload with different techniques. Among them, art therapy, intended for patients, transforms the atmosphere in the rooms and offers an unexpected break. “When I come after the art therapist has been, I find that it is always calmer,” says a nurse for The Conversation, observing the benefits of this new dynamic on the work climate.

Drawing, painting, writing, dance, theater, any form of art can help to free oneself. And this approach also allows caregivers to see patients differently. Artistic productions reveal facets of their personality hidden by the illness. One caregiver emphasizes how “more pleasant it is to meet the person than the cancer.” This unexpected effect of humanization, reported by The Conversation, gives meaning to days when technology often takes precedence over humanity, especially in our modern society where medicine is sick.

In addition to the effect on patients, it is therefore the team itself which is strengthened. Ultimately, the links are strengthened around a common project, which is perhaps that of true care: helping the whole being and not just the patient. For some, the pride of working in an environment where art and care coexist is palpable: “I am proud to work in a department that offers alternative care,” confides one of the nurses.

In a context where caregivers also need to be cared for, art therapy offers a new perspective, proving that creativity and well-being can go hand in hand, giving new life to those who lack it.

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