| ive arts therapy is increasingly being used to help | | | | process of healing. This alternative therapy helps |
| women recover permanently from their drug and | | | | women in addiction recovery to improve their |
| alcohol addiction. Studies show a dramatically | | | | awareness and coping skills through activities that |
| improved success rate when it is used in conjunction | | | | most women do enjoy. |
| with any other existing treatment program. | | | | Mandalas are perfect for this purpose. The act of |
| Creative arts therapy involves the use of one or | | | | coloring a mandala helps addicts focus on the shapes, |
| more than one creative medium including music, | | | | patterns and colors therein as well as the emerging |
| dance, drama, art, poetry and writing in the process | | | | design that unfolds, depending upon the colors that |
| of addition recovery. These creative therapies | | | | are chosen. It is the perfect combination of color |
| provide the addict time to slow down, focus and get | | | | therapy and active therapy. |
| in touch with her real and authentic inner self. They | | | | Therapy through mandala coloring is a three-stage |
| provide a platform for expressing feelings that she | | | | process that includes discerning the inner dialogue, |
| cannot easily put into words or identify and boost | | | | suspending the inner dialogue and managing the inner |
| self-esteem by encouraging the addict to create new | | | | dialogue. It works on the principle that color is action |
| experiences beyond painful, habitual emotional | | | | oriented and does not require any inner dialogue. |
| patterns. | | | | Mandala coloring helps women who are in recovery |
| Many people find it difficult to meditate even thought | | | | learn the art of suspending and managing their inner |
| the benefits of meditation during addiction recovery | | | | dialogue. This in turn progressively pulls them into the |
| are well documented. Color therapy fosters in them a | | | | recovery zone where they can ask questions and |
| renewed ability to relax and meditate through the | | | | learn who they are and who they want to become, |
| very act of coloring itself. Coloring helps the addict to | | | | which is the essence of the recovery process. |
| listen inwardly to her thoughts and be open to the | | | | |