These physiologic events bring about attitude change, substituting feelings of relaxation, for example, for those of stress. It is said that fear can be reduced by the act of drawing or painting, replaced by a sense of creativity and inspiration. Some neurophysiologists say that art, prayer, and healing all stem from the same source in the body, and that they are all associated with similar brain wave patterns. They are believed to be closely related in their physiologic impact in the body and on how they make people feel. Art therapy attempts to take the patient into his or her own inner world where, proponents of this therapy say, healing begins.
Art is also a distraction.
It has the ability to remove us from the reality of pain and discomfort. This can contribute to the healing process because it reduces or removes stress and enhances a sense of well-being. Art therapists may visit a patient in the hospital, in a nursing home or at home. Art therapists work with patients singly or in groups. Patients are completely free to select their own art medium and are given the necessary tools or equipment to produce something of their own making.