Impact of Visual Art Therapy on Trauma Symptoms and Self-Esteem

Adolescence is marked by rapid changes that heighten vulnerability to emotional stress and anger. Traumatic experiences such as neglect, abuse, loss, and parental conflict increase risks of psychological impairment and low self-esteem. As conventional therapies sometimes fall short, complementary approaches like visual art therapy enhances treatment efficacy. Visual art therapy is a complementary intervention modality for treating trauma symptoms and emerges from the field of the Expressive Art Therapies (EAT). This randomized controlled trial in India evaluated visual art therapy's impact on adolescents aged 13-16. Over 40 sessions with appropriate techniques, participants demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety, depression, anger, dissociation, and interpersonal distress, alongside substantial self-esteem improvements. Findings suggest that visual art therapy is an effective, non-conventional intervention for alleviating trauma-related symptoms and bolstering self-esteem in adolescents.