Clay Therapy

Clay Therapy: a medical art therapy

Clay Therapy, a medical art therapy, leverages the expressive and therapeutic potential of working with clay to enhance mental and emotional well-being. Medical art therapy includes music, painting, clay, sculpture, and more. Clay art therapy fosters a secure sense of touch, connecting individuals to their earliest memories, improving coping mechanisms for illnesses, and facilitating social interactions. Concurrently, this approach promotes creativity, self-awareness, and anxiety alleviation (Suputtitada, 2021).

Clay Therapy, as part of the broader spectrum of art therapy, is acknowledged for its capacity to promote self-discovery, alleviate stress, and create a secure environment for individuals to address mental health challenges. In clay therapy's hands-on activities, individuals sculpt, mold, or shape clay, offering a nonverbal channel for self-expression. Touching clay establishes a sensory and emotional connection, aiding in exploring and processing feelings.

Children, in particular, benefit significantly from this approach, as the medium allows them to shape and create, offering a tangible representation of their ideas and feelings. In schools, families, and adult therapy settings, clay becomes a tool to enhance mental health by providing a unique form of expression. It is not merely an art form but a means to create shapes ingrained with personal meaning, fostering a sense of self and promoting emotional well-being.

What is Clay Therapy used for?

Playing with clay can make clients feel better in many ways. It's not just about making things with clay; it can also positively impact their well-being and personal growth.

Facilitating emotional exploration in children and adolescents

For young minds, it allows exploration of emotions and building a healthy relationship with the self. Manipulating clay involves engaging fingers and muscles in the process. Moreover, Clay Therapy facilitates open and expressive communication through tactile contact with therapeutic clay, especially for those who struggle with direct verbal communication.

Processing of trauma as well as symptoms of anxiety

In cases of trauma, particularly among children and adolescents, clay art therapy provides a safe space for processing memories and feelings, contributing to a sense of safety and security. The therapeutic use of clay also aids adults in addressing symptoms of anxiety and gaining insights into their emotional well-being.

Unique expression for adults

Even adults can benefit significantly from clay work for mental health, as it offers a unique means to shape and represent thoughts and emotions.

Different Clay Therapy techniques

When clients engage in clay work, they typically start by exploring the texture and malleability of the clay, allowing their hands to guide the process without focusing on creating a specific form. As they become more comfortable, they may begin shaping the clay into abstract or symbolic representations of their feelings, thoughts, or life experiences.

That said, there aren't any specific therapy techniques for Clay Therapy, but clients can still perform molding, sculpting, and shaping techniques—techniques that are for creating art with clay. These methods involve manipulating the material into various forms through techniques like pinching, coiling, or carving. As the artist works, the clay transforms from a malleable substance into a solid object, capturing their creative vision.

Throughout the process, a clay therapist supports the individual, helping them connect with deeper aspects of themselves as they engage with the clay.

Limitations of Clay Therapy

Clay for therapy can be a beneficial and expressive form of therapeutic intervention. This deeply therapeutic process encourages individuals to delve into the subconscious and articulate aspects of their experiences that may be challenging to express verbally. However, it does have certain limitations:

Accessibility and availability

Not everyone may have easy access to Clay Therapy, as it often requires a trained therapist and specialized materials. Limited availability can hinder those who may benefit from this treatment.

Not universally applicable 

It may only be suitable for some. Some individuals might not feel comfortable with the tactile nature of working with clay, while others may have sensitivities to the material.

Time and commitment

The therapeutic process with clay may require time and dedication. Individuals who cannot engage consistently or have limited time may not fully experience the long-term benefits of Clay Therapy.

Research and evidence

In a 2011 study by Sholt and Gavron, the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of clay works were explored within contemporary psychological frameworks, emphasizing procedural expression, construction and deconstruction processes, and regression processes. They identified six therapeutic factors, such as emotional expression and catharsis, illustrated through short case examples.

A 2017 study by Nan and Ho found short-term clay art therapy (CAT) more effective than visual art (VA) in improving depressive symptoms, general health, and body–mind–spirit well-being. The results suggest CAT's potential as a cost-effective, nonpharmacological treatment for adults with depression.

Similarly, a study investigated the impact of clay therapy on anxiety, depression, and happiness in physically impaired individuals. The randomized controlled clinical trial involving 50 participants revealed that those in the experimental group, exposed to a 12-session clay-working program, exhibited significantly lower depression and anxiety scores and higher happiness levels compared to the control group, suggesting the potential of clay therapy to enhance mental well-being in this population (Nazari et al., 2018).

References

Nan, J. K. M., & Ho, R. T. H. (2017). Effects of clay art therapy on adults outpatients with major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 217, 237–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.04.013

Nazari, H., Saadatjoo, A., Tabiee, S., & Nazari, A. (2018). The effect of clay therapy on anxiety, depression, and happiness in people with physical disabilities. Modern Care Journal, In Press(In Press). https://doi.org/10.5812/modernc.83455

Sholt, M., & Gavron, T. (2011). Therapeutic qualities of clay-work in art therapy and psychotherapy: A review. Art Therapy, 23(2), 66–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2006.10129647

Suputtitada , P. (2021). Clay art therapy for physical, psychological and cognitive improvement. International Journal of Medical Science and Current Research, 4(4), 399–401.