Healing the Brain After an Injury

Dan was in his mid-fifties when he first started making art. Prior to that he had worked as a truck driver and, during the course of his work, had suffered a head injury when he fell off the loading deck of a vehicle. The accident affected many parts of his brain and he suffered hearing loss, amnesia, changes to his perception of taste and smell and experienced difficulties concentrating. Although Dan participated in rehabilitation, the improvements were limited. Five years after the accident, Dan began attending a day program, where he discovered a previously unexplored ability to express himself artistically.

Following head injuries, patients’ lives can change drastically. For some, rehabilitation can significantly improve their abilities and quality of life. For other patients, the goal may become treating the secondary effects of the injury. Art therapy is an option that may help improve cognition and support the expression of distressing emotions.

What is an Acquired Brain Injury?

An Acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury that occurs after birth. These can include traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

TBIs are the result of an external incident after birth. There can be many causes, such as sports injuries, falls, or motor vehicle accidents.

ABIs also include brain injuries from internal events, such as strokes.

ABIs can have a significant impact on a person’s life and abilities. In some cases, there may be improvement with treatment but often there is some degree of long-term effect and some changes may be permanent.

Brain Injuries and Neuroplasticity

The human brain has an incredible ability to adapt and create new connections following injuries. This flexibility is called neuroplasticity. It allows the brain to “sprout,” or create new connections, and “reroute” or find alternative pathways to send messages. Art therapy can help create these new pathways because it requires the use of both hemispheres of the brain.

Brain Injuries and the Benefits of Art Therapy

Art therapy can play an important role in rehabilitation or managing the secondary effects of brain injuries. The benefits include:

Improving concentration

All forms of art therapy, such as painting, drawing, and pottery require concentration. As a result, over time and with practice, this will strengthen the ability to focus.

Building social skills

Art therapy programs are often facilitated for a group of people with similar conditions. Accordingly, they provide an environment in which people can forge new friendships and establish a social circle, which can support positive mental health.

Increasing cognitive flexibility

Creating art rarely goes as planned and often requires creative solutions and shifting expectations. Learning to respond to a changing situation requires mental flexibility to deal with unexpected problems in a productive way.

Enhancing fine motor skills and visual acuity

Creating art with tools like pens and paintbrushes requires controlled use of the fingers and hands. Adding fine details helps the artist improve visual perception.

Expressing emotions

For everyone, it can be challenging to discuss feelings. This can be especially difficult after suffering an ABI that affected the ability to communicate. Art therapy provides a means to work through emotions and express them to others. Creating artwork can also provide a temporary distraction that can ease anxiety and challenging emotions.

Improving self-esteem

Art therapy offers the chance to take control and express oneself. This autonomy and space to make choices help boost self-esteem—and the best part with art: there are no mistakes!

After starting the day program, Dan began spending all his free time drawing and developed a passion for his newfound interest. He used colored pencils and worked in sketchbooks. His style evolved quickly—initially he copied photographs with great attention to detail but soon he was creating abstract, original images. Previously, it had seemed as though the accident had only robbed him of abilities, but it became clear that it had also revealed a unique skill and capacity for creativity.