Bilateral art therapy for adjustment to chronic stressors

Exposure to chronic stressors has neurological and physiological impacts and can negatively impact an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional wellness. When stressful experiences are inadequately processed, one may remain in a state of heightened distress, making it difficult to cope with and adapt to new stressors. One therapeutic tool that is effective in helping individuals process experiences is bilateral stimulation (BLS), which involves activating both the left and right hemispheres of the brain to increase interhemispheric communication and integration. Brain functions are lateralized, meaning they reside mainly in one hemisphere or the other; BLS aids in the holistic processing of experiences by accessing functions in both hemispheres at once. Bilateral art therapy activates BLS by using both sides of the body in the creative process. A heuristic inquiry was conducted to investigate the use of bilateral art therapy to facilitate adjustment to chronic stressors. As was suggested in the existing literature, BLS facilitated holistic processing of stressors by accessing cognitive content and emotional content, stored primarily in the left hemisphere and right hemisphere of the brain, respectively. It also aided in regulation while addressing stressors. The insights gained during the bilateral artmaking process were solidified by writing them down with both hands following artmaking.