A creative experience in the treatment of patients in mental health

Introduction The work describes a well-succeeded experience in the utilization of art therapy in a psychiatric clinic in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The clinic is concentrated on the treatment of diverse mental disorders, in special, the disorder due to the use of psychoactive substances. Objective To present new and creative therapeutic ways inside the hospital for the treatment of patients having diverse psychiatric disorders, especially disorders due to the use of psychoactive substances. Aims Demonstrate the decrease of resistance to the treatment under the hospital system, the strengthening of the therapeutic alliance, the appreciation of the therapeutic space and the well-being promotion during the treatment. Methods One hundred and twenty patients, in a clinic for psychiatric treatment, participated in this therapeutic project, which offered psychological treatment through artistic and creative processes, promoting the possibility of experiencing their recovery through the realization of a Carnival programming inside the therapeutic setting. Results All patients showed good acceptance to the workshops and participated in the presentations. Over the workshops, the patients also received therapeutic approaches and worked personal difficulties, which came up along the therapeutic process. Conclusions Through the project development, the patients showed excellent investment and appreciation of the alliance and therapeutic space, demonstrating the great potential of the psychological treatment, through the creative processes of art therapy.