Arts Can Heal

MakeLifeHD's approach flows from experiences, scientific studies, and communities of scholarship from around the world. When you act artistically, you enter patterns of being that can

• smooth your erratic neurological and bodily activity
• allow you to express your emotions and ideas more freely and deeply
• help you to feel part of a supportive group
• increase your energy and hope

There have been a number of studies on using music therapy to treat people with HD, nicely reviewed in this article: "The Effect of Music Therapy for Patients with Huntington's Disease: A Systematic Literature Review" (van Bruggen Rufi 2015). Another study shows that the video game Dance Dance Revolution helps people improve some movement issues. You can learn more about arts and healing by researching medical ethnomusicology, ritual, and interacting with organizations like those below.  

Finally, Brian wrote an article, "A Triple Insider's Take on Arts Therapy, Arts-based Community Development, and Huntington's Disease" (Voices, 2015). Read the full text for free at this link. 

Some Professional Organizations Related to Arts and Healing

• American Music Therapy Association - MusicTherapy.org
• American Dance Therapy Association - adta.org
• American Art Therapy Association - ArtTherapy.org
• International Association for Music and Medicine - iammonline.com
• North American Drama Therapy Association - nadta.org
• National Association for Poetry Therapy - PoetryTherapy.org
• International Expressive Arts Therapy Association - ieata.org
• National Coalition of Arts Therapies Associations - nccata.org