This past weekend, at the BC Home and Garden Show, there definitely seemed to be a trend of eco-friendly and sustainable design ideas, but the most interesting display had to be “The Kitsilano”, a prefab home built by Karoleena Homes (www.karoleena.com) from here in Vancouver.  This 1450 square foot open plan one bedroom home featured modern design and is one of the most eco-friendly homes you’ll find.
Prefabricated (or modular homes) are a great alternative to conventional home building.  They are built in a climate controlled factory environment and are assembled on site in a matter of days.  This saves on construction costs and reduces the impact to the surrounding environment, as there is less traffic from trades and vehicles to the site.  Design and factory construction can take as little as 3 months to complete and there is virtually no construction waste as everything is designed and built indoors.

There are, of course many misconceptions and speculations about prefab housing, including size and durability of the product, but many companies have been working for years on perfecting the engineering and design to make this a more conventional way to build homes.  Another common thought on prefab housing is that it costs far more than conventional home building, but increased demand is driving costs down, as well as the fact that a more energy efficient home will decrease day to day living costs.

Prefabricated homes have steel frames and are built to withstand transportation to the building site, so in most cases, they are stronger than most wooden frames homes.  Many prefab homes are built to include energy efficient products like induction stove tops, energy efficient appliances and the use of local building materia.  Solar photovaic panels, geothermal heat pumps and rainfall catchement systems are also becoming more mainstream and popular to use in prefab designs.

Ikea is also launching a prefab home that will be available in North Amercica for approximately $85, 000, making it a very affordable option.   Companies like Karoleena Homes and Ikea are definitely paving the way for home building of the future and promoting energy efficient and eco-friendly design that is available for everyone.

Definition: Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The creative process involved in expressing one’s self artistically can help people to resolve issues as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem and awareness.

Anyone can use it, you don’t need to be talented or an artist, and there are professionals that can work with you and delve into the underlying messages communicated through art.

Art therapy can achieve different things for different people. It can be used for counseling by therapists, healing, treatment, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and in the broad sense of the term, art therapy can be used to massage one’s inner-self in a way that may provide the individual with a deeper understanding of him or herself.

Who Can Use Art Therapy?

For the most part, anyone can use art therapy. In a world where there is a multitude of ways to communicate and express one’s self, expressive arts therapy is yet another. One of the major differences between art therapy and other forms of communication is that most other forms of communication elicit the use of words or language as a means of communication. Often times, humans are incapable of expressing themselves within this limited range.

One of the beauties of art as therapy is the ability for a person to express his/her feelings through any form of art. Though there are other types of expressive therapies (such as the performing arts), expressive art therapy as discussed here typically utilizes more traditional forms of art…such as painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, or a variety of other types of visual art expression.

Do You Need to be Talented?

Absolutely not. And you need not be “afraid” of expressing yourself through art. Though it may seem different and unnatural at first, it is typically because the individual is not used to communicating via the arts. The creative process can be one of the most rewarding aspects. Coupled with an art therapist, you should gradually, if not immediately, feel comfortable with this newfound form of expression. After all, the goal is not necessarily to create an art masterpiece.

Why Would I Use Art Therapy?

As with most any therapy, art as therapy is generally used as a treatment for something – usually as a way to improve one’s emotional state or mental well-being. Expressive arts therapy doesn’t have to be used only as a treatment though. It can be used to relieve stress or tension, or it can be used as a mode of self-discovery. Many people can stand to use some sort of creative outlet.

Professional Art Therapy and Art Therapists

Art therapists are trained in therapy and art. They have studied and mastered psychology and human development. Art therapists typically have a clinical practice of some sort. They are masters in this niche when it comes to using art as a springboard for everything from a general assessment of another person’s state to treatment for a serious illness. Art therapists can work with people of all ages, sex, creed, etc. They can help an individual, a couple, a family, or groups of people. Depending on the situation, there may be numerous art therapists working together as a clinical team.

Art therapists are trained to pick up on nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are often expressed through art and the creative process, concepts that are usually difficult to express with words. It is through this process that the individual really begins to see the effects of art therapy and the discoveries that can be made.
Read more: http://www.arttherapyblog.com/what-is-art-therapy/#ixzz1lldRCOLO