Trauma and acute stress disorder: A comparison between cognitive behavioral intervention and art therapy

The aim of this paper is to initiate a comparative and theoretical study between the mechanisms of cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) versus art therapy, in relation to the acute stress disorder (ASD) stage of trauma. The literature on CBI, art therapy, and ASD will be briefly reviewed. Similarities between these two theoretically disparate interventions will be outlined, pointing to the relevance of CBI and art therapy to alter maladaptive and traumatic sensory processing, affect excitatory reactions, modulate and challenge explicit traumatic memories and stimulate a subsequent cognitive process. Implications for mental health professionals intervening in the relatively flexible ASD period are discussed.