ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a thorough overview of the physical and emotional effects of a stroke and how art therapy can be utilized as a complementary treatment method within the medical model of recovery. Warning signs can present quickly, and if not properly identified can delay or even complicate medical interventions, which can lead to a patient’s ineligibility for acute treatment procedures. An ischemic stroke begins when the obstruction prevents the body’s blood flow from reaching the brain, resulting in the brain’s breakdown of functioning and the body’s physical response. The nature and severity of stroke symptoms differ from person to person; post-stroke symptoms also differ on an individual basis, and changes in and physical functioning can range from mild to severe. The degree of post-stroke treatment, ranging from surgery, medical procedures, pharmaceutical interventions, rehabilitation, and complementary therapies, can assist individuals during their recovery.
