Bodhi Simpson, LCPC, ATR
My story
My Story
Art- Our first language
What is Art Therapy? “Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self esteem.” -American Art Therapy Association
Why use Art in Therapy? Connect to inner world Subconscious material becomes visible Develop witness perspective Understand personal stories/beliefs Present moment awareness – flow state Learn to create daily practice
Why Use Art in Therapy? Express what is beyond words Create transitional objects/anchors Create new realities
History of Art Therapy Carl Jung Psychological drawing assessments Margaret Naumberg Edith Kramer
Art Therapy and the Brain Neuroplasticity – ability to rewire brain Visualization, mind doesn’t know difference between something real or imagined Provides relief by pairing fear-arousing emotions with positive, new sensory experiences
What is an Art Therapist trained in? Art Human Development Psychology Art Assessment Developmental Stages of Art What to look for over time: patterns, themes Speaking in metaphor Art materials, techniques Ethics
Can I use art in my practice without being an Art Therapist? Yes!! Most important is… Preparation Exploration Integration of your own experience with art
Preparation Please get out a piece of paper and a marker Put everything else in front of you to the side or on the floor.
Exploration – Scribble Game Choose one color Create a scribble on your paper Trade scribbles with the person next to you Look at the scribble from all angles Turn it into something using your marker Once finished, give it a title
How do I introduce art? Be comfortable, curious, and playful Create an atmosphere of comfort with creativity No right or wrong Process vs Product
Exploration: Feelings Heart Draw a large heart shape on the paper Identify 3-5 feelings that you have experienced today or lately Choose one color to represent each feeling Imagine the heart represents you Use each color to fill inside the heart based on what it feels like inside
Integration In Pairs, share your feelings heart with one another Questions: What was it like to take the time to identify how you have been feeling? What was it like to express how you are feeling this way? Would you feel comfortable sharing with me what you are feeling and why?
Metaphor Hold space to help clients discover their own meanings in their own symbolism Assist clients in entering the metaphor Safe, non-threatening
Preparation Please clear your work area. Large paper will be handed out. Please get out a pencil.
Directive – Bridge Drawing Draw a Bridge, real or imagined The bridge is going from somewhere to somewhere, real or imagined When you are finished with your drawing, place yourself somewhere in the image Draw an arrow showing what direction you are going
Integration Please add your name, the date and a title In pairs, one at a time place your image on the table Invite the other person to process (never force)
Integration Questions: Enter the image with the client and speak in metaphor… What was that process like? Did you have an idea of what you were going to draw or did it come as you were drawing? How does this represent something about you or where things are at in your life/ where you have been/what direction you are going? What is beyond the page?
Preparation Clear the area in front of you Get out a piece of white paper Get out drawing materials
Directive – Safe Place Drawing Visualization Draw a safe place, real or imagined
Integration Questions: What was this process like for you? Did you know what you were going to create or did it come to you as you were drawing? Tell me about this safe place? What are some ways you can bring this feeling of safety into your day to day life?
Preparation Clear the area in front of you Get out a piece of white paper Get out drawing materials
Directive: Healing Symbol Visualization Create image that came to you in mind’s eye without judgement
Integration Questions: What was this process like for you? Did you see something in your mind’s eye or did the image and colors come as you were drawing? What does the image remind you? What does it represent for you? What guidance does the image have for you?
Daily Practice Many ways to work with healing images Develop an ongoing relationship with the image, practice holding in mind’s eye Shift focus of energy from problem to solution
Therapeutic benefits Helps express feelings that occurred before verbal language Trauma is stored in sensory forms Often with trauma words can’t fully express the experience Sensory based intervention
Therapeutic benefits Form of release, clearing of heavy emotions Release tensions and anxiety Get physical energies out Releases trauma
Therapeutic benefits Makes unconscious visible and tangible so we can make shifts Learn to take personal responsibility Learn to trust own wisdom Builds self esteem Increase in self-compassion
How do I support my client in creative expression? Create safe space, clients can feel your comfort level Be flexible, tweak directives as needed Stay present with image
How do I support my client in creative expression? Have art materials on hand! Not your job to interpret images Hold space to help clients discover their own meanings in their own symbolism
How to talk about art Use reflective listening Use metaphoric language Tie in to daily life -I wonder if this is similar to the way you connect with others? Safe in art, unsafe? Does it make a sound, what would it feel like to take position of art?
How to talk about art Validate – “that’s quite a journey on that bridge” Speak about the image with the client’s language Don’t say it’s beautiful or you are a good artist Can you tell me a story about what’s happening? If this part could talk what would it say?
Questions?
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