There are many applications for art therapy: relaxation/meditation, self expression, psycho education, self awareness, trauma relief, psychotherapy and more. Art therapy can address physical, emotional and spiritual pain and can benefit people in hospitals, treatment centers, schools, and nursing homes and can both complement and pre-empt other therapeutic modalities. Art therapy may be used with children, teens and adults from age 4 up and works in both individual and group settings. To be an … [Read more...] about Parenting and Kids
Archives for May 2012
Life Inside a Pill Bottle
One of the things Oldtimers tell Newcomers is to “remember your last drunk. Remember that last high. “ They caution you to never forget it. I think I know why. It’s like waking up to the good intentions of the previous night. And hearing that terrified voice in your head that says “Well, it wasn’t really that bad “ followed by the relief that you don’t need to quit today. Alcoholics and addicts have selective memories; we tend to romance the drink and forget the paranoia and self loathing that … [Read more...] about Life Inside a Pill Bottle
The Difference Between Teaching Art and Doing Art Therapy
Before my second career as an art therapist I made most of my living in art education doing residencies all over Chattanooga and North Georgia. I worked as a teaching artist for 25+ years gathering experience with a huge range of media, a deep understanding of developmental stages and lots of personal growth through things like the 12 Steps, Jungian theory, codependency treatment and a daily practice. I felt my career evolving from art teacher to art Teacher. The process taking on more import … [Read more...] about The Difference Between Teaching Art and Doing Art Therapy
The Beauty of Recovery
Lifeline beaded bracelet F. beaded this memory wire bracelet during an art therapy group. Memory wire is perfect for beginning jewelers and hard to mess up. The wire is spiraled and remembers that it is spiraled. No tricky clasps or toggles needed. It also is an apt metaphor for the idea of a life timeline, a visual story, a bead memory. Each single bead represents a year in the life of this artist. Some years a small single … [Read more...] about The Beauty of Recovery
Boundaries
Sometimes I feel moved to participate in the directive with an art therapy group, either with an example or by making my own art response. This is a rare but rewarding happenstance and I always learn something. On this particular day I made a masked, painted example about food and feelings. I didn’t know why. Turns out to be a huge lesson on boundaries and group dynamics. Here’s what happened when I finished and taped mine on the wall. F taped her painting up so it overlapped mine. It … [Read more...] about Boundaries
Where It All Began
Where It All Began extend-a-painting F. made this drawing during art therapy about her eating disorder. She chose this painting from an art magazine which she cut out, glued down and extended. To the dance practice room she added only more empty space. This simple “self portrait” (she identifies herself with the dancer) is an articulate summation of her eating disorder itself. ED hallmarks present include a body-conscious activity, a … [Read more...] about Where It All Began
Third Stage Recovery
Father, Mother, God group collage This is a collaborative project that explored the concept of right parenting on both the personal and archetypal levels. Each participant collaged their piece of the circle with images that described "good fathering" and "good mothering", whether we actually received it or not. When we put the pieces back together, I proposed that we had created a picture of God- the perfect combination of right … [Read more...] about Third Stage Recovery
Children and Art Therapy: Divorce
It is J’s first visit to me. He is 8 years old and so adorable. He was referred to me by the mom of a former child/client. His mom sat in an adjacent room providing a sense of both privacy (mom is in the other room) and security (a child can leave my drawing table and go check in with mom at any time during our session.) I like to start work with new clients, children especially, by doing a couple of assessments. I use the HTP (House Tree Person), the PPAT (Person Picking an Apple from a … [Read more...] about Children and Art Therapy: Divorce