In therapy, a picture is worth a thousand words
Art provides window to patients’ emotions
People can have trouble expressing themselves in verbal therapy. They often bury feelings and emotions so deeply that they don’t verbally surface. In such situations, art therapy can help. "Often problems, situations, or things that people aren’t quite aware of are discovered by accident because of what is put down on the paper," says Sally Altenburg, MA, a therapeutic art educator in Columbus, OH. Also, people have learned how to hide true emotions with words, but they don’t know how to lie with pictures.
For example, when helping teenagers work through their grief after the loss of a loved one, Altenburg asks them to draw something in a storm. What they don’t know at the beginning of the session is that what they draw represents themselves.
Many draw a tree bent by wind and shrouded in dark storm clouds. To help them make the connection, she may have them write a poem about their picture or answer such questions as What is the tree doing to survive?’ or What does the tree have to offer the world?’ "It all applies to them, and they have no idea," says Altenburg.
During the exercise, one teen-age boy drew a newspaper covered with very light writing because he didn’t have much strength, but his purpose of surviving the storm was to tell his story. When the teen and Altenburg talked following the session, he made the connection. "When we talked about the picture afterwards, he said it was true that he had a story and that he didn’t feel very strong at the moment," says Altenburg.
The type of artwork used during therapy depends upon the goal of the session. When trying to help people release anger, an art therapist may have them make a sculpture with wood and nails. The pounding helps patients get rid of their anger. Clay is another good art medium for working out anger, as well as anxious feelings, says Altenburg.
With people who are out of control, Altenburg might give them crayons, markers, or pencils to work with because these art tools are very controllable. Their art project might be tracing an object, which helps them feel as if they can bring their life back into control. "When clients are too controlled, I might give them paints where they can really make messes. It is difficult for them to do, but with the right support and encouragement, they can let go of some of that control. I match the media to the client I am working with," says Altenburg.
Artistic talent not required
While many hesitate to use art therapy to work through problems because they believe they have no talent, Altenburg says that people don’t have to be artistic to participate in art therapy. Abstract art reveals a lot through the artist’s choice of colors, shapes, and the placement of objects on the paper, says Altenburg. For example, blacks and reds tend to express anger and negative feelings, while light colors such as yellows and oranges might show positive feelings about a situation.
A typical art therapy session will begin with discussion to build rapport before the art project is introduced. During a typical session, people might be asked to draw a figure on a piece of paper taped to the wall. Then Altenburg would ask patients to color in where they hold their love, where they hold their sadness, where they hold their anger, and so on, selecting colors they feel would appropriately describe these emotions. "Afterwards, we take a moment or two to sit down and look at the drawing they have made," she says.
Drawing the picture may be helpful, but if they are having trouble with what they have drawn, more work is needed. In this case, she may ask them to tell what the picture would say if it could talk. Or she may have the person draw the anger draining out of their body. It’s important for the art therapist to make sure people are comfortable with what has gone on during the session before they leave, explains Altenburg.
When choosing art therapy to work through grief, stress, depression, anxiety, and other problems, people need to know that one picture will not tell the whole story. They need to understand that it is a safe process and they are in control.
"If it is done correctly, the therapist will do very little interpretation of the artwork, and the interpretation will be left up to individuals so they don’t feel that their therapist is going to know more about them than they do," says Altenburg. When selecting an art therapist, people should make sure that he or she has had experience and is registered.
One aspect about art therapy that sets it apart from regular therapy is that it can be done at home long after the sessions with the therapist have ended. People can learn how to interpret the art and then use it when they are stressed or depressed. "Really, the patient is their own therapist throughout the session while the art therapist is the guide," says Altenburg.
Source
For more information about art therapy, contact:
• Sally Altenburg, MA, Therapeutic Art Educator, Columbus, OH. E-mail: [email protected].
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