group art therapy interventions & strategies: working with children exposed to domestic violence
DESCRIPTION
Overview of art therapy group interventions and strategies when working with children impacted by domestic violence by Registered Board Certified Art Therapist Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC. For more, check out this e-course offering: http://bit.ly/AaUdi8TRANSCRIPT
Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC
Registered Board Certified Art Therapist
Certified Trauma Consultant
The Domestic Violence Center
Cleveland, OH
Group Art Therapy Interventions & Strategies: Working with Children Exposed
to Domestic Violence
About Art Therapy
Art Therapy is the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and emotional needs. Art therapy uses art media and the creative process to help in areas such as, but not limited to: fostering self-expression, create coping skills, manage stress, and strengthen sense of self. Art therapy has provided mental health treatment for clients who have experienced trauma, grief & loss, depression, chronic illness, substance abuse, and more.
~ The Art Therapy Alliance
Using Art in Trauma Intervention Creative process and art-making can provide opportunities for
decision-making, problem-solving, and help build resiliencyRespond to art expressions with an accepting, calming,
validating, and normalizing approachEncourage and provide creative choices for open, self-
expressionCreate a safe, inviting, and structured environment for making
art free of judgment, interpretation, and asking too many questions
Support opportunities for storytelling through interest of art created
Malchiodi, C. (2005). Using Art in Trauma Recovery with Children Monograph.
Stabilization Emotion expression and validation Coping with feelings and crisis Reducing anxiety, fear, tension Adjustment to shelter life, family changes Safety planning Short term intervention & prevention
Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry’s Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children From Violent Homes
Considerations when working with children from homes of domestic violence:
Appropriate developmental level Provide a sense of safety & predictability Repetition Relational enrichment Experience of reward
Perry, B. (2006). Applying Principles of Neurodevelopment to Clinical Work with Maltreated and Traumatized Children
Considerations when working with children from homes of domestic violence:
Create a group structure designed to foster:
Consistency Predictability Safety and ability to make choices Relational interaction Appropriate role modeling
Support Groups for Youth
Acceptance and trust Validation of experience Educate & normalize trauma reactions Promoting emotional expression Coping and stress management
Sensory based group art interventions that explore:
Trust & Acceptance
Art Interventions that focus on:
• Getting to Know the Child• Building Rapport & Relationship• Safety• Promoting Self-Worth & Self Esteem• Celebrating Self• Building Resiliency
A Favorite Kind of Day DrawingMalchiodi, C. (1997)
Safety Box
Safety Box
Validation of Experience
Art Interventions that focus on:
•Promoting Emotional Expression•Honors experience•Provides opportunity for storytelling
Fighting
Fighting
Coming to Shelter / Worried about Leaving Pet Behind
Shelter Adjustment / Coming to Shelter
Shelter Adjustment / Coming to Shelter
Normalizing Trauma Reactions
Art Interventions that focus on:
•Education and Validation•Sensory-Based Activities•Identifying Ways to Cope w/ reactions•Animals, creatures, and other characters that can provide examples through a non-threatening image or story
Sherman-- A Terrible Thing Happened Story
Bart & the Sad, Bad, and Scary Thing that Happened—Brave Bart Story
Trauma Stress Thoughts
Promoting Emotional Expression
Art Interventions that focus on:
• Physical response to trauma reactions or experience• Permission and acceptance of emotions related to fear, worry, anger, sadness, guilt, humiliation
Emotional X-Ray: Scared
Emotional X-Ray: Helpless
Emotional X-Ray: Tension
Feelings Mask
Coping and Stress Management
Interventions that focus on:
• Body’s response to stress/relaxation• Relaxation techniques• Breath work• Healthy ways to calm, soothe, feel safe
ReferencesMalchiodi, C. (2008). Creative Interventions with Traumatized Children. New York: Guildford Press.
Malchiodi, C. (2005). Using Art in Trauma Recovery with Children. Monograph published by the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children.
Malchiodi, C. (1997). Breaking the Silence: Art Therapy with Children from Violent Homes . New York: Brunner Mazel.
Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry’s Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children From Violent Homes on Slideshare
Perry, B. (2006). Applying Principles of Neurodevelopment to Clinical Work with Maltreated and Traumatized Children in Working with Traumatized Youth in Child Welfare edited by Nancy Boyd. New York: Guilford Press.
© 2010 Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BCRegistered Board Certified Art TherapistCertified Trauma and Loss Consultant
[email protected] www.gretchen-miller.com