Creative Art Therapy: Essay -- essays papers

Creative Art Therapy: Creative art therapy is a technique that implements theory of three major schools of thought: PSYCHODYNAMIC HUMANISTIC BEHAVIORISM „Y Uses: Therapists use this implementation of theory and introduce this technique to the client at the appropriate time to facilitate creativity, personal growth, and therapeutic change. PSYCHDYNAMIC Creative art therapy can be used as a medium to capture hidden impulses, and emotions. This technique also helps to explore unconscious secret desires and fears. Jung ¡Ã‚ ¦s regard for imagination and creativity as one of the major forces of healing. Jung also introduced therapist to the role of active participant in the creative endeavor. Free association „ « HUMANISTIC „ « Creative therapy helps client move towards self-discovery. The client sees self emerge through the development process. (Positive self regard) „ « Art therapy can be used to help the client feel more relaxed in the therapeutic setting. (self disclosure) „ « This technique can be used as an  ¡Ã‚ §active listening ¡Ã‚ ¨ tool to help client express emotions or feelings that can not be verbally expressed. „ « Art therapy encourages the client to view themselves as individuals. „Y BEHAVIORISM „Y Art therapy can be used to modify maladaptive behaviors. „Y True art therapist may have a great deal of difficulty with the above because this approach may be viewed as conforming as opposed to individualization and creativity. „Y (For this purpose, I will not spend much time on this approach) Focus Population of creative art therapy: All; depending on the specific technique being used. Who are art therapists? „Y Art teachers „Y Psychotherapist „Y Psychologist „Y Creative specialist „Y Social workers „Y Psychiatrists Do I have to be artistic? „h No, the therapist does not have to be artist. Artistic ability is not the focus of art therapy. Art students who practice art therapy are sometimes considered possible liabilities because they may be more artistic than the client and the possibility of critiquing the clients work. „h Creative art therapy is not about what the finished product looks like, but what it represents in the form of expression.(the client ¡Ã‚ ¦s) Important to note: „h Exhibition of client ¡Ã‚ ¦s artwork for others to see with out written consent is an invasion of the client ¡Ã‚ ¦s privacy! Æ’Ã ¡ Some E... .... Function:Information gathering Child, adult „h Kinetic family drawing ¡Xclient uses paper, pencils, crayons to draw a picture of a family doing some thing together. (Rapport builder, gather information about other family member. Client verbalizes where he or she fits in the family.) „h Scribble drawings ¡Xtherapist and client take turns drawing scribble while other verbalizes an image. (Builds rapport, becomes a transitional project) „h House plan ¡XTherapist either uses dollhouse or draws a house plan. Client draws or positions family of dolls in areas of the home. (Information gathering. Awareness of roles and relatedness to family and environment) Function: Family or group therapy „h Murals or collages ¡Xtherapist provides pictures, magazines, paper, glue, scissors, markers, etc. Therapist also chooses a relevant topic. The group of family work as individuals and as a group to convey a feeling or message through the artwork. (issues are open) Function: Past becoming present Geriatrics „h Treasured objects ¡Xclient is asked to bring in most precious possessions. Sharing of meaning and related experiences to the objects. (Self  ¡Vdisclosure building trust, active listening)