A feeling of safety is essential for mental health and well-being, but this feeling can be hard to connect with for some of our clients, especially those with trauma or significant anxiety. Art therapists are likely very familiar with the directive of drawing a safe place. Most of us learned it in graduate school and some readers may use it regularly with clients. However, sometimes it helps to have a reminder of some of our common art therapy directives, as well as explore why and how they … [Read more...]
Expressive Goodbyes – Group Therapy Termination Art Activity
A good termination can be an important final step in the therapeutic process. I find that creative arts can be a helpful part of termination, both to process the ending and because the art provides a transitional object that the client can take with them. When a member leaves a therapy group, I want to help the whole group to be able to process change and saying goodbye, as well as honor the progress and contributions that the departing member has made. While this can be done with … [Read more...]
Drawing Your Breath – A Mindful Art Exercise
Teaching relaxation and mindfulness skills can be extremely helpful for our clients. The ability to calm and focus our minds, even when we cannot change the situation around us, is an important part of distress tolerance, overcoming anxiety, and healing from trauma. Drawing the breath can be a wonderful exercise for practicing mindfulness through awareness and focus on the breath. This is an exercise that I actually first heard about from a client who had done it at a mediation retreat. I … [Read more...]
Building Creative Confidence in Art Therapy
“But I’m not an artist…I'm no good at art...” If you use art in therapy, you have probably heard this worry from your clients. They may be hesitant to try art, express that they are “not an artist,” say that they are “no good at art,” or get frustrated with the resulting art piece. Insecurity and lack of confidence around art-making are common concerns that creative therapists need to be prepared to respond to. Art therapists believe that the process is most important, not the quality of … [Read more...]
Midyear Check-in Art Journal Exercise
With the arrival of July we have hit the halfway point in the year – a great time to do a personal check-in and assess how the year is going. Are you moving toward the goals you have for the year? Are you living with the intentions that you set at the beginning of the year? Is it time to recommit to your intentions and goals? Or is it time to change your focus? Art journaling is a great way to explore a midyear check-in – for yourself or with your clients – especially if you did some kind of … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 16
- Next Page »