How to Help Your Client Use Less Restrictive Media in Art Therapy
When using art for therapeutic purposes, information technology is of import to be mindful of the media that you cull. Therapists trained in fine art therapy will have been taught near and experienced for themselves the continuum of media. Notwithstanding, others often wonder how to go about making the best choice of art materials for a personal project or an art-based intervention in therapy. Whether y'all are a teacher selecting art materials for a class project, a play therapist integrating art activities, or an individual doing your own expressive arts, media choices tin be very of import to the art-making experience.
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Fine art media exists on a continuum from most structured to least structured. With an awareness of this, you can select the near appropriate medium, depending on the desired effect and the needs of the client (or yourself, if you lot are creating your own art).
At the nigh structured end is media like graphite pencils and colored pencils. These media are like shooting fish in a barrel to control, create precise lines, and allow the artist to erase and start over. Other materials like collage, stamps, and pens or markers would also exist considered structured and controlled.
Toward the more than fluid or less structured cease of the continuum are materials similar watercolor paints, oil pigment, and dirt. These media can exist very expressive but are more than difficult to control.
Some other element to consider in providing structure is the size of paper that is used. Small paper provides a greater sense of containment whereas large newspaper encourages freedom and expansiveness.
So, how practice you determine whether more structured or less structured materials are appropriate?
One thing to keep in mind is the emotional country of the client (or yourself every bit the creative person). Broken-hearted individuals volition oftentimes feel more comfortable with structured media as this allows them to have a greater sense of safety and control during the art-making feel. With this in listen, I usually provide the nearly structured materials at the beginning of art therapy treatment to help clients experience comfortable with the process. Collage is particularly helpful for clients that are unsure of their creative ability.
I am also very careful about when I introduce less structured media to children with ADHD. Painting or wet dirt tin quickly become an out of control mess if the kid has not nevertheless adult enough self-command, patience, and frustration tolerance.
More fluid materials tend to increase the emotional experience and expressiveness in art-making, and thus are helpful for getting in touch with ones emotions or breaking through intellectualizing or perfectionism. Many people too notice watercolors and other fluid media to be relaxing and encouraging of a more intuitive experience. However, one should keep in mind if using fine art in therapy that fluid media and the resulting emotional vulnerability tin can be too overwhelming or disregulating for sure individuals, such as those with astringent trauma history or psychosis, and should be used with care.
Another factor to continue in listen is the preference of the individual for
different media. In therapy I often provide at to the lowest degree a few choices of media and so that the client tin feel some control in their choice as well as have a chance to try out unlike media.
Sensory preferences can be an important aspect of personal preference, especially in children. Individuals with tactile defensiveness may be very uncomfortable with clay, playdough, or finger painting (equally a side note, Crayola Model Magic is a good pick for a modeling textile that is non as well gummy and may be tolerable to individuals who would refuse dirt).
Keep in mind that while nosotros may encourage clients to movement out of their comfort zone at times, someone should never be forced to apply a medium that they are uncomfortable with.
Ane should also consider matching the media to the art directive that is given. Endeavor not to fix someone for frustration when the art materials do non fit the projection. For case, if asking a client to create flick of their family doing something together, provide materials like pencils and markers that are piece of cake to draw with and permit for details. Trying to create a moving-picture show of 1'southward family on a standard sheet of paper using a medium like watercolors is going to be a frustrating and unsuccessful experience for almost anyone. In contrast, for a directive that involves something similar representing how y'all are feeling, a more fluid medium like paint or oil pastels may aid to deepen the emotional experience and expression.
Exercise to endeavor:
If y'all are new to art therapy, are trying to learn more about how to incorporate art into therapy and counseling, or are using art for your own exploration and expression, try the following practise. Choose 1 thing to draw and so endeavour to represent it with dissimilar media along the continuum, such every bit pencil, crayons, oil pastels, and paint. Pay attention to how you experience as you use each medium and find the differences in your resulting artwork.
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Carolyn Mehlomakulu is a Licensed Spousal relationship and Family Therapist and Registered Art Therapist in Austin, Texas who works with children, teens, and families. For more than information most individual therapy, boyish and kid counseling, family therapy, teen group therapy, and fine art therapy services, please visit: www.therapywithcarolyn.com .
This weblog is not intended to diagnose or treat whatsoever mental health conditions. All directives, interventions, and ideas should be used past qualified individuals within the appropriate bounds of their education, grooming, and telescopic of practice. Information presented in this web log does not replace professional training in mental health, psychotherapy, counseling, fine art therapy, or play therapy. Although anyone tin have a healing feel with fine art, art therapy requires the management of a trained art therapist.
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Source: https://creativityintherapy.com/2013/01/media-choices-in-therapy/
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