Best Practices Paper: Expressive Arts Therapy

2461 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Art is communication

Best Practices Paper: Expressive Arts Therapy
While traditional methods of talk therapy can be a great option for children who are experiencing mental health issues or disabilities, some children find it difficult to effectively express what they are experiencing in a formal clinical setting. The use of expressive/creative arts as a mode of therapy allows for a meaningful and more relatable exploration of the issues a child may be facing. Expressive art therapy is a therapeutic approach of incorporating art, with the goal of promoting growth and healing within an individual (Malchiodi, 2013). Expressive art therapy encompasses many creative art modalities:
Art therapy includes the use of art mediums to solve problems and allow the client to get in touch with their creative process. It usually involves the use of tools such as images, paint, clay, etc. in the session with therapists (Malchiodi, 2013). Music therapy is used as a way to promote beneficial changes in a person’s biopscyhosocial functioning. Music is used in sessions to help the client work out their issues, and express their thoughts and feelings without using their own words. (Malchiodi, 2013).
Drama therapy uses elements of theater and acting to allow the client to explore their problems through a script and act out how their issues affect their daily lives. Dance/movement therapy relies on the body and mind connection, and allows the client to use their movement as a way to promote emotional and psychological healing (Malchiodi, 2013). Poetry therapy uses poetry and other literary works to allow the client to explore the power of words and their use in personal development.
Play therapy is the use of various methods of play (i.e. toys, board games, etc.) to assess...

... middle of paper ...

...s: Expressive arts therapy with children in foster care. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 18(5), 433-440.
Harvey, S. (1990). Dynamic play therapy: An integrative expressive arts approach to the family therapy of young children. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 17(3), 239-246.
Klorer, P. G. (2005). Expressive therapy with severely maltreated children: Neuroscience contributions. Art Therapy, 22(4), 213-220.
Malchiodi, C. A. (Ed.). (2013). Expressive therapies. Guilford Publications.
Munns, E. (2000). Theraplay: Innovations in attachment-enhancing play therapy. Jason Aronson, Incorporated.
Phelps, D. (n.d.). Therapeutic use of expressive arts with children. Retrieved from http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/exc_020712.shtml
Wikström, B. (2005). Communicating via Expressive Arts: The Natural Medium of Self-Expression for Hospitalized Children. Pediatric Nursing, 31(6), 480-485.

Show More
Related

  • Shirley Riley's Social Constructivist Therapy

    1721 Words  | 4 Pages

    This approach she felt was prominent during the art making portion of the session. Besides from the art portion of a session, Riley believed the verbal component of art therapy was important. Riley explored the stigma surrounding art therapy and the client's verbal expressions. From the book, Integrative Approaches to Family Art Therapy (Riley & Malchiodi, 1994), Riley states: “Hearing client’s language does not negate the process of looking at the art product. It is a synthesis of two creative means of communication.” Joining these two stories was key in Riley’s

    Read More

  • The Negatve Effects of a Little Miss Monster

    1822 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rye N. Child-Centred Play Therapy. In: JH Stone, M Blouin, editors. International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation. 2010.

    Read More

  • Counseling Specializations and Multidisciplinary Teams

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    Wehrman, J. D., & Field, J. E. (2013). Play-Based Activities in Family Counseling. American Journal of Family Therapy, 41(4), 341-352. doi:10.1080/01926187.2012.704838

    Read More

  • Integrative Play Therapy Case Study

    1402 Words  | 3 Pages

    The theory of therapy that I have personalized and developed is that of an Integrative Play Therapy Approach (IPT). Gil, Konrath, Shaw, Goldin & McTaggart Bryan (2015) describe this method as an approach which utilizes a combination of two or more therapeutic styles. This will allow my personal theory to be customized as needed to meet varying client needs. In developing my individual theoretical orientation of therapy, I took into consideration my experiences within the field and my previous education, as well as my own values, personality traits and my natural therapeutic style. Additionally, the setting in which this therapeutic style is being utilized is taken into account. Given this, it is important to highlight that my approach will

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Experiential Family Therapy

    711 Words  | 2 Pages

    Experiential family therapy would work best for children ages 3-11, because it involves using techniques like role playing, which will uncover the child hopes, fears of what presently is affecting them. Play therapy technique that will incorporate puppets, finger painting, drawing, and any form of media that will allow the child to show their feelings and excitements. Family art therapy that is used for either adults or children for self-knowledge and recognize what emotional issue they have which in turn can be used in the healing process

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Ccp And Structured Play Therapy

    1487 Words  | 3 Pages

    Structured play therapy is a form of play therapy that is directive and uses planned, structured activities in almost every session. Release play therapy was developed in by David Levy, and was expanded by Gove Hambidge into what we now consider structured play therapy (Menassa, 2009). Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) has roots in Carl Roger’s person-centered theory, holding the belief that children inherently strive towards self-actualization and self-directed healing (Menassa, 2009). Both CCTP and structured play therapy believe that play is children’s intrinsic communication, and a means through which children expresses and can resolve emotions and challenges in a developmentally appropriate way (Menassa, 2009). In this paper, I will compare how structured play therapists and child-centered play therapists approach the overarching goal of therapy, the therapeutic role, the therapeutic relationship, and the structure of the therapy.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: Expressive Art Therapy: Creative Arts Therapy

    1365 Words  | 3 Pages

    People from all around the world suffer from many different anxieties and troubles. They turn to things they enjoy so that they can forget reality and be somewhat happy or simply to communicate with one another. Most of the enjoyment is temporary and not sufficient, that is why they continue doing what they do. Creative Arts Therapy, also known as Expressive Arts Therapy, helps those who find themselves completely lost and have nowhere to go or anyone to go to. They can express themselves however they please. In order to better understand arts therapy one must have a knowledge of creativity, emotions and, of course, people.

    Read More

  • Art Therapy

    1282 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Art therapy is a form of therapy in making of visual images (paintings, drawings, models etc.) in the presences of a qualified art therapist contributes towards externalization of thoughts and feelings which may otherwise remain unexpressed”(Walter & Gilory, 1992).

    Read More

  • Freudian Defense Mechanism

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    For example, adolescents are often forced into therapy by their parents or school as a result of an inability to cope with stress in a socially acceptable way. Patients at this stage are too old to engage in play therapy, where therapists analyze a child’s behavior during play and when presented with toys. Also, patients acting out during adolescence are often too young to obtain the maturity to verbalize their emotions in a socially acceptable form. Art therapy is useful at this stage of development because similar impulses expressed in play therapy are expressed through drawings, meanwhile not requiring verbal communication. Art therapy introduces the mature defense mechanism of sublimation to the patient, guiding them to achieve better self control as they learn to communicate their impulses through art and talking about their art. A particular form of therapy is managed in groups, and adolescents are encouraged to engage in conversation about their drawings while they are creating them. This creates an environment of low anxiety, allowing patients communicate internal conflict and disregard their normal defense mechanisms that are used to conceal these emotions. The defense mechanism of sublimation is apparent in this process, as the use of color, composition, space and shapes to provide an

    Read More

  • Art Therapy and the Disabled

    524 Words  | 2 Pages

    Through the therapy, Mrs. Day seemed to come to terms with her amputation and was able to express things that bothered her. In two articles “Creating Art: Your RX for Health” and “Group-oriented community-based expressive arts programming for individuals with disabilities: participant satisfaction and perceptions of psycho-social impact.” The reader is told about patients who have disabilities or have suffered losses and how art therapy or even just creating art has been very therapeutic for them.

    Read More

  • Nondirective Play Therapy Case Study

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is a counselling method used to help youngsters communicate their inner experiences through using toys and play. Nondirective play therapy is a non-pathologizing technique founded on the belief that youngsters have the internal drive to attain wellness (Petruk, 2009). Play therapy is grounded on the theory that play is a youngster’s language, the toys considered the words a youngster uses to express or show their inner experiences and how they experience and perceive the world. Within a play session, and throughout the course of sessions, themes develop in the youngster’s play, giving the therapist insight into the child’s feelings, thoughts, experiences, and interpretations of their world (Petruk,

    Read More

  • Disadvantages Of Art Therapy

    1848 Words  | 4 Pages

    Trauma, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. In order to process and overcome a traumatic experience, most seek a therapist. This is especially true for individuals who have dealt with childhood sexual abuse. There are different types of therapy and therapists that exist that individuals go to. Art therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that uses art as it’s main technique of communications in order to improve the emotional and mental well being of the patients. It combines the areas of human development, visual art such as drawing, sculpture, painting and other kinds of art and the artistic process with counseling and psychotherapy.

    Read More

  • Therapeutic Play Therapy

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    Play therapy is conducted by psychologist to retrieve a specific therapeutic purposes, while therapeutic play (implemented by an individual) utilizes normal play to guide natural coping mechanism in facing traumatic events. She describes how instructional play is utilized in helping school aged children, whose development is best filtered through fantasy or magical thinking (Ponte, et.al, 2015). Thus, Ponte aims to uncover rather the introduction of a toy (as the means of communication between the child and professional) will lessen anxiety and change visible behaviors in this

    Read More

  • Expressive Arts Therapy

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    Expressive arts therapy is the use of art modalities, creative process, and aesthetic experience in a therapeutic context. It is a therapy of the imagination (McNiff, 1992). Effective communication is an essential element in therapeutic relationships and, although verbal language is the most conventional means of conveying information, other forms can convey just as much as words. The arts are an alternative form of communication that has recently received recognition for their value in therapeutic settings. There is a long well-established connection between the arts and psychology. Expressive arts therapy builds on a natural, complimentary relationship between the two disciplines. As a formal therapy, this form is relatively new with its own influences, history, processes, techniques, and considerations.

    Read More

More about Best Practices Paper: Expressive Arts Therapy

Open Document