ART Therapy

 

Art Therapy

Do you know what art therapy is and how it can help people with autism?  Let me quickly introduce to you this relatively lesser known method of therapy.

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a psychological discipline that specializes in using visual art making and the creative process to help clients bring about therapeutic change. 

 

 

When to Use Art Therapy?

  

There are many situations where art therapy is applicable.   Typically, it is applied for situations in which words are difficult or when the client is inept with words (for example someone with a communication disability).   It is also sought after for someone who went through a trauma and find it difficult to express their feelings verbally. Some use Art Therapy to seek deeper self-awareness or to cope with emotional, developmental and/or behavioral problems.

Art therapy can be for someone who seek a more “tangible” hands-on therapy. It is suitable for someone who enjoy expressing themselves visually  or for whom talk therapy has not achieved the desired outcome.  For others, they may just want to try something new when other therapy does not produce the desired results.

 

How Art Therapy Benefit People With Autism?

Most people believe that using art as a therapy is beneficial to people with autism.  Their intense sensory needs, the need for more visual, concrete and hands-on make Art Therapy a good choice for them.

Art therapists are trained to pick up on nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are often expressed through art and the creative process, concepts that are usually difficult to express with words. It is through this process that the individual really begins to see the effects of art therapy and the discoveries that can be made.

According to Nicole Martin (2007), art therapists could help to improve the following 6 major areas for people with autism.  Different goals will be more or less pertinent depending on the individual’s specific diagnosis (both deficits and interests), the goals of the facility and/or family, and the expertise of the art therapist.

1. Imagination /abstract thinking deficits

One of the biggest challenge of autism,imagination deficits, can be addressed by art therapists in a way that is without parallel in other fields.  Art projects tailored by art therapists to the needs of a person with ASD provide a visual, concrete format in which to develop abstract thinking skills, express creativity, and increase flexibility.

2. Sensory regulation and integration

Art therapy can provide safe, enjoyable sensory integration and exploration experiences that help create calm, regulated bodies and then move beyond mere exercises to help an individual incorporate their experiences into a product that helps to continue treatment. In art therapy, the process (making art, the therapeutic relationship) results in a product (the art piece) that furthers more process and provides a visual history of therapeutic progress. Improving regulation also often improves imagination (by un-hindering it) as well.

3. Emotions/Self-expression

Art therapists are trained in counseling techniques (many if not most obtain a counseling license) and their “tandem” use of visual expression and verbal counseling is definitely an asset when it comes to working with people with a communication disability. Having autism is mentally, physically, and emotionally stressful and many people living with it (particularly those on the “higher” end of the spectrum) can benefit from productive ways of expressing their feelings.

4. Developmental Growth

A bit of a catch-all term, developmental growth as a treatment goal means targeting delayed or atypical aspects of a person’s development that are hindering that person’s full potential. Autism is a pervasive, neurodevelopmental disorder that disrupts development in several areas; art therapists usually work on improving artistic/drawing development, fine motor skills, and social/relational skills. This is an important and often intensely pushed treatment goal when working with small children with ASD.

5. Recreation/Leisure skills

Developing productive leisure skills is no small goal for people with ASD. Self-direction, industriousness, patience, and pride in one’s work are important life skills that require a great deal of teaching (best done through motivating activities). It is also a popular reason for referrals (parents want their child to be able to benefit from recreational art-making, and feel that a therapist will be better trained to provide adaptations, behavioral support, and more meaningful goals).

 

6. Visual-spatial deficits

Drawing is a useful tool for both revealing and addressing visual-spatial deficits such as mental rotation and improving hand-eye coordination. People with autism sometimes exhibit exceptional or atypical visual-spatial development (for example, excellent mental mapping skills but poor drawing or mental rotation skills). As with the other treatment goals listed above, it is the individual’s motivation to “play” with art materials that makes art therapy an attractive format to address profound deficits.

 

 

How A Session Looks Like?

Art therapists are trained in therapy and art. They have studied and mastered psychology and human development. Art therapists typically have a clinical practice of some sort. Although a therapy session is pretty complicated to explain, it basically involves the interaction of three dynamics: the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client, the art materials, and therapist interventions.

When working with people with autism, the therapist must be the driving force within a session by providing directives designed to address treatment goals. Making art with the client as a way to engage, model, build friendship, and encourage communication is important. Projects might involve materials such as paints, clays, pencils, creams, feathers, and beads and processes such as puppetry, printmaking, sculpture, or mural painting.  Safety is the only limit.

Initial sessions will (ideally) involve family consultation, observation, assessment, establishment of treatment goals, and relationship/trust building. Therapy is often (but not always) long-term (as are most ASD therapies) due to the pervasive and permanent (though improvable) nature of autism.

Do You Need to be Talented to do Art Therapy?

Absolutely not and usually this is a misconception.  And you need not be “afraid” of expressing yourself through art.  For some, it may seem different and unnatural at first, it is typically because the individual is not used to communicating via the arts. The creative process can be one of the most rewarding aspects of art therapy. Coupled with an art therapist, you should gradually, if not immediately, feel comfortable with this newfound form of expression.  For others, if they somewhat interested in art, then this will be enjoyable.

 

Art therapy is generally described as a highly illuminating, enjoyable, and unique experience.  It could be a good option of therapy for you to evaluate if can be useful for your children with autism.