Art therapy as part of the psyho-social rehabilitation

By Plamen Petkov

The practical guide offers an introduction to art therapy as a form of psycho-social rehabilitation for individuals admitted to psychiatric wards. It provides an overview of the history, principles, and benefits of art therapy, as well as practical guidance for implementing art therapy interventions with patients. The guide also includes case studies and examples of art therapy sessions, as well as tips for working with different patient populations and addressing specific clinical issues. Overall, the guide aims to equip art therapists, psychologists, and social workers with the tools and knowledge needed to provide effective art therapy interventions for patients in psychiatric settings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Plamen Petkov
• Release date: Feb 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215530061

Book preview

Contents

I. INTRODUCTION

II.  THEORETIC FRAMEWORK

III. DISEASES

IV. PRACTICAL WORK

V. CONCLUSION

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY

I. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this text is to describe the application of certain art therapy methods and techniques in group work for social rehabilitation with mentally ill patients hospitalized for treatment in the Male and Female acute departments of the Mental Health Center Ruse Ltd., Bulgaria.

The descriptions are based on clinical experience over a period of two years, and selected sessions are described to provide an idea of the methods and approaches used.

The text is divided into three main parts: Theoretical framework, Description of the conditions - diagnoses of patients attending the group, and Practical part. The latter describes the place of art therapy in group activities for social rehabilitation of acutely ill patients, the model used for session preparation, and the goals of group art therapy sessions. Some of the individual sessions are described, and the last session attempts to analyze the symbols found in the drawings.

The hypothesis on which the text is based and the practical work on which it is based is that art therapy is a suitable therapeutic method for working with patients in acute psychotic states, because through its methods and approaches, it treats the healthy, preserved part of the individual, rather than the problem or illness.

The study aims to trace to what extent art therapy has a place in conducting social rehabilitation with patients admitted for treatment in the acute departments of psychiatric hospitals in Bulgaria.

The aim of the study was to create a working model for conducting art therapy sessions in the acute departments of Mental Health Centers.

II.  THEORETIC FRAMEWORK

Therapy through creativity, or according to suggestions 40 years ago. term from Andrian Hill – art therapy is taken as an auxiliary, as well as as a standalone method for treating various mental disorders and diseases. Among them are – depression, stress, anxiety, apathy, fear, irritability, aggression and more.

Drawing, appliquering and modeling help many people resolve their internal conflicts, release deeply suppressed emotions, improve daily self-care and develop. Imagination is the strongest source of healing energy, and art itself originally emerged as a goal of communication, as a means of communication, as a kind of emotional language.

Andrian Hill links the healing possibilities of imaging to the ability to abduct a patient from „ the painful experience ".

Edith Kramer – believes that the possibility of achieving a positive effect is primarily the " healing power of the art process itself, which makes it possible to express itself, to relive the internal conflict and finally find a solution.

Margaret Naumbur believes that as a result of artistic activities she overcomes doubts about her abilities, freely depicts her fears, and depicting the inner world helps him deal with the problems.

In that case, it can be said that some scientists emphasize this, that artistic creativity helps the psychologist and psychotherapist to establish closer contact with the person against themselves and to gain access to his experiences, others of that, that the healing effect of artistic creativity is achieved by distracting it from pain and the creation of positive emotions, and a third – of this, that art is in itself a way to stimulate feelings.

Art therapy is one of the most gentle and at the same time the deepest methods in the arsenal of psychology and psychotherapy. It can also refer to the most ancient and natural forms of emotional correction, which many people use alone – to relieve tension, calm and focus. Every idea that arises in the psyche, every thought ends in movement. If real movement for some reason does not take place, then in the respective muscle group a certain tension or energy is accumulated, necessary for the implementation of this movement. Practical art therapy becomes one way of expressing problems, stimulates communication, realizes movement.

Drawing, collage, plasticity and other forms of fine arts are a means of knowledge and a special type of communication, a unique way to escape from internal censorship, a message about this, which we do not dare to say in words.

The shape, color, size and many other characteristics of the product of creativity can reveal real, deep desires, fears, hopes, truths about the attitude towards someone or something, moods at a time. In addition to the opportunity to understand oneself, art therapy has the power to harmonize, to develop confidence, to increase a person's perceptions. The language of visual expression is used in all forms of this type of therapy.

If the mechanisms for psychoregulation and correction in the process of creative self-expression and contact with art are to be systematized, art therapy can be divided into three main directions or approaches:

• Use of existing works of art and paths for their analysis and interpretation, or so-called passive therapy;

• Awakening of the participants to independent creativity or active art therapy;

• Simultaneous use of both approaches.

All these forms can be used in both individual and group therapy.

In world literature, there are different views on the correction mechanisms of art as therapy. In his book „ Artistic Creativity – the eyes of the doctor " RB. Heikin talks about the adaptive mechanisms of such therapy:

- a socio-personal adaptation – in which the correction effect is considered in relation to the very essence of art, as well as to the creative potential of man, which can release and mobilize the self-realization of the individual and help for social and individual integration.

- personality-associative adaptation – in which the relief from aesthetic actions reduces tension. Creativity as a form allows to manifest, realize, and also to express a different instinctive impulse and emotional state / fear, anger, dissatisfaction/. In this sense, creativity reduces the danger of external manifestations of these experiences, in socially undesirable actions. The fantasy that is depicted on paper or with clay does not rarely accelerate and alleviate the verbal experience.

- associative-commucative adaptation – in which the healing effect of art therapy reaches the unlocking of intellectual operations / design, discussion and awareness of the conflict /, facilitates the psychologist's access to difficult experiences. In the course of therapy, the demonstration of feelings, relationships about what a person has learned, understood and overcome is stimulated.

- social and comucative adaptation – the creative process kidnaps a person from the hospital experience. Art therapy is especially important for the role of man in society. Joint creativity unites people by facilitating their social adaptation.

- physiological adaptation – the immediate impact on the body is color, lines and shapes. The relationship between blood circulation rate and muscle contractions has been proven - with color.

All art therapy techniques use the following basic functions:

- cleansing, freeing from negative emotions;

- regulating, reducing tension, regulating psycho-somatic processes and modeling positive mental attitudes;

- ensuring the correction of impaired communication, the formation of adequate interpersonal behavior and self-assessment.

Art is a particularly effective way to prevent various mental disorders, but it is good that this happens under the supervision of a psychologist or art therapist who has knowledge of human development, for psychological theories, clinical practice, spiritual and cultural traditions, as well as for the healing potential of art.

„ Adapting the personality to a normal emotional state in the empathy of the fine arts " - so called one of the relatively new methods in psychology, which combines the possibilities of psycho-consultative diagnostics and those of modern art. Disturbing emotional balance can have different reasons. However, returning to a normal emotional state is often a long and painful process due to impaired sensitivity and loss of self-confidence. Awakening of the desire for perception of art can reflectively awaken other desires and motives for positive perceptions. According to a number of authors, practicing art therapy techniques in the treatment of complex mental conditions always leads to improved condition.

For its part, modern art, along with all its peculiarities, appears as a result of the fantasy and human ability to build forms that do not exist in reality. The often burdened by life problems does not even notice the perfect forms in natural phenomena. The application of this method gives them a maximum liberated opportunity to communicate with modern paintings together with an artist-consultant. They can look at the picture, talk freely if they want, as well as when they are ready to express their attitude. Experience has shown that such an encounter can activate the therapeutic process in the direction of „ unlocking , revealing often concealed emotionality. The formula „ this is created exclusively for me can open unsuspected wishes for cooperation, even wishes for painting.

Achieving a wider range of therapeutic goals in practice can be achieved through painting itself, or so-called active art therapy, including the different and variants of group therapy. Such activities are especially suitable for children because they contain an element of magic and play. Children who have developmental difficulties are very different not so much in their personal characteristics, but also in the nature of the manifestations that require correction. There are different treatment options that can be used in different cases. It all depends on the condition of the children, on the nature of their problems, on the opportunities and mood.

The properties of artistic materials and how working with them can affect the physical and emotional state are of little importance. The qualities of different materials can express different mental properties and types of experiences. The choice of material is of great importance. It shows the area of conflict and the degree of readiness for emotional self-expression. It is therefore desirable to provide a wide range of different selection materials for such therapeutic art classes.

Different materials affect customers differently:

Paints - and their spontaneous use help to overcome restraint. The guise and tempera allow to overcome increased control over feelings and fear of self-disclosure. The watercolor and pastel are suitable for expressing current and dynamic internal processes. Diverse shades and color scales depict different experiences. They can also be applied in bright tones, blurred and nuanced. The use of these materials can characterize mood swings and predominant depressive moments.

The oil pastel has the quality of soft and affordable material and is suitable for working with physically weak customers. With the richness of colors and simplicity of use, pastels allow to diversify the process of self-expression. In many cases, this material helps to deal with self-control.

Colored pencils and felt-tip pens suggest increased self-control as well as high activity of consciousness.

The color and its physical properties are essential when using these materials. The child can not only use the colors, but also feel them. For example, orange and red, arousing not only the visual and auditory center of the brain, cause a seemingly increase in the strength of the noises, so these active colors are often called screaming. Green and blue are soothing, they seem to weaken