Methods A systematic search was conducted using the PsychINFO, ERIC, and OneSearch (EBSCO) databases. The following terms were combined in the search: (autism OR autistic) AND “art therapy”. Art therapy was placed inside of quotation marks in order to limit results to those specifically about art therapy as opposed to artistic talent or art education. Searches were narrowed down to only include peer-reviewed articles from scholarly journals. Selecting database-specific options allowed for the further narrowing of results, such as limiting results to empirical and clinical case studies or refining the subject to autism and art therapy. Upon selection of studies, a bibliographic search was conducted in order to identify additional literature that met the criteria for selection. The following parameters wer`2e used for selection: 1. Empirical study analyzing art therapy as a treatment for autism published in a peer-reviewed journal 2. Participant(s) were identified as having ASD and were between the ages of 4 and 21 3. Art therapy was the primary intervention used in the study 4. The study was written in English Dates of publication were not used as selection criteria given the limited research available and the early inception of art therapy as an intervention (Dunn-Snow & D’Amelio, 2000). Only three of the nine studies selected for this literature review occurred within the past ten years (see Figure 1). After the articles for this literature review were selected, key features of each study were incorporated into a table indicating the author(s) of the study, the research design implemented, the targeted skills or behaviors, the intervention and art medium used, the participant(s), the setting, the method, and the results (se... ... middle of paper ... ...s/2014/06/10/ Simpson, K., & Keen, D. (2011). Music interventions for children with autism: Narrative review of the literature. Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 41(11), 1507-1514. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1172-y Stack, M. (1998). Humpty Dumpty's shell: Working with autistic defense mechanisms in art therapy. In M. Rees (Ed.), Drawing on difference: Art therapy with people who have learning difficulties (pp. 91-110). London, England: Routledge. Stern, R. S. (1989). Many ways to grow: Creative art therapies. Pediatric Annals, 18(10), 645-652. Thiele, R. (2014, July 7). Could art help us understand autism? WMUK News. Retrieved from http://wmuk.org/post/could-art-help-us-understand-autism United States Department of Education (2004). Section 300.34 Related Services. Retrieved from http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cregs%2C300%2CA%2C300%252E34%2C
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.
Art therapy uses media and the creative process in healing, the key word here being process. We all know how revealing the artwork of children can be of their emotions. Art therapy applies this concept across the spectrum in a multitude of situations. It functions in many of the same settings as conversational therapy: mental health or rehabilitation facilities, wellness centers, educational institutions, nursing homes, in private practices or in a client's home. An art therapist may work with an individual or group, in families or couples. While most therapy is based on conversation between the therapist and his or here client/s, art therapy integrates visual communication into th...
I then came across the practice of art therapy. As a child, I've had a love for drawing and art, and I never really grew out of it. I saw art therapy as a wonderful opportunity for me since I found this both an enjoyable and useful study. I became interested in art therapy because it serves as a creative outlet for me to help people by applying what I love for them. I believe art therapy can help troubling patients because it connects with troubling patients at
When a child is diagnosed with autism, one thing that is noted is the lack of eye contact. Music therapy works to help this in numerous ways. When the therapist starts at the child’s level, according to the British Colombian Music therapy association, they can base what needs to be done and how to do it off of where the child is and after many sessions, where they are now (M-7). According to a report in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, “Eye contact – this refers to an event where child looks at therapist while playing, manipulating” (E-7).
My vision of Art Therapy was very vague. I always thought art therapy was a form of therapy for distressed or abused children trying to tell a story through pictures or drawings. The American Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well being of individuals of all ages. Art therapy is a form psychotherapy that has been practiced for over sixty years and it has been promoted as a means of helping people who find it difficult to express themselves verbally (Crawford, et al., 2010). Art therapy sessions usually start with a form of relaxation such as deep breathing , progressive muscle relaxation, or setting an intention for the session ahead (Hart, 2010). Art therapy is used for several different types of people with diverse illnesses such as: Autism Spectrum Disorder, people living with HIV/AIDS, mental disorders and even Cancer. Studies show that art therapy can lead to increased self awareness of self, as well as improved ability to cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences (American Art Therapy Association). This form of therapy helps these patients express positive feelings that may not be easy to access in the midst of a fear provoking experience (Hart, 2010). Art therapy help people to identify their feelings, and resolve the issues associated with their illness. Although, my lack of knowledge on this therapeu...
Before completing the assignment of reading “Thinking in Pictures,” by Temple Grandin, I did not have much knowledge about autism. My only understanding was autism was some sort of neurological disorder that is seen similar to mentally handicapped individuals to someone with little understanding, like myself. I am very thankful to have been given an assignment like this one that gives me more knowledge of something I should already have in my line of work (though I am sure that was the whole purpose of the assignment, to educate the ignorant). I now have a better understanding of the cause, learning process and functioning of different levels of this defect.
Geretsegger, M., Holck, U., & Gold, C. (2012). Randomised controlled trial of improvisational music therapy’s effectiveness for children with autism spectrum disorders. BMC Pediatrics, 12(2), 1-9.
Art therapy is well known in the therapeutic field but not very well known amongst adolescents and adults, my job is to inform people who are unaware. In many cases art therapy can be used with other psychotherapy techniques such as group therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, it is a very diverse field when it comes to its range of limits. Not everyone can creatively suspect the act of art would help their mental state of mind but art therapists were put here to prove those people wrong. Through the findings of my research I have found interesting and important reasons why one might become an active art therapist, and discovered the therapeutic process of how to diagnose and treat their patients. My curiosities also lead me to wonder when art therapy originated, which I found dated back all the way to the 1940’s by a woman named Margaret Nawmburg. By researching art therapy it taught me the real importance of an art therapist job and how their service helps ones in need.
Art Therapy helps children that have mental health problems learning disabilities, emotional problems, and sexual abuse. Patient’s are encouraged to visualize and then create the thoughts and emotions that they can’t talk about. The resulting artwork is then reviewed by the therapist and that helps the therapist determine what they need to work on. Art Therapy is typically practiced in conjunction with individuals, in a group, or with family. Art Therapy can be particularly useful for treating children who have limited language skills. By drawing or using other visual means to express troublesome feelings (Source 4 Helping Kids Art
Autism spectrum disorder is a disorder in which many children struggle with. Children, who have ASD, struggle with communication and social interaction. With this disorder, there are many things that can be put into place for a child who has ASD to be able to function “normally” on a daily basis. Music therapy is one strategy that has been proven to be very successful with a child, who has ASD, to be able to function “normally;” especially when it comes to their social and communication skills.
One of every 68 children are diagnosed with autism in United Sates (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Autism is a mental condition characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people. Autism can be also associated with mental disability, struggle in motor coordination and attention. Autism appears in early childhood between 2 and 3 years of age. There is no cure for autism but early intervention can improve outcomes. Music has positive effects in children with autism. Even though there is no known ‘cure’ for autism, music may enhance socio-emotional development, improve communication skills, promotes cognitive development and contribute to emotional gratification.
Before I graduated from college, an art therapist saved my life. She helped me work through my diagnosis by utilizing various art forms. Upon termination, art therapy had given me true healing and empowered me to use art for self-expression. Today, I am thriving with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, applying to graduate school to follow my passion, and wearing my adversity as a badge of triumph. The power of art therapy provided me with an inside look at the difference an art therapist can make. Now I am determined to help others find their own healing through art.
“To use art, counselors need to learn how to integrate art therapeutically into counseling. In using art, they need to emphasize process over product and clarify the potential benefits to the student. It has been suggested that art therapy fits nicely into the American School Counselor Association’s national standards.” (Howard, 2017).
Unlike the usual talk therapy where the person has to talk to a therapist, a child could be overwhelmed by fear and have difficulties expressing themselves in that uptight environment, answering questions directly. Art Therapy comes into play to help those children express their issues since they are naturally more creative and it is, overall, easier for them to do compared to counseling. Art Therapy can help children relieve stress, increase awareness of self, and develop healthy and effective coping skills (Art Therapy Journal 1). Art Therapy can help children with all sorts of problems they could be dealing with including: Childhood trauma, a death of a loved one, learning disabilities, mental disorders, and much more. Children of all ages, nationalities, races and cultures can benefit from art therapy. Programs are developed around a child’s strengths and abilities, so the kid can use the medium even if he or she has never picked up a crayon before (Art Therapy Journal 1). Even though every child is different, Art Therapy is proven to be very effective for the majority of the time. Some children may pour their hearts and mind into an art piece while others could be more timid about it and would need space. How Art Therapy works according to the Art Therapy Journal is that Art therapists provide kids with age-appropriate art supplies and set them free to express themselves. More often than not, the therapist will give the child a prompt to get them started. For example, he may ask the child to draw a house or favorite food. After the pictures have been completed, the therapist will begin to question the child about various aspects of the artwork in an effort to understand what the thoughts or feelings it represents. The therapist will then use that feedback to develop an effective treatment program that will help the child move forward
There are many different kind of expressive art therapy applied in mental health setting. According to Malchiodi (2005), expressive art therapy includes the use of “art/ music, dance/movement, drama, poetry/creative writing, play, and sand-tray within the context of psychotherapy, counselling, rehabilitation, or health care” (p. 2). Art therapists support clients through using different media or materials to express and reflect on their different intrinsic dynamic (Knill, Barba, & Fuchs, 1995) that could not be easily articulated by words.