Expressive Arts Therapy for Traumatized Children and Adolescents: A Four-Phase Model

“The impulse to hear is real and powerful and lies within the client. Our job is to evoke that healing power, to meet its tests and needs and to support it in its expression and development. We are not the healers. We are the context in which healing is inspired” Ron Kurtz

I had the pleasure to attend a one day Expressive Arts Therapy for Traumatized Children and Adolescents workshop, facilitated by Carmen Richardson, (MSW, RSW, RCAT, REAT) founder and director of Prairie Institute of Expressive Arts Therapy (PIEAT). As a workshop participant, I walked away from this training with a sense of rejuvenation, in addition to various practical ideas and interventions. Richardson reviewed a range of visual arts, creative writing, and music interventions therapists may utilize within their practice. Here is my personal account from the training.

Why expressive arts? As therapists within an ever growing field, it is important to stay informed and knowledgeable. So why should we choose to use expressive arts as a therapeutic tool? Expressive arts expands one’s ability to use verbal and non-verbal processing, it encourages a sense of safety, and often increases a sense of power for participants. Expressive arts facilitates clients’ stabilization and skill-building abilities; in addition, clients process trauma and learn to recognize and build internal and external resources. Most importantly, expressive arts provides clients with opportunities to be active members taking part in their healing process.

Getting Started Richardson reviewed a four phase model working through clients’ initial assessment, cultivating safety and resources, trauma processing, in addition to reclaiming, reframing, repairing, and reorienting clients’ thoughts and feelings. Richardson shared a number of interventions therapists may chose to use with clients during each phase of the model. To find out more about Richardson’s four phase model please go to www.pieat.ca.

Building Resources Please see below a small selection of interventions therapists may utilize when working with children and adolescents.

Resource Cards and Pockets 1. Using recipe cards create small cards with images of specific resources on them using collage, drawing, writing and embellishing them with whatever materials are available. 2. Create a container for the resource cards by using a pocket cut out from a old or discarded pair of blue jeans. 3. Practice using the resource cards by thinking of a mildly upsetting event, notice the experience in the body, then look at the resource card and notice the shift in the body that happens naturally as we move to a more pleasant thought or image.

Resource Shrine 1. Trace and cut out on card stock a shrine figure. 2. The shrine naturally has both an outside and inside space that can be used to identify both inside and outside resources. 3. Embellish shrine with collage materials that capture your resources. Resource Stones and Pouch 1. Allow clients to choose a stone. 2. Resources can be drawn or written onto stones. 3. Make a pouch by drawing a six inch circle on cloth. 4. Decorate your pouch with permanent markers. 5. Once the drawing is complete, take thread and stitch one inch front edge of the fabric to create a drawstring.

As therapists, there are several supportive therapeutic tools to consider when working with children and adolescents and expressive arts can prove to be a valuable tool to your practice. However, as therapist, it is important to assess each case to determine if the task is appropriate for that client. If you are looking for additional resources and supports regarding expressive arts therapy, please connect with Prairie Institute of Expressive Arts Therapy, www.pieat.ca