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Artistic Refuge

A gracious dab of vibrant green, the tender touch of fluorescent pink, and soft stroke of

flamboyant orange; who knew these vivacious colors would one day spread across the canvas of

my life? They say that eyes are the window to the soul and that our vision bridges the gap

between illusion and reality. So what better outlook for this profound ability than through the

lens of art itself?

I still remember the primary colors pushing their way up to the sky, resisting the

mysterious forces until the flow of air and rush of children pushed the billowing sheets back

against gravity. I remember the bright yellow circle in the center of that sheet stealing all of my

companions’ attentions as we followed the reds and blues and greens that stretched to the outer

edges of our imaginations and the parachute itself. As a young preschooler I was also introduced

to the natural beauty of the world, such as the 6 foot tall sunflowers that had grown in our small

preschool sized garden. I was taught that every object and creature in the world was created for a

purpose; and as awe-inspiring as the thought was, I soon began to dwell on the word “created”.

Even the brilliant colors and designs of the parachute game had to have a creator, and that is

where I found my passion. Could I create the beauty by which my eyes were so captivated? With

every opportunity that arose to explore a different form of art, I pursued that opportunity as soon

as I could. My family began to notice my growing interest in creativity and artwork itself and as

my curiosity grew, so did my personal set of art supplies. I learned different techniques with

various kinds of paint, but there was one thing that I had not anticipated would ever be associated

with art: emotions.

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In the 4th grade I made the huge transition of moving from a private school in Fremont to

a public school in Walnut Creek. During the summer of my transition, I felt isolated and alone,

even though I still had my family surrounding me. I would unconsciously look at objects around

me and sketch them out on the nearest piece of paper to keep my mind off of the struggles that I

was going through. With each drawing came a better sense of stability and belonging. I opened

up to painting and took a class in ceramics; and as the years went by I finally began to feel that I

was exactly where I was supposed to be. As I looked back at the social progress I made through

art, I realized that there were specific classes directly relating the creation of art and to the output

of emotions. But I then began to wonder if going through art therapy would have been different

or more productive than venturing through art on my own. These inquiries drove me to the

question: What is art therapy and who can benefit from it?

“Art Therapy” is often perceived as just another class that makes one feel better about

themselves and is centered around creating art. But it is important to acknowledge that art

therapy is different from an art class and there is a clear distinction between the two activities.

Many people confuse the two because of how similar they appear to be. Art therapy sessions are

diluted into nothing more than mere lessons and the materials used for the therapy and art classes

are so similar that they seem interchangeable. The primary contrast between the two endeavors,

however, is the end goal that the instructor encourages the pupil to achieve. An example of the

separation between art therapy and an art class would be how an average art teacher would

approach an “art evaluation” compared to how an art therapist would go about it. The regular art

teacher might brush over the deeper meaning of a painting and go into the specific details and

techniques used to structure it. But an art therapist would use their clinical training and

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psychologically attuned senses to decipher the depths of the artists feelings (Rubin 64). Art

therapist of the past 30 years, research psychologist, and well-known author in the field of art

therapy, Cathy Malchiodi often speaks on the psychotherapeutic relationships that art therapists

have when it comes to healing patients through art. Just as author, Judith Aaron Rubin and many

other art therapists use the term of “attune”, Malchiodi provides a clear definition and purpose

for this word:

The experience of attunement, [is] a meta-skill that includes presence, active response,

mindful interactions, and empathy and comes in the form of prosody, facial expressions

and body gestures, mirroring and entrainment. (Malchiodi)

It is important to have an attuned mind when guiding others to seek out their own emotions by

means of metaphorical imaging. Yet, even with the basic knowledge that there are differences

between art therapy and a typical art class, some still wonder who art therapy is then directed

towards.

There is a saying that goes “when you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything

at all” but in some cases not saying anything furthers the problem. When negative feelings build

up over time people tend to act out inappropriately rather than sharing their emotions or finding a

healthier way to express themselves. People with such feelings of anger and resentment are a set

of people toward whom art therapy is directed. In order to avoid a potentially permanent disaster

that hurts a person both physically and emotionally art therapists do their best to decipher the

feelings a patient portrays through their art. In her article, “How Art Therapy is used to Help

Heal People”, Kendra Cherry, a psychology expert, author and educator shares her perspective of

what art therapy is centered around. "In most art therapy sessions, the focus is on your inner

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experience—your feelings, perceptions, and imagination. While art therapy may involve learning

skills or art techniques, the emphasis is generally first on developing and expressing images that

come from inside the person, rather than those he or she sees in the outside world” (Cherry). An

especially unique element of translating one’s artwork is whether it is an overwhelming portrait

of disaster, or a few simple streaks of a single color, the therapist is still able to sort through the

chaos and confusion to get a sense of where the artist stands emotionally. As a clinical oncology

social worker, Sydney Siegel created a Tree of Life workshop that “takes participants through a

guided meditation that asks them to envision themselves as a tree going through life. She

explains that there will be storms. Trees will lose leaves and perhaps some branches”

(“Bringing”). Different images represent different aspects of one's life. Such as the example with

trees losing branches or leaves, that can symbolize losing a loved one or feelings that their life is

slowly drifting away without having found the meaning of it. While the story behind the images

may be displeasing, the reality is when one is able to acknowledge the existence of an issue they

can then take the next steps toward healing.

A common area in which images of destruction and darkness are often seen is in patients

struggling with depression, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide. Considering the numerous

testimonies said and studies done on depression being an isolating experience it is reasonable to

discern how one might feel if asked to confide in an average therapist. Young RyAnne Watson, a

recent patient at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, is familiar with these sentiments and

being treated through art therapy. For Watson, it is simpler to draw out a prompt given to her by

an art therapist than to read a prompt and explain her feelings verbally. She describes one

occurence of this after sketching her assignment of the high-reaching Smithsonian castles when

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she says “[it’s] more about putting [her] emotions into the artwork than telling someone about it

and making [herself] upset. [She ends] up talking to [her therapist] about everything, once [she’s]

drawing” (Kvarnstrom). Many people just like Watson are not initially comfortable with

explaining how they feel to another human being, especially when talking about one’s personal

pain to someone who may be seen as a total stranger. But there is something about art that is so

unique in its ability to emotionally connect people on an intimate level. Art therapy clinic

director of George Washington University, Tally Tripp has worked with trauma patients for the

last 25 years and has come across many suicidal patients who have found this method and other

safety plans quite helpful. Tripp makes it apparent that in order to help a patient deal with their

suicidal impulses she finds them other coping methods or reconstructive behavioral activities.

“Sometimes [she] will recommend a soothing art activity for ‘homework’ such as working in an

art coloring book or journal, that can assist with a person feeling grounded and safe” (Frank).

With art’s soothing qualities it becomes a safer alternative to suicidal plans and is a strong

adversary to anxiety. Dedicated author of the techniques and philosophy behind art therapy,

Cathy Malchiodi, says that “[art] therapy as an approach to health and well-being is often

described as a form of nonverbal communication with the potential to help individuals of all ages

in the process of reparation and healing” (Malchiodi). Processing one’s emotions through art can

help them tap into a deeper element of emotions that might not be as clear as one would think it

would be. One issue that often pops up is being oblivious to the underlying problem. The

solution to finding that problem starts with acknowledging that there is a problem in the first

place. Recognizing that there is an issue is a key component in rebuilding one’s well-being and

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multiple studies have found when analyzing a painting or drawing that even the smallest details

can have their own stories behind their anterior design.

In this day and age many people focus a lot on improving the future by quickening the

pace of teenagers’ education and learning experience. With all the pressures of the world on their

shoulders to clean up the messes laid before them it is important for children to know that there

are still fun and creative outlets for them to cling on to. Art therapy is specifically “[open] to

[both] children and adults of any background and experience, [and] the still-evolving field

explores modes of expression, understanding and healing that occur when paint touches canvas”

(Frank). Sue Burke, a local resident of Concord and mother of 6 shared her thoughts on why art

is a critical part of her children’s lives, “it fosters creativity, allowing kids to explore. And

making a mess is fun and helps them learn that mistakes are okay and that sometimes things

don’t turn out the way you want and that’s okay.” Since a child’s brain is still developing, one

might say that it is easier to implement more pragmatic life lessons such as financial planning or

writing techniques. This philosophy is flawed due to the fact that these “lessons” can be directly

related to art through science itself. In an interview with Allyse Tanovitz, a teacher at King’s

Valley Elementary and children’s pastor of Oak Park Christian Center, she stated that when her

elementary schoolers are working on an arts and crafts assignment they “are able to put their

stress aside and let themselves go for a little bit.” When asked if she knew of the science behind

it she mentioned that “the visual parts of the brain and the emotional parts of the brain are most

affected.” When figuring out how to draw the specific details of an object or scene one uses not

only the motor cortex of their brain but they refine their visual cortex and teach themselves how

to pay closer attention to the smaller details. This very strategy, naturally used by children, is

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used by art therapists when they are deciphering a patient’s work and producing the potential

meaning behind it.

Another crucial point of art therapy is that because it is a form of nonverbal

communication it is more accessible to those with disabilities or mental disorders. According to

the Connections Therapy Center, “[children] with disabilities sometimes have a difficult time

communicating through speech. By giving a special needs child art supplies like a paintbrush or

some markers, an art therapist may be able to get inside their head and learn more about them”

(“Art Therapy”). This significant aspect of therapy results in the joy and fulfilment of those who

are, unfortunately, not always the first to be thought about. At Safe Harbor Homes and Services,

Bill Matthews and his wife Lynette take care of multiple disabled adults including their own son

Kevin. In an interview with Mr. Matthews he disclosed that “the arts and crafts, cooking,

worshipping through music and other activities make a profound difference in both the lives of

parents of adults with special needs and the adults themselves.” For disabled adults it is

extremely meaningful when people recognize them as equal human beings rather than broken

people. In order to help people with special needs find a sense of joy, fulfillment, and belonging,

caretakers will often do arts and crafts because the bright colors are attractive and the fact that

they are able to do the same task that a non special needs person is able to do is encouraging as

well. As mentioned earlier, there still is a significant distinction between a typical art class and

an art therapy session, but in this case a special needs client may experience both. Depending on

the caretaker or instructor, a group of people with special needs may simply be having a break

time for leisurely activities; in another circumstance, the caretaker could guide the client in

trying to express how they are feeling through creating something. Child Advocate for Children

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with Special needs and co-founder of SpecialEdResource.com relays the definition of art as “the

expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such

as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or

emotional power” (Dalien). It is also apparent that not all people with special needs are able to

express their feelings in plain and clear verbal statements, so art is a liaison between their

feelings and the ability to express them.

While most people might consider the general categories of art therapy patients to be

depressed and disabled people, there is is yet another category that is not touched upon nearly as

often as the others: displaced people. One might read the word “displaced” and think that it is

used by metaphorical gurus to say things such as being lost on one’s path through life, but this

word is not some intellectual metaphor with a deeper meaning behind it. No, this word is directly

addressing those who had to flee their country in order to escape persecution, political unrest, or

natural disasters that are capable of taking their lives. As the typical techniques of a regular

therapist are to comb through the context of one’s verbal story and there is a high risk-factor that

a displaced person may be traumatized by the event, art therapy then becomes the most

non-threatening way to explore such an ordeal. One leading example would be the outcome of

Hurricane Katrina where there were “[countless] articles and at least five major studies focused

on the lasting trauma experienced by Hurricane Katrina survivors, warning of anxiety, difficulty

in school, [and] even suicidal impulses” (Dewan). After Hurricane Katrina hit, one of the ways

that people had provided aid to the survivors was through art therapy. Art therapists had children

especially draw pictures of what their safe place looks like or would look like if they had a safe

place to go to. Karla Leopold, a Californian art therapist, led a team of her fellow colleagues to

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Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and helped displaced children cope with the loss of their

homes and loved ones. According to Leopold, “[one] of the most common images in children’s

art is the house: a square, topped by a pointy roof, outfitted with doors and windows” (Dewan).

At first art therapists thought that the triangular shapes being drawn by children were just oddly

morphed houses that the children depicted as their safe space. But they soon came to realize that

what was being drawn were not houses but roofs. For both young and old survivors they knew

the inside of the house as an easy target for flooding to break through and the roof as the highest

source of ground to keep away from the high waters.

Another example of how art therapy has helped displaced people is seen in the methods

of Zahra Akthar and Andrew Lowell and their studies done for refugees all around the world.

Upon their research they found five different themes that resulted from their conducted art

therapy sessions: “(1) giving voice; (2) rebuilding trust, opening wounds; (3) sharing stories,

healing pain; (4) exploring identity, discovering new-self; and (5) understanding art therapy”

(Akthar). These themes brought together are very useful forms of therapy that tend to provide

refugee children with a safe place to go and someone whom they trust.

Nothing feels better than finding someone who one can trust with nothing less than their

entire being. If everyone were able to free their burdens by simply talking to people when they

felt down or upset then the world would less chaotic and individuals would be more content. But

we do not live in a simple world and not everyone has the gift of a free tongue. Whether it’s

because of a physical ailment or an emotional struggle, not all problems must always be solved

through initial understanding and putting on a facade that one’s life is fully put together. For

those who are in pain or are in need of a creative outlet and support group the nonverbal

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communication of translating colors and structured details through art therapy will always have a

strong veil of passion and power laid over it, around it, and under it.

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Works Cited

Akthar, Zahra and Andrew Lowell. “Art therapy with refugee children: a qualitative study

explored through the lens of art therapists and their experiences.” ​Taylor and Francis

Online,​ 9 Nov. 2018,

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17454832.2018.1533571. Accessed 4 Mar.

2019.

“Art Therapy For Children With Disabilities.” ​The Connections Therapy Center,​ 4 Aug. 2017,

http://www.thectcenter.com/sensory-processing/art-therapy-children-disabilities/.

Accessed 5 Mar. 2019.

"Bringing the Outside In: A unique combination of mindfulness, eco therapy, and art helps

cancer patients experience the healing power of nature." ​Healthy Years,​ Mar. 2019, p. 6.

Student Resources In Context,​

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A576211079/SUIC?u=wal55317&sid=SUIC&xid=ab

2341ca. Accessed 5 Mar. 2019.

Burke, Sue. Personal Interview. 26 Mar. 2019.

Cherry, Kendra. “How Art Therapy Is Used to Help People Heal.” ​Very Well Mind,​ 3 Nov. 2018,

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-art-therapy-2795755. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.

Dalien, Suzie. “Art Therapy For Children With Special Needs.” ​Special Ed Resource. 1​ 3 Nov.

2019, https://specialedresource.com/resource-center/art-therapy-children-special-needs.

Accessed 20 Apr. 2019.

Dewan, Shaila. “Using Crayons to Exorcise Katrina.” ​New York Times,​ 17 Sept. 2007,

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/arts/design/17ther.html. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019.

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Frank, Priscilla. “Art Therapy Is More Than Just Making Nice Pictures.” Huffington Post. 29

Sep. 2015,

www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/art-therapy-is-more-than-just-making-nice-pictures_us_5

609be20e4b0af3706dd8e26. Accessed 30 Jan. 2019.

Kvarnstrom, Elisabet. “Using Art Therapy to Create Freedom From Depression.” ​Bridges to

Recovery​, 14 July 2017,

https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/using-art-therapy-to-create-freedom-from-depre

ssion/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2019.

Malchiodi, Cathy. “Art Therapy: The Role of the Relationship.” Psychology Today. 30 May

2018,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/arts-and-health/201805/art-therapy-the-role-the-relat

ionship. Accessed 30 Jan. 2019. Health Services: A Division of Northpointe Resources.

Matthews, Bill. Personal Interview. 6 Mar. 2019.

Rubin, Judith A. ​Art Therapy: An Introduction.​ Philadelphia, Psychology Press, 1999.

Tanovitz, Allyse. Personal Interview. 25 Feb. 2019

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