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What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a
speciality within
the field of
psychotherapy that
uses art materials
and techniques to
diagnose problems,
feelings, and issues
that otherwise might
not come to the
surface.
Art therapy is used
by trained
psychotherapists who
may use other
approaches like
movement, dance,
storytelling,
play-acting, verbal
communication, play
therapy, and sand
tray. We believe
that a combination
of techniques and
modalities fosters
insight, growth and
behavior change, and
helps working
through problems and
conflicts. Using the
arts provides a safe
environment for
expressing anger,
fear, traumas, and
painful memories
around issues such
as divorce,
separation and loss,
death and dying,
relocation, change
of job and schools.
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ART AS THERAPY
uses art materials
and techniques and
provides a safe
environment in which
to express feelings
and emotions while
experiencing
excitement and joy
at making art
productions that can
be saved and used,
such as masks,
puppets and wands.
WHO BENEFITS USING
EXPRESSIVE ARTS?
-
Children and
adolescents with
behavior
problems and in
crisis
-
Alcoholics and
substance
abusers
-
Family members
in crisis
-
Individuals
experiencing
boredom,
mid-life crisis,
severe traumas
-
Artists blocked
in the creative
process
-
Psychotherapists
in training
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CHILD ART THERAPY
Pictured here is a
child of a divorcing
couple who is in the
Child Art Therapy
Group using art
therapy techniques
to work through his
confusion, anger,
and pain about his
parents separating.
The three year old
boy and his father
are engaged in face
painting which
created bonding
through close
tactile contact.
Earlier the boy
exhibited anger
about the separation
and he showed his
feelings in the sand
tray using miniature
dinosaurs and
spiders fighting and
creating a war
scene.
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Through the use of
puppets that the
children construct,
they are able to
speak their feelings
as the puppet, where
forbidden thoughts
and feelings might
otherwise never come
to the surface. The
puppets, play
therapy, sand tray
and games elucidate
their hidden
feelings within the
group. The children
share with each
other, feel support
and learn
cooperation.
When children reveal
their feelings that
they've suppressed
or were unable to
express earlier, a
process of healing
begins.
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The daughter of the
divorcing couple
pictured here gets
into costume for
creative play
acting. This acting
out in the safe
group environment is
a place where she
can express her
feelings: anger,
resentment,
frustration or joy
by becoming a
different character;
one who can express
freely about crises
in her life.
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HOW DOES MY CHILD
BENEFIT FROM ART
THERAPY?
If your child or
adolescent is acting
out at school, is
creating a problem
in the family, is
depressed or
anxious, has poor
grades at school, or
is possibly using
drugs or alcohol,
art therapy may be
the therapy of
choice.
Often children are
not able to express
themselves verbally
to tell you what
they are feeling.
They may not be
consciously aware of
their problems. Art
therapy helps bring
out in a gentle way
what the conflicts,
feelings and issues
are. The art
therapist is trained
to help the child
work thought his/her
problems.
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WHAT IF MY CHILD IS
NORMAL,
AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY
PROBLEMS?
Normal or
psychologically
healthy children may
still experience a
stress which causes
upset for the child:
e.g. the birth of a
sibling, moving to a
new location,
financial
difficulties in the
home. Art and play
therapy are the
therapies that work
most effectively for
these children.
Children heal more
quickly in a
nurturing,
therapeutic
environment where
they are accepted
and appreciated.
Over time it's easy
to see the change in
the child though
words, behavior and
coping skills.
Children who are
6-13 years of age
are interviewed and
accepted into the
Child Art Therapy
Program. Individual
sessions are
arranged as
scheduled. For an
assessment and more
information, contact
Barbara Dobrin,
Ph.D.
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ADULT ART THERAPY
Adult art therapy is
used in conjunction
with "talk therapy",
more on the level of
the "growth process"
leading to
awareness, which
helps in problem
solving and making
better choices.
For an assessment
and more
information, contact
Barbara Dobrin,
Ph.D.
3537 Old Conejo
Road, Suite 112
Newbury Park, CA
91320
805
499-8511
bdobrin@barbaradobrin.com
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