Dealing With The Emotional State Of The Client Through Art Therapy

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

Working with the emotional state of the client through art therapy methods.

Every psychologist has had to work with clients who are on the brink of mental health, or already raised their feet above this line. They come in a difficult emotional state, speak unstructuredly (or cannot speak due to their emotional state), get lost in the wording of the request. The psychologist in this case is limited in the choice of psychotherapeutic approaches and techniques due to the loss of their effectiveness. A good choice in this case can be an art-therapeutic approach, in which the client does not need verbal communication, which is now very difficult for him. Seeing materials for creativity (paints, plasticine), many people note with surprise and nostalgia that since childhood they have not been engaged in drawing and modeling. This activity is pleasant for them already in its associations and is a resource, as in the case below.

The suggested session excerpt is the third meeting with a client who is undergoing drug treatment in parallel (F 48). For work, I prepared A5 paper for watercolors, brushes of various thicknesses, watercolors, water, napkins.

I suggest that the client draw herself now, at this moment, in the form of a person or any image.

On the left side of the sheet, the client draws a cloud: first she chooses a dark blue color, overlays black on top of it, makes the already large cloud even larger: “Cloud. Black-black … I want even blacker. " He takes another black color, once again circles the cloud. Stops with a brush in hand. Crying bitterly. Draws large, black raindrops. Cries for a long time: "It is raining."

- How long can he go?

- Long … Many months …

I'm waiting for the client to be able to speak again.

- What's next? - I give you time to think. When I see that the image is ripe, I offer a blank slate. - Draw.

He looks at the sheet uncertainly. Rinses the brush for a long time. Takes on blue paint. Also, on the left side of the sheet, he draws the same cloud, but lighter: “The rain is over. The cloud turns into a cloud."

The client tells the details of a traumatic episode from her life situation. Looks calm.

- What was the happiest time in your life?

The client talks about her childhood in general terms.

I propose a sheet: "Draw an image of yourself in the happiest period of your life."

The client readily, quickly enough, draws a heart: huge - on the whole sheet, pink, translucent.

He looks at the work with satisfaction: “When this happened, I began to write poetry. I never wrote, but then the lines came to my head by themselves, I only had time to write it down. I'll read it to you. " He takes out his phone, reads a very good poem, with lines about a lost heart, trampled and stained. Cries, but not as bitterly as at the beginning of the session. After giving her time, I point to the drawing: "Here is your heart." The client smiles, examines her drawing: “Clean. Whole". He takes the drawing in hand, admires it. Tells about mom, mentions that she is almost 60 years old.

- Can you imagine yourself at 60? Or even older, at 70, 80?

- No, older - I can't. At 60 I can.

- How do you look? Where are you? What's wrong with you?

- I always wanted a house by the sea. Sadik. I will enjoy life … Grow roses … And strawberries.

- Draw, - I give the third sheet.

A client draws a large pink strawberry with a green tail. Nearby is a pink rose with a long stem. Tells how he will live in a house on the seashore with his family.

- Arrange all the drawings the way you want.

The client arranges the drawings vertically in the order they were drawn. I draw your attention to the location of the first two figures on the left side of the sheet: "Don't you think that something seems to be missing here?"

- Yes, as if there must be something else here. And I didn’t notice!

- Do you want to finish painting?

- Yes, - looks at the first drawing, - here you want something bright.

He takes a brush, actively dips it in orange paint. Draws a dense orange rectangle on the right side of the first image.

- What is it?

- I do not know.

Looks. Continues to develop a thick, dense color.

- It's a curtain! I seem to see this cloud through the window. Such a beautiful orange curtain.

Finishes the frame of the picture to make it look more like a window: "It's better this way."

The cloud now seems distant, looking at the picture feels warm and comfortable. Takes the second picture: "And here is a rainbow." Draws a rainbow, sun on the right side of the picture. Admires the drawing: "After the rain, there is a rainbow."

We lay out the drawings, consider them, discuss. I ask the client about her health. She looks much better than an hour ago, which she herself confirms. The goal of the session has been achieved: the client is calm, collected. I ask if she will take the drawings. The woman first takes the last drawing, then decides to take everything except the first. She puts it aside resolutely, turns it over. He says he doesn't want to see him. We tear the drawing.