Art Therapy: Inspiring Others to Create
ACTIVITY PLAN
“Art Therapy: Inspiring others to create.” I. Description of Therapy
Art therapy is used to assess, diagnose, and treat people of all ages and is seen in hospitals and clinics (both psychiatric and medical), outpatient mental health agencies and day treatment facilities. It is used with individuals, groups, and even families. Art therapy can be the primary mode of therapy, or may be used in conjunct with other treatment modalities.
Art therapy encourages self-expression, self-discovery and emotional growth. As a form of psychotherapy, art therapy often involves both the creation of art and the discovery of its meaning. Individuals are encouraged to visualize, and then create, the thoughts and emotions that they cannot talk about. Milieu therapies focus on putting the patient in a therapeutic social setting that provides opportunities to develop self-confidence and interact with others in a positive way.
Some practitioners consider art expression as a way to understand the inner worlds of people with mental illness. Art was viewed as a diagnostic tool to identify specific types of mental illness or traumatic events. Later, psychologists would use this diagnostic aspect to develop psychological drawing tests like “draw a person,” etc. II. Description of Planned Therapy
Each of the clients will be given a heart-shaped pad where they can sketch or draw everything the client likes to express. Also, the drawing materials will be provided by the instructor. The title of the activity is in relation with nature, so as to help preserve Mother Earth, the instructor will give materials that are natural and dyes which are from the environment. Various coloring materials are extracted from some of the world’s natural resources, in such way, both the mentally ill clients will be able to help conserve the environment, and be able to express themselves as well. III. Objectives
SHORT TERM * After 5 minutes of notice and instructions, the client
“Art Therapy: Inspiring others to create.” I. Description of Therapy
Art therapy is used to assess, diagnose, and treat people of all ages and is seen in hospitals and clinics (both psychiatric and medical), outpatient mental health agencies and day treatment facilities. It is used with individuals, groups, and even families. Art therapy can be the primary mode of therapy, or may be used in conjunct with other treatment modalities.
Art therapy encourages self-expression, self-discovery and emotional growth. As a form of psychotherapy, art therapy often involves both the creation of art and the discovery of its meaning. Individuals are encouraged to visualize, and then create, the thoughts and emotions that they cannot talk about. Milieu therapies focus on putting the patient in a therapeutic social setting that provides opportunities to develop self-confidence and interact with others in a positive way.
Some practitioners consider art expression as a way to understand the inner worlds of people with mental illness. Art was viewed as a diagnostic tool to identify specific types of mental illness or traumatic events. Later, psychologists would use this diagnostic aspect to develop psychological drawing tests like “draw a person,” etc. II. Description of Planned Therapy
Each of the clients will be given a heart-shaped pad where they can sketch or draw everything the client likes to express. Also, the drawing materials will be provided by the instructor. The title of the activity is in relation with nature, so as to help preserve Mother Earth, the instructor will give materials that are natural and dyes which are from the environment. Various coloring materials are extracted from some of the world’s natural resources, in such way, both the mentally ill clients will be able to help conserve the environment, and be able to express themselves as well. III. Objectives
SHORT TERM * After 5 minutes of notice and instructions, the client