Art as a Therapeutic Tool: Guidelines for Mental Health

Clinicians

Erin Brumleve, MA, LPC, ATR

Defining Concepts:

Art Therapy/ Art Therapist

Art/ Artist

Psychotherapy/

Psychotherapist

A general term for a process of treating mental and emotional disorders by talking about one’s condition and related issues with a mental health provider with the goal of putting into practice the insights, knowledge, and healthy coping skills that are gained in the therapeutic process.

Psychotherapy:

(Mayo Clinic, 2008)

Art Therapy:

American Art Therapy Association (AATA) defines art therapy as the “the therapeutic use of art-making, within a professional relationship by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences, enhance cognitive abilities and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art” (2009).

The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) regulates the educational, professional and ethical standards for the Art Therapist Registered (ATR) title .

Is that Art?

….. “one of the most elusive definitions in all of human culture” – Richard Wollhiem

Art Therapy

Art Education

Communication

Play TherapyPsychotherapy/

Counseling

Art

Neuroscience

A nonverbal expressive therapy that bypasses verbal defenses …

(Klorer, 2005)

ArtisticClinical Therapeutic use of art

“Aesthetic – Pragmatic” Approach

The 3 Primary Skill sets of Art Therapists:

(Malchiodi & Riley, 1996; AATA, 2000)

Recommendations for Non Art Therapists using Art

• Environment• Knowledge of Materials• Clinical Records• Informed Consent• Scope of Practice• When to Consult with or Refer to an Art

Therapist• Art Making as Self Care

EnvironmentSafe and Functional

Including but not limited to:

• Proper ventilation• Adequate lighting• Access to water supply• Knowledge of hazards or toxicity of art materials with

regard to health of clients• Storage space for art projects • Secured areas for any hazardous materials• Monitored use of sharps ….

• Lastly – work area that is available to get messy! Clients may feel intimidated if there is too much concern with keeping everything neat. (ATCB, 2005 ; AATA,

2000)

Knowledge of Materials• Be familiar with the media

and processes you are using* • Different Materials may

produce different emotional responses

• Intense Emotional Responses May be Triggered – Assess for Risk Factors and Be prepared

(ATCB, 2005)

Imagery tends to be idiosyncratic

Ask questions to create dialogue

Be aware of your own projections

Formal Art Therapy assessments with normed graphic

indicators exist, but still Not a Secret Decoder Ring:

Diagnostic Drawing Series (DDS)

Person Picking an Apple from a Tree (PPAT)

* Art Imagery Does Not Come with a Secret Decoder Ring

(AATA, 2000)

Confidential Clinically significant art work = part of

clinical recordTreat information in conformity with state

regulation, and clinical practiceNo less then seven yearsSecure, locked storage

Art Work as Clinical Record

( AATA in Cuther, D. & Malchiodi, C., n.d)

Informed ConsentClients should be informed that:

• Art making and creative self expression are useful in therapy, but

clients must clearly be informed about their purpose in treatment.• While these interventions are widely used, there are pros

and cons for their use.• Some methods have not been extensively researched.

• Clients may sign an Voluntary Art Work Release Form for art work to be shared outside of the session, but should know that the therapist may document clinically significant art work as part of the clinical record.

(Cuther, D. & Malchiodi, C., n.d)

VOLUNTARY ART WORK RELEASE FORM I, ______________________, agree to allow Erin Brumleve, MA, LPC, ATR.

(Client Name) (Therapist Name)

 

To use and/or display, and/or photograph my artwork for the following purposes:__ Exhibition__ Publication in a professional journal__ Presentation at professional conferences__ Educational purposes__ I do wish to remain anonymous__ I do not wish to remain anonymous I understand that there are times when my work with you, in art therapy, will be discussed with a clinical supervisor and/or in consultation with other mental health professionals. I understand that all efforts will be made to keepmy identity anonymous and confidential unless I specify otherwise. Client Name __________________________Client Signature__________________________Date_______________Parent/Guardian Name_____________________Parent/Guardian Signature__________________Date_______________ Therapist Responsibility:  I, Erin Brumleve MA, LPC, ATR , agree to the following: to safeguard your artwork to the best of my ability and to notify you immediately of any loss or damage while your artwork is in my possession, to provide an appropriateformat for presentation if I exhibit your artwork, to bear other costs related to exhibition, to return your artwork immediately if you decide to withdraw your consent, and to safeguard your confidentiality. Therapist Signature_______________________ Date_______________

(Spaniol, 1996)

All helping professionals only practice within the scope of their education and training.

Section 12-43-202 of the Colorado Mental Health Practice Act (2008) regulates Scope of Practice and states:

“Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, no licensee, registrant, certificate holder, or unlicensed psychotherapist is authorized to practice outside of or beyond his or her area of training, experience, or competence.”

Therefore counselors and other professionals who may not be formally credentialed in Art Therapy use only techniques and methods in which they have had training .

Scope of Practice

The Client expresses himself more easily through visual images.

The client experiences intense affect during or after an art process.

The client has a preverbal trauma.The client’s artwork is disturbing to the

therapist or the therapist has questions about how to respond to it.

Further information about the therapeutic use of art is desired.

When to consult with or Refer to an Art Therapist

(AATA, 2000)

Response Art

The page is a safe place to hold strong counter transference feelings.

Art Making as Self Care

• Practice Thinking Visually – Right Brained Business Plan

What is it like to create in the presence of a

mental health clinician? Let’s find out!

Take the next 10 minutes to draw an image of a favorite summer memory.

AATA Approved Graduate Programs: http://www.arttherapy.org/educationalprogramsschools.htm

Extensive Catalog of Art Therapy related Books for purchase: Jessica Kingsley Publishers - http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/art

Stern’s Books - http://www.sternsbookseller.com/

Art Therapy Organizations: Art Therapy Association of Colorado - http://www.arttherapy-co.org/ataco/American Art Therapy Association - http://www.arttherapyassocation.orgThe Society for the Arts in HealthCare - http://www.thesah.org/events/webinars.cfm International Art Therapy Organization - http://www.internationalarttherapy.org/

Art Therapy and Social Networking Sites: Art Therapy Alliance: http://www.arttherapyalliance.org/ - Organization of Art Therapists on Linked In

Art Therapists who use Twitter: @arttherapynews, @erinbrumleve, @kellydarke, @PoppyATR, @verdissage,

@turningturning, @LaniPuppetmaker, @gretchenmiller   Go to www.twitter.com to get a free account

IATO and Art Therapy Alliance both have Facebook pages

Art Therapy Credentials Board – Codes of Professional Practice http://www.atcb.org/code_of_professional_practice/

Art Therapy Resources Online:

Resources

American Art Therapy Association. (2009). Retrieved July 14, 2009 from www.arttherapy.org.

American Art Therapy Association (2000) Ethical Considerations Regarding the Therapeutic Use of Art by Disciplines Outside the Field of Art Therapy. Mundelein, IL: American Art Therapy Association.

Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. (2005) Retrieved July 15, 2009 from http://www.atcb.org/code_of_professional_practice/

Colorado Mental Health Practice Act, 43 C.R.S. § 12-43-202(2008)

Cuther, D. & Malchiodi, C. (n.d) Creative Interventions and Counseling: Issues for Counselor Ethics [Power Point] Retrieved July 15, 2009 fromhttp://www.arttherapy.org/upload/Ethics_Creative.pdf

Klorer, P. (2005). Expressive Therapy with Severely Maltreated Children: Neuroscience Contributions. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 22(4) 213-220.

Sabini, S. (2005) Protecting Our Profession with the Current Colorado Mental Health Statute. Unpublished document.

Spaniol, S. (1996) Confidentiality Reexamined. American Journal of Art Therapy, 32, 69-74.

Mayo Clinic. (2008) Retrieved August 10, 2009 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psychotherapy/MY00186

erin@erinbrumleve.com

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