1. Art Therapy with a Mexican-American Girl who Seeks Emotional Comfort through Binge Eating Beatriz Ramirez

2. Presentation Overview

Comfort Food

Binge Eating

Family Role in Binge Eating

Client Profile

Case Study

Conclusion

Personal Experiences as an Art Therapist

3. Comfort Food

Nostalgic and sentimental appeal

Physiological and psychologicalmotivations (Wansink, Cheney, & Chan, 2003).

Addictive qualities

4. Binge Eating

Overeating and loss of control (Fairburn, 1995)

Characteristics of a binge

• Feelings

• Speed of eating

• Agitation

• Feeling of altered consciousness

• Secretiveness

• Loss of control

Triggers, Causes and Factors

5. Family Role in Binge Eating

Family Dynamic Dysfunction

• Concealed Problems (Ringer and Crittenden, 2007)

• Insecure attachment (Sharpe et al., 1996)

• Internal emptiness (Maine, 1991)

6. Introduction to Site

Private non-profit organization in the Colorado Front Range

Focuses on relieving isolation, reducing the stress of parenting, and prevent child abuse and neglect by providing outreach

Offer group and individual psychotherapy and art therapy

7. Client Profile and History

Ten year old Mexican-American girl

Born and raised in the Colorado Front Range

Heart shaped face with soft pink cheeks, big black eyes, long lashes, and shy but warm smile

Olive complexion and a little overweight

Her voice is soft and has a delicate sound

Her speech is clear but has an accent when speaking English

Her native language is Spanish

8. Client History

Currently going through major family and financial stressors.

Weight problems since the age of seven.

She was assessed for binge eating and anxiety.

9. Developmental and Educational History

At Erik Erikson's industry vs. inferiority stage of development (Eccles, 1999)

Enrolled in the fifth grade in a public school

Her aspirations are to become an architect

10. Case Study Denielle 11. Reasons for Seeking Therapy

Entered therapy at mother's request

Shyness, anxiety, lack of initiative, negative body image, and eating issues.

Occasional binge, especially when nervous and restless.

Eats rapidly and big portions

Eats four to five times during the day

Loves making art

12. Theoretical Perspective & Application

Client-Centered Expressive Art Therapy

• Integration of Carl Roger's client-centered, and Natalie Roger's expressive art therapy approaches.

Client-Centered Therapy

• Assist people in becoming more autonomous, spontaneous, and confident (Malchiodi, 2003).

Expressive Art Therapy

• People are capable of expressing rather than repressing their own maladjustments (Malchiodi, 2003).

13. Theoretical Perspective & Application

Facilitate the growth of the individual (Rogers, 2001).

Active and empathetic seeing (Rogers, 2001).

Unconditional, positive regards for a person's art expression (Malchiodi, 2003).

Proven beneficial in eating disorder treatment (Palmera, 2009).

Used this approach to visually explore feelings and provide luscious buffet of art materials as alternative to binge eating.

Integrated classical music, scented candles, and movement.

14. Kramer Art Evaluation

Background

• Initiated by Edith Kramer in 1974 with the assistance of Art Therapist Jane Field, ATR (Kramer, 2000).

Rationale

• Gain as much information in the first sessionto see a sample of her art work

• Interaction with art materials

• Observe how child handles directives

• Get feel for values and how she sees herself

15. Artwork from the Kramer Evaluation Pencil Drawing Painting Clay Sculpture 16. Artwork from the Kramer Evaluation Pencil Drawing 17. Artwork from the Kramer Evaluation Painting 18. Artwork from the Kramer Evaluation Clay Sculpture 19. Child's Attitude During the Sessions

Cooperative, respectful, and warm

Painting appears loose and playful

Drawing seems rigid and controlled

Took time get comfortable working with clay

20. Art Therapy Treatment Plan

Assets/Strengths:

Good student

Friendly, warm

Ability to stay focused

Adapts easily to art materials

21. Art Therapy Treatment Plan

Goals:

Build rapport and trust.

Create a safe place to encourage expression of feelings.

Increase client's ability to asset herself by making more independent choices with art materials.

Increase client's ability to cope with food related issues.

22. Art Therapy Treatment Plan Art-Based Interventions

Third hand intervention

Story telling

Provided client with an array of art materials to feed her needs and indulge her senses with color, and texture

Provided tools to reduce stress and anxiety

23. Sessions 24. The Night Starry Skies 25. Colors 26. Fence with Grapes 27. A Dark Place 28. Together, Side-by-Side 29. A Yummy World 30. Conclusions

She has overcome her shyness, and has become more assertive

She has been able to cope with stress and anxiety

She has been more communicative during the discussion of her artwork

She still struggles with binge eating, but is able to manage overeating impulse by making art

Food themes still appear in art during non-directive activities

Joint session with mother and sister

31. Personal Experiences as an Art Therapist

Leading groups in Spanish

Countertransference

Learned to follow my client's lead

Self-Care

32. Questions ?