Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC

Registered Board Certified Art Therapist

Certified Trauma Consultant

The Domestic Violence Center

Cleveland, OH

Group Art Therapy Interventions & Strategies: Working with Children Exposed

to Domestic Violence

About Art Therapy

Art Therapy is the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and emotional needs.  Art therapy uses art media and the creative process to help in areas such as, but not limited to: fostering self-expression, create coping skills, manage stress, and strengthen sense of self.  Art therapy has provided mental health treatment for clients who have experienced trauma, grief & loss, depression, chronic illness, substance abuse, and more.

~ The Art Therapy Alliance

Using Art in Trauma Intervention Creative process and art-making can provide opportunities for

decision-making, problem-solving, and help build resiliencyRespond to art expressions with an accepting, calming,

validating, and normalizing approachEncourage and provide creative choices for open, self-

expressionCreate a safe, inviting, and structured environment for making

art free of judgment, interpretation, and asking too many questions

Support opportunities for storytelling through interest of art created

Malchiodi, C. (2005). Using Art in Trauma Recovery with Children Monograph.

Stabilization Emotion expression and validation Coping with feelings and crisis Reducing anxiety, fear, tension Adjustment to shelter life, family changes Safety planning Short term intervention & prevention

Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry’s Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children From Violent Homes

Considerations when working with children from homes of domestic violence:

Appropriate developmental level Provide a sense of safety & predictability Repetition Relational enrichment Experience of reward

Perry, B. (2006). Applying Principles of Neurodevelopment to Clinical Work with Maltreated and Traumatized Children

Considerations when working with children from homes of domestic violence:

Create a group structure designed to foster:

Consistency Predictability Safety and ability to make choices Relational interaction Appropriate role modeling

Support Groups for Youth

Acceptance and trust Validation of experience Educate & normalize trauma reactions Promoting emotional expression Coping and stress management

Sensory based group art interventions that explore:

Trust & Acceptance

Art Interventions that focus on:

• Getting to Know the Child• Building Rapport & Relationship• Safety• Promoting Self-Worth & Self Esteem• Celebrating Self• Building Resiliency

A Favorite Kind of Day DrawingMalchiodi, C. (1997)

Safety Box

Safety Box

Validation of Experience

Art Interventions that focus on:

•Promoting Emotional Expression•Honors experience•Provides opportunity for storytelling

Fighting

Fighting

Coming to Shelter / Worried about Leaving Pet Behind

Shelter Adjustment / Coming to Shelter

Shelter Adjustment / Coming to Shelter

Normalizing Trauma Reactions

Art Interventions that focus on:

•Education and Validation•Sensory-Based Activities•Identifying Ways to Cope w/ reactions•Animals, creatures, and other characters that can provide examples through a non-threatening image or story

Sherman-- A Terrible Thing Happened Story

Bart & the Sad, Bad, and Scary Thing that Happened—Brave Bart Story

Trauma Stress Thoughts

Promoting Emotional Expression

Art Interventions that focus on:

• Physical response to trauma reactions or experience• Permission and acceptance of emotions related to fear, worry, anger, sadness, guilt, humiliation

Emotional X-Ray: Scared

Emotional X-Ray: Helpless

Emotional X-Ray: Tension

Feelings Mask

Coping and Stress Management

Interventions that focus on:

• Body’s response to stress/relaxation• Relaxation techniques• Breath work• Healthy ways to calm, soothe, feel safe

ReferencesMalchiodi, C. (2008). Creative Interventions with Traumatized Children. New York: Guildford Press.

Malchiodi, C. (2005). Using Art in Trauma Recovery with Children. Monograph published by the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children.

Malchiodi, C. (1997). Breaking the Silence: Art Therapy with Children from Violent Homes . New York: Brunner Mazel.

Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry’s Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children From Violent Homes on Slideshare

Perry, B. (2006). Applying Principles of Neurodevelopment to Clinical Work with Maltreated and Traumatized Children in Working with Traumatized Youth in Child Welfare edited by Nancy Boyd. New York: Guilford Press.

© 2010 Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BCRegistered Board Certified Art TherapistCertified Trauma and Loss Consultant

gretchenmilleratrbc@gmail.com www.gretchen-miller.com