VAISNAVAS C.A.R.E. INC.

-C.A.R.E.

 Counseling, Assistance, Resource, and Education
for the terminally-ill and their family
 

 ART THERAPY          

Art therapy combines your patient’s creative energy with artistic expression.  Therapists feel that drawing, painting and sculpting leads to the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of your patient.  Through art one can become more introspective and help the patient to express emotions that they are not able to verbalize.  Any artistic medium can be used.  Art therapy has been used for centuries and actually dates back to the 1800’s when health care workers began to use this modality with mental health patients.  In the 1940’s artistic expression was combined with psychoanalysis as a means of assisting patients to reveal thoughts deep in the subconscious.  Today, art therapist receive extensive training in order to facilitate an art therapy session. 

This modality has proven to be successful with patients with psychiatric disorders, long term disabilities and Alzheimer’s disease.  Young children especially benefit from art therapy because they sometimes cannot verbalize what they are feeling.  Art therapy is also used as a follow up to guided imagery, hypnotherapy and relaxation exercises. 

Some indications for art therapy include:

Any medium can be used, but should be chosen according to your patients age and physical ability.  Please note that some medications can interfere with the patients ability to perform art therapy, as well as a weakened state or painful hand or arm movements.  Some suggested art mediums are:

Young children and physically impaired patients may benefit from using larger crayons and markers or finger paints.  Art supplies should be age specific—use caution with young children or confused adults who may put the art supplies in their mouths. 

A safe and calm environment is required so your patient can become more introspective in his artistic expression.  Help the patient into a comfortable position and allow him access to the various art materials.  Ideally, there should be a large flat workspace, but you may have to adapt this according to your patients needs.  If he or she is bedridden, you may wish to use a bedside table or large clipboard.  Before beginning, remind your patient that he will not be judged according to his artistic ability (stick figures can even be used).  As a caregiver remain very supportive and encouraging. 

Suggested topics for your patients to address:

·        Have your patient draw a picture which represents himself in relation to his disease

·        Ask your patient to draw her terminal illness (what it would look like to him)

·        Ask your patient to draw himself and his family in the past, present and future

·        Ask your patient to draw herself in relation to personal conflicts

·        Ask your patient to draw himself with his favorite Deities, on pilgrimage, or at a favorite Krishna conscious festival

·        Ask your patient to draw a representation of a past painful experience

When your patient has completed his drawing, allow him to show it and ask him to explain its meaning.  Become an attentive listener and paraphrase what the patient has told you.  This validates the patients feelings and thoughts pertaining to the drawing. 

The patient’s artwork may give many clues as to how the patient perceives himself, his disease, and his present and future situation.  His faith and spiritual realizations may also be reviled through his drawings.  How the patient represents himself in relation to other objects or people in the drawing will reveal his self image.  Is his size proportional?  Does he feel empowered or powerless?  Is there a smile on his face?   Are the other people in his drawing smiling or frowning?   What is the overall mood of the drawing?  Are the colors dark, or did he use bright, light colors? 

Art therapy can reveal strong emotions that may surface through his artwork.  Sudden expression of deep emotions may cause the patient to become anxious.  In that case end the art therapy session and sit with your patient to calm her.  Reassure your patient that revealing deep emotions will help her along her journey. 

The patient’s images will most likely change over time.  They may use dark colors and hard geometric shapes when beginning art therapy.  As the patients emotional healing progresses he may draw images that are softer, more rounded, and have less severe boundaries.  At this point he or she may use colors that are lighter.  Drawings which previously represented fear and anger may now represent faith and release. 

Ask the patient if each drawing can be dated with the day, month and year so that they can be kept in chronological order.  This may assist your patient in keeping a “non-verbal” journal of his emotional and spiritual growth throughout his illness.  In addition, you may want to suggest that your patient keep an on going journal of what is revealed during his art therapy sessions. 

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