Who can benefit?
Examples of circumstances where Art Therapy can be beneficial:
- families with children and adolescents challenged:
- in the school environment
- in communication with parents and others
- women experiencing life changes and exploring special issues
- young people exploring sexual, professional and self-identity issues
- people of various ethnic backgrounds, including those facing stress associated with a new beginning in a foreign country and the adjustment to a new culture
- people experiencing difficulties in the work place due to high stress, showing signs of burn-out
- people in their mid/late life searching for a new meaning and fulfillment in their life
Case example:
Jason (the name has been changed) was experiencing difficulties in his relationships with peers at kindergarten. Both his teacher and his parents complained about his aggressive behavior.When Jason came to therapy, his sleep and his appetite were affected, he had angry outbursts, and would bite his peers.
In therapy, Jason was doing active play working through his kindergarten situation and his unresolved problems with peers and adults in a symbolic form: mainly through play with animals. He and the therapist also role played the class situations where Jason practiced being a successful student. He appeared to be a bright child whose ability to learn was jeopardized by a high level of anxiety due to an unfriendly environment at his kindergarten. His angry outbursts were the only way he could express himself while constantly remaining in defensive mode.
After remaining in the safe and friendly therapeutic environment, Jason was able to regain his positive self-regard and ability to focus and to learn successfully. After six months of therapy, and a change of classroom, Jason successfully continued to attend his kindergarten and school later.
