How can art therapy help with childhood trauma?
Art therapy has emerged as a valuable tool in addressing the mental health consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including trauma. The approach is grounded in the understanding that adversities in childhood can lead to multiple mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress, depression, psychoses, and dissociative symptoms [1]
Creative arts therapies, encompassing music, dance, drama, and visual arts, allow for a gradual exploration of adverse experiences, where the individual exercises control over disclosure. This approach is considered ethical and safe, less likely to lead to distress or trigger traumatic symptoms. Studies indicate that art-based interventions can improve self-confidence, self-esteem, social skills, and sense of belonging among adolescents. These interventions also positively impact mental health, reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD in young people who have experienced sexual abuse [2].
How can art support my child?
Art therapy is not merely arts and crafts; it is a purposeful and meaningful process within a therapeutic relationship. It provides a non-verbal, sensory-based form of communication, especially beneficial for children who struggle to articulate their thoughts and emotions verbally.
Art therapy helps with self-regulation, as certain sensory characteristics of making art can improve mood, sensory integration, and provide a calming effect. It also supports storytelling for healing, allowing children to express metaphorically through art, thereby releasing traumatic experiences safely. This therapy helps establish new brain patterns and fosters the development of positive attachments, making children feel safe and understood [3].
My child doesn’t like art making; he prefers digital tools!
In addition to traditional art therapy, digital interventions are also becoming increasingly relevant. Young people, often described as ‘digital natives’, find these interventions appealing due to their accessibility and the ability to maintain anonymity. Digital Health Interventions (DHIs) like apps and virtual reality environments can help overcome barriers to service use. They offer features like videos, personalization, and the ability to connect with others, which are particularly attractive to young people. While these digital approaches show promise, there is a need for more research to determine their effectiveness and optimization for implementation 4.
Can art therapy help adults with their trauma?
Art therapy for trauma treatment is not limited to children. It is also effective for individuals of all ages, providing a less-threatening and highly personalized way to process traumatic memories. This form of therapy integrates art and creative processes to explore traumatic memories within a safe environment. It is a part of the broader framework known as “Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy (TIEAT)”, which includes elements like music/sound, dance/movement, enactment/improvisation, storytelling/narrative, play, and imagination. TIEAT focuses on integrating trauma-informed practices and arts-based interventions to support trauma repair and recovery 5.
Who can offer art psychotherapy in Toronto?
The members of College of Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario (CRPO) can provide psychotherapy. If they are trained in art therapy at a MA level program at university or a recognized art therapy institution, like TATI, they are eligible to offer both art therapy and psychotherapy.
To find a registered psychotherapist near you, go to the CRPO’s website. Art therapist in Toronto are found to be offer both online and in person sessions. You can talk about your preferred method for the sessions with your psychotherapist.
Find an art therapist near you
To find out about registered art therapists in Toronto, check the Ontario Art Therapy Association. Art therapists who are a member of the CRPO, can provide a receipt for psychotherapy services, which can be reimbursed by most insurance companies in Ontario (verify the coverage with your insurance company).
References:
[1] Bhui, K., Shakoor, S., Mankee-Williams, A., & Otis, M. (2022). Creative arts and digitial interventions as potential tools in prevention and recovery from the mental health consequences of adverse childhood experiences. nature communications, 13(1), 7870.
[2] Bhui, K., Shakoor, S., Mankee-Williams, A., & Otis, M. (2022). Creative arts and digitial interventions as potential tools in prevention and recovery from the mental health consequences of adverse childhood experiences. nature communications, 13(1), 7870.
[3] Bhui, K., Shakoor, S., Mankee-Williams, A., & Otis, M. (2022). Creative arts and digitial interventions as potential tools in prevention and recovery from the mental health consequences of adverse childhood experiences. nature communications, 13(1), 7870.
4 https://www.childtraumasherpa.com/2023/04/11/how-art-therapy-can-help-children-heal-from-trauma/
5 https://www.creativepsych.ca/post/art-therapy-for-trauma