• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Art Therapy for Abused Children

January 25, 2011 by ds_12608 Leave a Comment

While most children find creating art therapeutic, the practice of art therapy has specific reverberations for a child who has experienced a personal trauma such as abuse. Art therapists employ strategies that encourage children to use nonverbal as well as verbal forms of communication. Effective art therapy helps children move beyond cognitive barriers and emotional challenges so they can heal wounds caused by problems in their past.

Function

Art therapy involves several sessions in which the client uses art as a mode of communication, expressing concerns, ideas, fears and past experiences. An abused child may not respond well to direct questions, but will provide information and move toward healing through the process of creating art. Art therapists then use these symbolic representations as a prompt for discussions and treatment.

Potential

According to the article “Using Drawing as Intervention With Traumatized Children” by Cathy A. Malchiodi, director of the Institute for the Arts & Health, abused children can create artwork that illuminates their cognitive functioning, developmental stage and emotional state. The act of drawing may help clients and therapists understand a client’s contradictory emotions and mistaken perceptions. Using art may feel safer to a child than speaking about traumatic events, and can help the art therapist to more quickly understand what the abused child needs to heal.

Types

Several types of artistic expression can support an abused child during the process of art therapy. Children may create a visual representation of a traumatic event. They may do a self-portrait that incorporates how they felt during a specific time. They may draw another victim of abuse or of a crime. They may fill in the outline of a body with their own symbols and colors to represent ideas and emotions.

Misconceptions

Children need not have experience in art to enjoy the benefits of art therapy. In addition, a licensed art therapist with experience in working with abused children will often incorporate additional strategies in the art therapy session, including relaxation techniques, positive reinforcement, child-centered activities, play therapy and family counseling.

Considerations

Art therapists do not rely merely on a child’s artwork to engage in treatment. Often, a therapist may ask what the child did not include in the drawing and why, or discuss the meaning of the art with the child. With a nonjudgmental and friendly manner, the therapist can gain the child’s sympathy by appreciating the art, and move on to sensitively question her about the artwork to open up new topics for discussion.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_12608

Nina Makofsky has been a professional writer for more than 20 years. She specializes in art, pop culture, education, travel and theater. She currently serves as a Mexican correspondent for "Aishti Magazine," covering everything from folk art to urban trends. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Mills College.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

10 Things Nobody Will Tell You About Having A Baby

After reading "20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids," I … [Read More...] about 10 Things Nobody Will Tell You About Having A Baby

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

Quick Ways to Cook a Round Steak

Quick Ways to Cook a Round Steak

Does Pregnancy Cause Flu-Like Symptoms?

Does Pregnancy Cause Flu-Like Symptoms?

Academic Parental Pressure on Kids

The Effects of Academic Parental Pressure on Kids

Symptoms of Pregnancy If HCG Injection Is Taken

Signs You're Having a Miscarriage

Signs You’re Having a Miscarriage

toddler hair growth

Toddler Hair Growth

When Should You Give a Pacifier to a Baby

When Should You Give a Pacifier to a Baby?

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.