ART THERAPY

Art Therapy and the Development of students with disabilities

Michael Forsythe

OBJECTIVES
TLW be able to describe how Art Therapy provides an outlet for children with developmental disorders/autism spectrum disorder. TLW be able to list the difference between the right and left hemisphere of the brain, and explain which one art therapy is geared towards.

DEFINITION
Art therapy, sometimes called creative arts therapy or expressive arts therapy, encourages people to express and understand emotions through artistic expression and through the creative process. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/art+therapy

PURPOSE OF ART THERAPY

Art therapy provides the client-artist with critical insight into emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Key benefits of the art therapy process include: Self- Discovery

Personal Fulfillment
Empowerment Relaxation Symptom Relief

THE BRAIN
The right brain communicates in images; it is also symbolic and emotional. The right brain is wired for art therapy and it allows us to communicate true feelings

DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS
Art therapy gives students with developmental disabilities a way to express emotions through art. Often they cannot express themselves through speech without confusion, so art is an alternate medium.

AUTISM SPECTRUM
Art Therapy is an effective strategy to use when helping students with autism spectrum disorder to build social skills. Icons, symbols, and social stories have been used to help children with ASD to remember their lessons Creating customized symbols, icons, and stories to help students become more involved in their learning. It allows students to solve problems visually, which is more familiar thanks to it being less literal

PERVASIVE DEVELOP DISORDER (PDD)

a group of conditions that involve delays in the development of many basic skills, most notably the ability to socialize with other, to communicate, and to use imagination. children with these conditions are often confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.

RESOURCES
Rebecca, L. W. (2004). The use of color in art therapy. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 43(1), 33-40. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.arbor.edu:80/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/212449318?accountid=13 998

Kathleen, M. E. (2008). Outcome-based evaluation of a social skills program using art therapy and
group therapy for children on the autism spectrum. Children & Schools, 30(1), 27-36. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.arbor.edu:80/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/210949167?accountid=13 998 McNamee, C. M. (2004). Using both sides of the brain: Experiences that integrate art and talk therapy through scribble drawings. Art Therapy Journal of the American Art Therapy Assoc, 21(3), 7-7. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.arbor.edu:80/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/62124166?accountid=139 98