How to Use Art Therapy for Children
Art therapy uses the form of art and drawing to promote healing, especially in therapy with children. Therapists use this form of treatment most often with abuse victims, because children have repressed their memories and sometimes have an easier time describing the events in pictures than they do in words.
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Instructions
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Ask the child to draw a picture of her house or her family, paying attention to any objects that she draws that are out of place, which may be a clue of trauma. Children may have a difficult time talking about the incident, but will spontaneously draw some clues about it.
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Allow the child the time she needs to artistically express herself about her repressed feelings and memories. Provide a safe environment for the child so she will feel comfortable sharing on paper and eventually with words.
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Decipher which of Lowenfield Developmental drawing stages the child falls into and if she is at the proper level for her age level. The stages include the Scribbling Stage during the toddler years; the Pre-Schematic Stage during the early school-age years, where they start to draw bodies; the Schematic Stage, which covers ages 7-9, when they learn how to draw things that are not really there; and finally is the Drawing Realism Stage, which includes ages 10 and up, when children learn to draw images realistically. It is important for therapists to notice if a child is drawing cognitively on her developmental level.
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See if the child initiates drawing a picture on her own. This shows progress.
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Ask the child to draw a story from Rawley Silvers' Draw a Story, in which she picks two cards from a choice of 14 possible story cards. This will provide insight into her mood, mindset and possible home life.
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Use collected data and drawings to help the child understand her problems, and make referrals if needed.
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Tips & Warnings
Children have often been told not to say anything about the abuse. Art therapy provides them an outlet without breaking their promise.
