When Therapy Changes a Life

There are many forms of art that can be used in therapy. Finger painting is one of the mediums that is fun and entertaining as clients explore their emotions through paint. While art does not always require a prompt, it can often serve as a means for helping client’s see their progress in therapy. One theme that can be used is before and after. Clients are asked to paint a picture of what their anxiety felt like before they began therapy. Most often they are experiencing a lot of distress. They often feel like something is wrong with them. They feel shame and/or embarrassment that they are unable to handle life’s challenges. They are struggling with anxious thoughts that do not make sense to them no matter how hard they try to organize it in their mind. Art allows clients to externalize their experience. The artwork displayed in this article is an example of a client that came to therapy struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Clients who struggle with OCD find themselves obsessing over intrusive, unwanted thoughts. The more they obsess over their thoughts, the more anxiety they feel. To decrease their anxiety, clients with OCD will perform compulsive behaviors. This mental process has often been described like a hamster on a hamster wheel. There is no end to the wheel; it just goes around and around. Exhausting! This client was given the prompt before and after about her OCD. Her before painting is a scenic picture of a tree with a bird sitting on a branch....
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Creativity Inspiration & Hope Motivation and Inspiration OCD Psychiatry Psychology Psychotherapy Psychotherapy Stories anxiety External locus of control Intrusive Thoughts Metaphor Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symbolism Source Type: blogs