Comments on: Transformational Self Portrait Art Therapy Activity

By: Ku Yussof Engku Ismail

Ku Yussof Engku Ismail — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:58:56 +0000

I love to learn more about art therapy. been doing a bit of art with my clients. now training as a counselor
Quite helpful reading materials here

By: Wizard

Wizard — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:10:00 +0000

in response to:

Joe on December 10, 2009 8:03 am

“I like the way the activity flows from the past events in someones life to the future, that way a person can see what all they have gone through in their life. I work with drug & alcohol addicted adults. Do you have any more art therapy activities that would be good for them”

This is a very effective and amazing project for people of all ages and situations to work with, I myself have used this concept in my own work ( being a visual artist ) one thing i have noticed with others I have seen doing this is sometimes depending on the event in their past this can be a troubling task, with any sexually abused person child or not, things can get rough when visualizing past memories. I may try to alter the first step in these cases, to avoid this.
That being said, I believe it is really dependent on the individual. Some may find this vary helpful, my girlfriend for instance is an artist as well as survivor of sexual abuse as a child, even though those memories are a rough spot for her to go to, seeing her work i believe that it always finds its way back. And in some way it truely helps her.

I hope this helps somewhat, I am working currently on a thesis, on different art therapy projects and I will be studying closely how each one helps different groups so I will keep these findings posted as they come.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:50:02 +0000

HI, I am German and got introduced to art therapy during my recent trauma therapy.
If you care to click over to my blog I worked my way through these transformationals self portraits. I dont know how to submit all posts and paintings. However if you care to publish them, feel free to contact me.

Never thought that art therapy would help me so much. Now I am recovering one image at atime.
Thanks again, Paula

By: angelica

angelica — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:18:25 +0000

Hi i need help…where can i find new art terapy exercise for kids?? thank you

By: Michele

Michele — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:08:39 +0000

I would love to use the activity in my women’s therapy group. Do you have any suggestions for question discussion after the activity? Thanks

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:03:24 +0000

I like the way the activity flows from the past events in someones life to the future, that way a person can see what all they have gone through in their life. I work with drug & alcohol addicted adults. Do you have any more art therapy activities that would be good for them.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:22:09 +0000

I really love this activity and think it could be very beneficial to some of the clients I work with, I have an MSW, but only took one intensive art therapy course, do you think this activity would be effective with adolescents who were victims of sexual abuse?

By: Muhamad Ali b> Zakaria

Muhamad Ali b> Zakaria — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:52:48 +0000

Yeah..a simpler subject-matter such as dolls or balls may works better with younger children.
However, the verbal explanation need to be given a careful consideration as i find the concept the transformation itself is rather a bit too abstract for children of younger age. They are responsive upon concrete examples within their environments.

By: Art Helps Women/Children Deal With Violence & Abuse

Art Helps Women/Children Deal With Violence & Abuse — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:37:11 +0000

[...] will decorate crucifixes in a mixed media manner on 6/3/09 and on 8/26/09 I will try a bit of the Transformational Self Portrait art you described here on the site. I will use a technique known as thumb doodles where I’ll [...]

By: admin

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:23:33 +0000

@Jane: I think it depends on the kids. You may have to explain the concept in a different way, but generally speaking if they are self-aware and understand the concept of time (past, present, future), then they should be able to perform the activity with the proper guidance.