Art Therapy

1
Art Therapy

• As used as an intervention with patients
  diagnosed with Autism.
• Suzanne Diesel

2
A Brief History and Understanding of Autism

• Leo Kanner first introduced the diagnosis of
  autism in 1943, in his paper Autistic
  Disturbances of Affective Contact (Mesibov,
  Adams, Klinger, 1997).
• In his article, Kanner presented thorough and
  insightful case descriptions of 11 children, and
  stated that there have come to our attention a
  number of children whose condition differs so
  markedly and uniquely from anything reported so
  far, that each case merits-and, I hope, will
  eventually receive-a detailed consideration of
  its fascinating peculiarities (Mesibov, Adams,
  Klinger, 1997).

3
History Continued

• However, Kanner addressed the disorder as
  Infantile Autism, believing that it was
  exclusively a childhood disorder (Mesibov et al.,
  1997).
• Autism was not properly classified until
  DSM-III-R and DSM-IV (Diagnostic Statistical
  Manual) were published. Pulling from the studies
  of Kanner, the DSM-III-R and DSM-IV called it
  Autistic Disorder and noted that children do not
  grow out of autism. They may indeed make
  progress and improve as they age, but the
  disorder was no longer believed to be confined by
  childhood. (Mesibov et al., 1997, p. 27).

4
Defining the Disorder

• There are no known causes of autism to date, and
  the disorder itself is difficult to define
  because of the numerous and wide range of
  symptoms.
• According to the National Autism Association,
  autism is a bio-neurological developmental
  disability that generally appears before the age
  of 3 (NAA, n.d.).
• Autism impacts the normal development of the
  brain in areas of social interaction,
  communication skills and cognitive functioning
  (NAA, n.d.).

5
Current Diagnostic Criteria

• With the publication of the DSM-III-R and DSM-IV,
  the impairments of autism have since been grouped
  into three areas of functioning known as the
  triad of impairment
• 1 reciprocal social interaction
• 2 verbal and nonverbal communication
• 3 a restricted repertoire of activities and
  interests
• Essentially the triad of impairment states that
  individuals with autism will have difficulties
  with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal
  communication and leisure or play activities.
  When combined together, these impairments define
  whether or not an individual has autism. (Mesibov
  et al., 1997, p. 21).

6
The Symptoms

• Reciprocal social interaction
• -significant problems developing non-verbal
  communication skills (eye contact, body posture,
  facial expressions)
• -failure to establish friendships with children
  the same age
• -lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, interests
  or achievements with other people
• -Lack of empathy. Individuals with autism may
  have difficulty understanding
• Another persons feelings.
• Verbal and nonverbal communication
• -Delay in, or lack of, learning to talk. As many
  as 50 of people with autism never learn to
  speak.
• --Problems initiating conversation
• -Problems continuing conversation
• -Stereotyped and repetitive use of language
• -Difficulty understanding (may not catch onto to
  someones humor/ sarcasm)
• (NAA, n.d.).

7
The Symptoms Continued

• A restricted repertoire of activities and
  interests
• -An unusual focus on certain parts or things.
  (Ex Young children may focus on parts of toys,
  such as the wheels, rather than the whole toy.)
• -Preoccupation with certain topics (music, movie
  titles, TV schedules)
• -A need to routine or sameness
• -Stereotyped behaviors (body rocking and hand
  flapping)
• (NAA, n.d.).

8
What is Art Therapy?

• According to the American Art Therapy Association
  (AATA n.d.) art therapy is an established mental
  health profession that uses the creative process
  of art making to improve and enhance the
  physical, mental and emotional well-being of
  individuals of all ages.

9
What is Art Therapy Continued

• Art therapy uses the creative process of
  individuals in making art to help them resolve
  conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal
  skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase
  self-esteem and awareness and achieve insight
  (AATA, n.d.).
• This process incorporates visual art such as
  drawing, painting, sculpture, etc along with
  models of counseling and psychotherapy to
  achieve its therapeutic purpose (AATA, n.d.).

10
Evolution of Art Therapy

• (Fig. 1, Unnamed)
• The use of art can be traced all throughout
  history, from prehistoric eras to the present,
  but art therapy first received significant
  attention due to the theories of Freud and Jung
  (Wadeson, 1980, p. 13). These psychologists
  believed in the importance of symbolism, which is
  very prominent in art forms.

11
Evolution Continued

• Art therapy has continued to evolve and became
  a recognized profession in the 1960s. According
  to Wadeson (1980), the creation of the American
  Journal of Art Therapy and the establishment of
  the American Art Therapy Association were
  responsible for art therapys rise to a
  recognized profession and therapeutic
  intervention (p. 14).

12
Art Therapy as an Intervention

• Fig. 2 Unnamed
• -According to an article by the School of the
  Art Institute in Chicago, art therapy is a very
  effective intervention for individuals diagnosed
  with autism. They stated that The concrete,
  visual way in which children with autism interact
  with the world implicates art therapy as a prime
  intervention, (Martin, 2005).

13
Art Therapy as an Intervention

• Art therapy does not require talent or skill by
  the patient and the product does not have to be
  aesthetically pleasing, it is the process of
  creation that is the therapeutic foundation.
• Another interesting aspect of art therapy is that
  the relationship is three way, split between the
  patient and therapist as well as the image being
  made (AATA, n.d.).

14
Art therapy used with autistic patients

• As shown in previous slides, autism is a
  disorder characterized by a lack of social
  interaction communication skills and
  cognitive functioning (webmd.com). Art
  therapy allows patients to communicate
  through imagery and creativity, while Fig.
  3 Unnamed maintaining a social relationship with
  the art therapist and the work being produced
  (Kramer, 1971, p. 26).

15
Advantages of Art Therapy

• According to Wadeson, author of ART
  Psychotherapy, there are some unique advantages
  which art expression contributes to the
  psychotherapy process in participating patients
  (p. 8).
• Wadeson believes the advantages of art therapy
  include the following imagery, decreased
  defenses, objectification, permanence, spatial
  matrix and creative and physical energy, all of
  which can be applied to autistic patients (p.
  8-13).

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Communication through Imagery

• Wadeson (1980) states that we think in images.
  We thought in images before we had words (p. 8).
  Since lack of communication is a key
  characteristic of autism, the ability to
  communicate through images is one of art
  therapys greatest strengths.
• Wadeson states that In art therapy the image of
  a dream, fantasy, idea, or experience is depicted
  in image form rather than having to be translated
  into words, which is significant in addressing a
  disability where as many as 50 of the diagnosed
  population can be nonverbal (p. 9).

17
Decreased Defenses

• Wadeson (1980) also pinpoints decreased
  defenses as one of the advantages of art
  therapy. She states that unexpected things may
  burst forth in a picture or sculpture, sometimes
  totally contrary to the intentions of its
  creator. This is one of the most exciting
  potentialities in art therapy. Unexpected
  recognitions often for the leading edge of
  insight, learning, and growth (p. 9).

18
Objectification Permanence

• Objectification in art therapy is the production
  of a tangible product (Wadeson, 1980, p. 10).
  The power of objectification is that the
  tangible object produced is often easier for a
  resistant patient to relate to the picture than
  to the self, (p. 10).
• Another unique advantage of art therapy is the
  permanence of the object produced (p. 10). The
  distortions of memory can not change the
  product and it remains the same and can be
  recalled intact months or years after its
  creation (p. 10).

19
Spatial Matrix Creative and Physical Energy

• Spatial matrix is an interesting aspect of art
  therapy. Wadeson (1980) presents the argument
  that verbalization is linear communication and
  that art expression need not obey the rules of
  language-grammar, syntax, or logic. It is
  spatial in nature (p. 11). Also, In art,
  relationships occur in space. Sometimes this form
  of expression more nearly duplicates experience
  (p. 10).
• Creative and physical energy are products of art
  therapy. In Wadesons own experiences she stated
  there seems to be an enlivening quality to be
  found in art expression (p. 11).

20
Role of Sublimation

• Sublimation is a topic that is controversial in
  art therapy, where some art therapists support
  the concept and others dismiss it. According to
  Ulman, author of Art Therapy, only on the basis
  of sublimation can the function of art and full
  potential of art therapy be adequately
  understood (Ulman, 1975, p. 8).
• Ulman (1975) describes sublimation as instictual
  behavior is replaced by a social act in such a
  manner that this change is experienced as a
  victory over the ego (balancer between reality,
  primitive drives, morals) (p. 8).

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Sublimation Continued

• According to Ulman, Artistic sublimation
  consists in the creation of visual images for the
  purpose of communicating to a group very complex
  material which would not be available for
  communication in any other formEvery work of art
  contains a core of conflicting drives which give
  it life and determine form and content to a large
  degree (Ulman, 1975, p. 8).
• The development of the ego as a whole nor the
  process of sublimation is as yet fully
  understood indicating the concepts
  controversial existance (Kramer, 1971, p. 69).
  While some art therapists believe that the
  therapeutic value of art therapy can only be
  achieved through sublimation, many others have
  witnessed the positive effects art therapy can
  have in individuals who do not achieve
  sublimation.

22
References

• Adams, L.W., Klinger, L.G., Mesibov, G.B.
  (1997). Autism Understanding the Disorder. New
  York London Plenum Press.
• American Art Therapy Association. (1969). About
  Art Therapy. Alexandria, VA Author. Retrieved
  November 15, 2007. http//www.arttherapy.org/about
  .html
• Kramer, E. (1971). Art As Therapy With Children.
  New York Schocken Books.
• Martin, N. (2005). Look at Me Assessing Portrait
  Drawings Made by Children with Autism. Retrived
  Novermber 16, 2007, from School of the Art
  Institute of Chicago. http//www.artic.edu/webspac
  es/gradthesis/maat05_martin.htm
• National Autism Association. (n.d.) Definitions.
  Nixa, MO Author. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
  www.nationalautismassociation.org/definitions.php
• National Autism Association. (n.d.) Symptoms.
  Nixa, MO Author. Retrieved Novermber 15, 2007.
  www.nationalautismassociation.org
• Ulman, E. (1975). Art Therapy. New York Schocken
  Books.
• Wadeson, H. (1980). ART Psycho-Therapy. New
  York John Wiley Sons