• About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Shop Merch
SWHELPER
  • Login
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • LGBTQ
  • Justice
No Result
View All Result
Post Jobs
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • LGBTQ
  • Justice
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Health Mental Health

Creative Expression and Artistry in Healing from Trauma

Elizabeth BishopbyElizabeth Bishop
03/15/2017
in Mental Health, Serving Consciously, Social Work
0
Creative Expression and Artistry in Healing from Trauma
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Amy Bucciarelli, MS ATR-BC, LMHC, Board Certified Art Therapist, helped Frank “Dylan” Dinkins make a painting for his parents. Bucciarelli works with pedatrics patients at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

You may be familiar with the idea of “Art Therapy”; a process where people from all ages might find healing and comfort from experienced trauma or loss. Creativity and artistic expression are connected. However, they are not necessarily one in the same. Creativity can be expressed in many ways that do not result in artistic accomplishments.

You may also be familiar with the concept of Trauma-Informed Practice. Historically, when someone has experienced trauma, there has been a great deal of focus on talking through the story, quite often in the presence of a professional counselor.

People may join support groups where they feel connected to others who have also experienced trauma. Some of us simply find friends and others who are willing to listen to us as we re-live our pain and try to make sense of the suffering.

Many people find relief and healing through this process. However, it is not necessarily the only way to navigate trauma in our lives. Healing can happen on a number of levels and through a variety of practices and approaches.

What is Trauma?

To back up a little bit, what do we mean by trauma? This is often a very personally interpreted experience. It might not be so much about the actual nature of the events as it is about the impact the experience has on the individual.

According to Judith Herman, in her book Trauma and Recovery, “Traumatic events overwhelm the ordinary systems of care that give people a sense of control, connection, and meaning. Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life. They confront human beings with the extremities of helplessness and terror and evoke the responses of catastrophe.”

The American Psychological defines trauma as, “an incident of grave threat to life or one’s personal integrity, or unexpected, or violent death of others.”

Impact of Trauma

As what constitutes trauma can be very different for each of us, how we experience it is equally personal.

Traumatic experiences can have impact for long periods of time if there has been no opportunity to find relief through some form of expression. People can experience PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), which can lead to a multitude of other challenges including mental health and addiction struggles.

This is true for all of us. This is true for the people we provide service to who have experienced trauma and it is true for us as helping professionals who have also experienced our own personal traumas and have been exposed to the trauma of others.

Without strategies to manage trauma, we can become sick, disillusioned, depressed, and disconnected ~ not only from others, but also more importantly from ourselves.

Trauma Informed Practice

It seems that the most powerful thing we can do as helping professionals when providing service to people who have experienced trauma is to acknowledge the experience for that person. So again, it is not just about what we say or what we do, but rather how we approach the individual in their current situation.

To me, this is evidence of presence and engagement that results in honoring another.

“Utilizing a trauma-informed approach does not necessarily require disclosure of trauma. Rather, services are provided in ways that recognize the need for physical and emotional safety, as well as choice and control in decisions affecting one’s treatment. Trauma-informed practice is more about the overall essence of the approach, or way of being in the relationship, than a specific treatment strategy or method.” (Trauma Informed Practice Guide, 2013, BC Provincial Mental Health and Substance Abuse Council).

We can also learn to take this same approach with ourselves. How do we simply acknowledge that we have experienced some form of trauma in our lives and recognize our personal need for safety and choice? I believe as we grow in our capacity to create this space for our own experience, we will naturally bring that energy and essence into our interactions with others.

Panel Discussion

Our first panel discussion on Serving Consciously occurred Friday February 24 at 12pm PST at www.ctrnetwork.com. The entire show was all about Trauma and Healing through alternative practices. My guests explored ideas related to artistic expression and the role in trauma-informed practice and share their research experiences.

Panel Guests included:

An Educator and Artist for over 25 years, Orah Chaye has instructed ECE, implemented appreciative inquiry curriculum in numerous settings, been Field Supervisor for Early Years Refugee Home Visitation, and has designed site specific curriculum and In-Service Training. Orah is the Provincial trainer for the BC Council’s Home Visiting and Risk Management certificates. From a strength-based perspective, trauma informed practice and the creative process is embedded in all of her curriculum. She has recently completed an Educator’s Toolkit for Physical Literacy and Nature Exploration (PLANE) and is well known for her unique and creative programming with young children.”

Dr. Amea Wilbur completed her Doctorate of Education at the University of British Columbia. Her research looked at how to make government-funded English classes more inclusive for adult students who have experienced trauma. She worked for many years as an instructor and manager for an EAL program for people with mental health issues. Currently she works at Pacific Immigrant Resources Society, an organization that provides services for immigrant and refugee women and their young children.

Diana Jeffries has been in the English as an Additional Language (EAL) profession for the past 15 years. In addition to teaching Diana has written resource guides for working with students who face a multitude of barriers, refugee youth and for students who have experienced trauma where she collaborated with Dr. Amea Wilbur.  Diana is also an artist with a background in theatre and applied art including mask making and puppetry.  She regularly applies her art background to her classroom practice, as she believes that the creative process can be a very helpful tool for students who are challenged in a regular classroom environment.

Listen here:

Audio Player
https://swhelper.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/elizabethbishop022417.mp3
00:00
00:00
00:00
Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
Tags: art therapycreativityDiana JefferiesDr. Amea WilburhealingJudith HermanOrah Chayetraumatrauma informed practice
Previous Post

Mindfulness Shows Promise as We Age, but Study Results Are Mixed

Next Post

Signs That Show Your Workout Is Not Enough

Next Post
Signs That Show Your Workout Is Not Enough

Signs That Show Your Workout Is Not Enough

Please login to join discussion
ADVERTISEMENT

Featured Jobs

Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Outpatient
Riverton, UT - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Outpatient
Riverton, UT - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Outpatient
Bountiful, UT - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Outpatient
Pleasant Grove, UT - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Outpatient
Salt Lake City, UT - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Outpatient
Murray, UT - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Crofton, MD - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Millersville, MD - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
PERFORMANCE MONITORING & EXECUTION SPECIALIST Job Details | State of Illinois
Chicago, IL - State of Illinois
PERFORMANCE MONITORING & EXECUTION SPECIALISTWe co...
CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST Job Details | State of Illinois
Naperville, IL - State of Illinois
CHILD WELFARE SPECIALISTWe continually strive for ...
State Organizing Director
MI - MI Poder
State Organizing Director Hybrid - Michigan reside...
Medical Social Worker-OSH
Oak Park, IL - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Medical Social Worker-OSH
Glendale, AZ - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Social Worker - Pediatric Ambulatory - AFCH
Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Work Schedule : 70% FTE, 28 Hours per week. Day ...
Field Care Coordinator RN, Licensed Social Worker or LPN in Greene or Cocke County TN
Kingsport, TN - UnitedHealthcare
At UnitedHealthcare, we're simplifying the health ...
Medical Social Worker, Home Health Visits
Harrisburg, PA - Bayada
BAYADA Home Health Care is currently seeking an ex...
Medical Social Worker, Home Health Visits
Mechanicsburg, PA - Bayada
BAYADA Home Health Care is currently seeking an ex...
Medical Social Worker, Home Health Visits
Duncannon, PA - Bayada
BAYADA Home Health Care is currently seeking an ex...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Therapist/LCSW)- Outpatient Group Practice
Denver, CO - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)
Middleton, WI - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented therapist...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Las Vegas, NV - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Social Worker MSW 1
Plano, TX - Baylor Scott & White Health
*About Us* Here at Baylor Scott & White Health we ...
Social Worker MSW 1
Plano, TX - Baylor Scott & White Health
About Us Here at Baylor Scott & White Health we pr...
Social Worker I- School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Atlanta, GA - Emory University
Discover Your Career at Emory UniversityEmory Univ...
Social Worker I- School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Atlanta, GA - Emory University
Discover Your Career at Emory UniversityEmory Univ...
Faculty Field Instructor
Baltimore, MD - University of Maryland, Baltimore
Job DescriptionThe University of Maryland, Baltimo...
Social Services Practitioner III - Children's Services
Riverside, CA - County of Riverside
This recruitment will establish a candidate pool o...
Medical Social Worker (Bilingual)
Tucson, AZ - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Medical Social Worker
Cleveland, OH - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Medical Social Worker
Fort Worth, TX - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Temporary Residential Care Worker
Beaumont, CA - County of Riverside
A Special Message from the CEO*Please read the job...
Bilingual Eligibility Specialist Trainee/I/II - MISP
Moreno Valley, CA - County of Riverside
Applications will be reviewed in the order in whi...
Social Worker - HIV Care and Prevention Program
Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Work Schedule : 100% FTE, 40 hours per week. Shif...
Clinical Social Worker - Mobile Clinic (N378)
Los Angeles, CA - Public Health Foundation Enterprises, In
Salary Range: $32.96-$45.04 per hour SUMMARY Hous...
Behavior Consultant
Exton, PA - Holcomb Behavioral Health System
Our vast array of services - educational, employme...
Case Manager
Seaford, DE - Holcomb Behavioral Health System
Join Chimes - and go further to help others go far...
Case Manager
Newark, DE - Holcomb Behavioral Health System
Join Chimes - and go further to help others go far...
Licensed Social Worker
Hillsborough, NC - Optum
Carolina Behavioral Care, part of the Optum family...
Social Worker - Per Diem in Waukesha WI
Waukesha, WI - Optum
Optum is a global organization that delivers care,...
Social Worker
Mentor, OH - MENTORHILLS
Handles pressure, objectivity, confidentiality, or...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) / Clinical Supervisor
Wilmington, DE - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
The Villages, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
Eola Centre, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
University Parkway, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Child & Adolescent
Wilmington, DE - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Manhattan, NY - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Wilmington, DE - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Middletown, DE - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Claymont, DE - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Open rank tenure-track faculty position, School of Social Work
Boston, MA - Simmons University
Open rank tenure-track faculty position, School of...
View All JobsPost a Job
Powered by

  • Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

    Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

    94 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

    694 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Biopsychosocial Perspective to Mental Health and Illness

    3 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • My Journey as a Teacher and the Future of Education

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fast and Furious Star Paul Walker Died During Charity Event for Philippines Typhoon Victims

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
SWHELPER

We bring content to support you and the people you care about in their various stages of life. If you are searching in google on how to help or assist a loved one or yourself, check out our content.

LEARN MORE »

  • Terms of Service
  • Article Submissions
  • Advertising
  • Shop Merch

© 2024 SWHELPER.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Category
    • Business
    • Culture
    • Economy
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Travel
    • Opinion
    • Politics
    • Tech
    • World
  • Find/Post Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop Merch

© 2024 SWHELPER.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    If You Enjoyed This Post
    Join Our Newsletter
    Subscribe
    Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime.
    Close