Working from a symbol narrative filled world and that of other theoretical orientation, clients do seem to benefit greatly from the symbol expressive approach as equally they do from the talk therapies. Interested to hear your views.
Hi Stuart,
I'm not familiar with the Self Trauma Model, but I use art therapies frequently - sandplay therapy and interactive drawing therapy primarily.
I think the biggest advantage with art therapies when working with PTSD is that they allow for an externalisation of the problem in a concrete form. This in turn offers opportunities for concrete changes to be made - for example, adding support figures in the sandtray, or drawing a pair of earmuffs on yourself when you've just drawn something exploding in front of you, and so on.
Something shifts in the unconscious while doing this work, or perhaps you might call on neuroscience to talk about the small window available after the retrieval of a memory in which it can be changed. The purpose of PTSD therapy, I think, is to create opportunities for such change. Art therapies are the biz for doing this.
Thank you Zoe and Wesdyne
Your contribution is very helpful. I have gone full circle in my educational journey; my first degrees were in Fine art and Masters from Royal College of Art, then did a diploma in Art Therapy in late 80's. Now i have my psych degree,counselling and about to complete my Clinical masters of counselling hoping to do mu PhD. My perspective looking at PTSD from not only an artist therapist perspective but that of a counsellor. The narrative perspective of externalisation is very salient for being a stepping stone through the process of imagery and engagement. This can open doors for the client not only through a visual perspective but that of having a greater therapeutic relationship in talk therapy.
Wesdyne and Stuart--thanks to both of you for this information and insight.
Dissociation has been associated with some patients with PTSD in the DSM-V. I have found that talk-therapy induces dissociative symptoms quite often, and then the patient has to be "grounded" again (e.g. talking about the room and moving about to feel back inside the body). This takes up a lot of time during sessions and grinds any other processing to a halt for the rest of the session. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it inhibits time to give people the tools they need to cope.
Art therapy just seems so hopeful to me. It may address the dissociative tendencies in some PTSD patients, because the visual engagement and use of perspective may give some comfort. Are there any studies on this? I am so pleased that people are using art to help with trauma survivors!
From a psychoanalitical point of view I think that a talking espressions of thoughts and emotions linked to trauma it s on a superior level than a non verbal expression. It remind to me the famous work of Freud about to remind, to repete and to elaborate in psychoanalysis.
Hi Stuart
Although CBT is only one component of the self-trauma model, this reference might be helpful:
Sarid, O., & Huss, E. (2010). Trauma and acute stress disorder: A comparison between cognitive behavioral intervention and art therapy. The arts in psychotherapy, 37(1), 8-12.
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