Art Therapy and Acquired Brain Injury: Building
Integrity through Creative Self Expression
Sally Sainsbury (BSc, DipTAT)Elizabeth Mudri (BA)
ART THERAPY AND ABIRees (2005) notes that in cases of acquired brain injury, “Unless there is
significant participation in carefully chosen activities, withdrawal, isolation
and dependency can become characteristic and therefore reinforce
negative behaviours in an all-encompassing cycle of impulsivity,
disinhibition, and stress-laden unawareness”.
ART THERAPY AND ABI“Some key contributions that art therapy can make to rehabilitation
include; sensory experiences, symbolic expression, emotional expression, life enhancement,
cognitive development and social connectedness.” Van Lith, Fenner
and Schfield (2010).
AIMS• Smith(2007)highlights how art can serve as an
aid to rehabilitate sense of self, self esteem and social skills through group participation and self exploration
• The focus is on the creative process, not the outcome
• Facilitating and supporting psychological healing; guiding sense of identity, as a person with ABI
• To redefine rehabilitation goals in the context of participants life values
• Provide a positive distraction from individuals problems and perseverations
METHOD
• 6 ninety minute sessions• 5-9 participants per session, non-judgemental
environment• Group facilitated by Speech Pathologist, Social
Worker, with assistance from Occupational Therapy students and allied health students
• Transpersonal approach to therapy• Sessions structure consists of myth, story
poem, activity, reflections, debrief• “Drop in style”, to accommodate clients with
other rehabilitation appointments at the time of the group
Case Study – Mickey GSocial History:• 57yo Italian male, ex-granite worker• Worker’s compensation injury• “House husband” for wife and three kids, including
7yo twin boys with ADHDMedical history: • Right Pontine stroke 2008, left hemiparesis, TIA’s
and other Interests:• Cooking group, bowls, bowling, fishing, woodwork
LONG TERM GOAL: To spend as much time possible at home with his wife and kids
Session 4,5,6 - MASKS
• Story: “I’m the prince with a beautiful princess” (Sophia Loren)
• Fred and George: Fred is quiet, shy, plain/pale – George is vibrant, charismatic, colourful
Session 2 – Head/Body Sculptures
• Mickey G’s self portrait in dough…
OUTCOMES• Reflections from clients present ideas and
their relationship with creative process, overcoming ABI symptoms - conscious and unconscious self-awareness and self- identity
• Using stories, myths, poems, and engaging in reflections – creating positive identification with the reality of each participants’ pre morbid and current identities, relationships, experiences
• Engagement created a social connectedness, rather than therapist/client relationship – trust and rapport transparent
Art Therapy allows an individual to express their individuality with integrity, rather than being the
victim of an Acquired Brain Injury, to understand and know THEIR OWN identity, rather than being modelled
by their disability“YOUR BRAIN INJURY
DOES NOT DEFINE WHO YOU ARE. YOU DEFINE
WHO YOU ARE”
REFERENCESRees, Roger (2005). Interrupted Lives;
Rehabilitation & learning following brain injury. Victoria: IP Communications.
Smith, C. (2007). Innovative rehabilitation after head injury: Examining the use of a creative intervention. Journal of Social Work Practice, 2(3), 297-309.
Van Lith, T., Fenner, P., & Schofield, M. (2010). Art Therapy in Rehabilitation. In J.H. Stone & M. Blouin (Eds.), International Encylcopedia of Rehabilitation. Retrieved from http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/encyclopedia/article.php?id=131&language=en
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