Using Children's Drawings in Art & Play Therapy

Art and drawing help traumatized children externalize and concretize their experience in a language that can then be cognitively reframed. Sensory-based interventions are key in facilitating trauma debriefing, re-enactment, and resolution. This course provides a foundation for why drawing and art activities enhance trauma intervention and our understanding of PTSD in children. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs of PTSD in children’s art and specific interventions for use in schools, shelters, hospitals and clinics. Trauma-informed art therapy integrates neurodevelopment, somatic approaches, mindfulness practices, and resilience enhancement, using art making and play as the core approaches. It is based on best evidence-based practices identified by SAMSHA and TLC. This course presents a 5 part model for intervention to help traumatized children and adolescents externalize and concretize their experiences through sensory-based methods. Participants will gain a foundation for why art and play activities enhance trauma intervention and our understanding of PTSD in children through learning specific interventions for use in schools, shelters, hospitals and clinics.

Brief Description of Instructional Format:

Videotaped segments of interviews with traumatized children are used to demonstrate intervention process. Didactic presentation provides information and framework related to PTSD; break out sessions provide participants opportunities to practice strategies presented. Multiple handouts provide checklists, etc.

Goal:

To provide participants with an overview of the history of and use of art therapy with trauma victims.

Session Objectives:

To present participants with an overview of art intervention strategies for working with traumatized children during their crisis and to guide participants in evaluating the appropriateness of their interventions with current cases.

Learning Objectives:

Learner will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge in the use of art therapy in the treatment of traumatized children, adolescents and families.
To provide current theoretical and practical knowledge of the use of art therapy with traumatized children and adolescents who have been exposed to either violent or non-violent trauma inducing incidents.

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Founded in 1913, Starr Commonwealth is an internationally recognized non-profit children’s charity
Montcalm Schools is a Private Therapeutic Treatment Program offering a broad spectrum of real-world solutions for families with struggling teens. Montcalm Schools is a private program of Starr
The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children is a nonprofit program of the Starr Commonwealth Institute for Training.
The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children
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