Cathy Malchiodi's Five Paintings

“This is where you can find your soul, if you dare.” (Anderson, pg 10) This belief comes from the mind of the Melinda, the progantists, art teacher, Mr. Freeman. Art is truly a door to the mind of an individual, showing things that people aren’t able to say. It shows through images and colors what many people aren’t able to express in words, events and thoughts speaking through the medium. Art is growing as a use of therapy to heal and tell. Psychologists analyze their patients art at a psychological level, interpreting the image into words. One of the theories in art therapy, which is seen throughout “Speak”, is the idea that unconscious thoughts are expressed in an image. (Irvings)These images then can be explained rationally. Melinda’s three major art images, the half dead trees, turkey bone, and cubism represent this theory.

Trauma is perceived as a physical or psychological threat or assault to a person’s physical integrity, sense of self, safety and/or survival or to the physical safety of a significant other; family member, friend, partner. (Kilpatrick, Saunders, and Smith, 2003). An adolescent may experience trauma from a variety of experiences, including but not limited to: abuse (sexual, physical, and/or emotional); neglect; abandonment; bullying; exposure to domestic violence and/ or community violence; natural disasters; medical procedures; loss/grief due to a death of a family member(s); surgery; accidents or serious illness; and war (Kilpatrick, Saunders, and Smith, 2003).

Original Thesis Statement: Incorporating art-based activities and techniques effectively develops coping skills, self expression, open communication, and begins the healing process for children who have experienced trauma.

“The sad fact is that many women of color are living with PTSD and CPTSD resulting from childhood traumas but are not simply receiving the diagnosis and do not get the appropriate treatment.” The stigma within the African American community prohibits a person from seeking help and not airing out your dirty laundry for fear of being labeled “crazy” with their family or social circles. Dr. Kuban cites The National Institute of Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) that witness trauma is not seen as a mental disorder but as a painful experience, which many children struggle to cope. I did not have anyone to talk to that could understand how I felt. I didn’t know it then, my inability to say what I felt as a child was depression. Terrie Williams, publicist and therapist call this the “wake-up call” that even little kids suffer from depression even if they don’t know it. Many adults believe children do not suffer with depression and for several decades mental health professionals did not have an official diagnosis for childhood depression. Adults and teachers often underestimate a child suffering PTSD and misinterpret their silence for

This oppression can force African American women to build up a defense, or resilience to such an issue. This built up resilience can also be used to deal with other traumatic events that may hold similar stressors compared to oppression. Women who are oppressed are going to face traumatic events differently, based on the resilience that they have built up. In the video, “family Affair”, it is evident to see that women who have suffered sexual abuse have a built up a resilience that has helped them heal from the abuse that they faced. It is also evident to see that one way they have kept their resilience strong is through the comfort of others who have gone through the same situation. The sisters in the video are able to talk about what had happened to them and how they dealt with it together. This shows that is important to understand that oppression can play an important part in understanding the resilience of African American women and how they deal with sexual

The arguments presented by Dr. Joy DeGruy reflect a history of America that people long to forget. Because of the reality that Black people are abused, underrepresented and economically excluded from the society in America due to the history of chattel slavery, speaks volumes. American slavery began in 1619 and all the way through the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 African people were brutally tortured, forcefully placed in contention, sold, and raped. This can be defined as the worst forms of treatment physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Dr. Joy DeGruy presents that Black people today still suffer from the trauma of their ancestors because there was no time or treatment given after the emancipation of slaves. Dr. DeGruy poses many important questions that pertain to the evolution of trauma in Black communities in America such as; isn’t it likely that slaves were severely traumatized? And did that trauma and the effects of the trauma end when slavery was abolished?

According to Cathy Malchiodi, an educator in the discipline, “Art therapy, an approach used in the treatment of trauma reactions, is often a primary form of therapy with children who are recovering from abuse, and neglect or are witnesses to family violence” (2). When these patients use art therapy to help them forget, the art that they create has their pain reflected onto it. When children were abused at some point in their life, they look at their abuser as a different person. They think of their abuser as a monster or a demonic-looking creature. When they draw their abuser, they draw a monster with sharp teeth or claws with piercing eyes. This is what the children, or adolescents, picture their attacker

African Americans are no stranger to discrimination. Children across American are taught about the horrific times of slavery. Following slavery, we learn about the discrimination African Americans face in the light of their bittersweet freedom. Due to this unstability, many amazing young African American artist emerged with breathtaking stories to reveal; the stories weren’t easy to expose because publishing companies and the alike were very

The book is overflowing with powerful images of black art from photographs to paintings to cover the story of black Americans. The book begins with the history and imagery of slavery through the Civil War and liberation, then traces the cultural influences of the civil rights movement, the black power period, and ends with the hip hop era. Through each period, the writer offers historical context for the artistic expressions and examines how more current sensibility shaped remembrances of historical occurrence. She explores the ways that context and historical interpretation influence the artist's perspective and is subject to great difference over time. Although most of the art that were presented after mid twentieth century. it reflect a broader historical period as black

Art is the sole venue for human expression. It has been known to invoke emotions and appeal to one’s numerous senses. Even throughout times of despair, the human race has been known to seek differing forms of expression as a cope mechanism or simply to project their voices and opinions to the world. In fact, the American Journal of Public Health declared that, “There is evidence that engagement with artistic activities, either as an observer of the creative efforts of others or as an initiator of one's own creative efforts, can enhance one's moods, emotions, and other psychological states as well as have a salient impact on important physiological parameters.” Such creative expression was sought after by African Americans who emigrated to the United States by means of slavery. In order to preserve their culture and lose their customs, slave retained their

“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.” Traumas are exactly like that. Sometimes it can be so poisonous that any decisions you make could be impacted with that trauma. However it is also positive in a sense that you can look back at it and learn from it. It is important for authors to recount past traumas in their work because the readers can get a better understanding and learn from them. Through the use of pathos, repetition, and rhetoric, these authors are able to clearly pass the ideas of how we all need to remember the institution of slavery as many still carry traumas and suffered great injustice from it.

Roger’s traditional person-centered therapy is perhaps the greatest example of “talk therapy” as there is not any homework, specific techniques, or behavior to be changed. Instead, the success of the therapy lies in the process and letting clients experience this process as fully as possible. Therefore, it may be surprising that Natalie Roger’s person-centered expressive arts therapy has shifted away from traditional verbal means of expression to more creative means. According to Sommers-Flanagan, through mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, music, writing and improvisation “clients peel away the layers of defense and find their true nature” (2007). Expressive art therapy is not concerned with the end product (client’s do not create a piece to hang on the wall) but rather the process of using art to delve into a client’s pain, rage, or grief is the goal. Therefore, just as in Roger’s person-centered therapy the process is the focal point but the mediums used are quite different. Through these mediums clients find other ways to go inward, other ways to speak. Like her father’s person-centered therapy, Natalie Roger’s expressive arts therapy is nondirective and lets client’s lead the process and trusts them to find the modalities they can learn from (Sommers-Flanagan, 2007).

In trauma therapy, we bear witness to the client’s trauma. Clients will share their story through play, art, narrative, answering questions about their art, and other integrative activities. I am often surprised at what is shared by the client when they do a calming activity such as painting. The client shared rich information. This is another area I am working on.

Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh – all great artists, such different art styles, yet all of them have been through troubling experiences. Must one suffer to create masterpieces? Peter Wilmot from Chuck Palahniuk’s Diary seems to concur with this notion. But is he right? Many artists throughout history are famous because of their incredible skill and vivid imaginations, and many of them have suffered quite a deal. Some of the best art works throughout history feature personal stories of hardship told by the artist. And why is it that people tend to gravitate towards depressing, morbid art? This essay will explore the belief that one must suffer to create good art, by taking a look at artists that have suffered, how their pasts

Expressive arts therapy is the use of art modalities, creative process, and aesthetic experience in a therapeutic context. It is a therapy of the imagination (McNiff, 1992). Effective communication is an essential element in therapeutic relationships and, although verbal language is the most conventional means of conveying information, other forms can convey just as much as words. The arts are an alternative form of communication that has recently received recognition for their value in therapeutic settings. There is a long well-established connection between the arts and psychology. Expressive arts therapy builds on a natural, complimentary relationship between the two disciplines. As a formal therapy, this form is relatively new with its