#277 Expressive Arts Therapy - with Cathy Malchiodi
Nov 11, 2023
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Join Cathy Malchiodi, world-renowned art therapist and author, as we discuss the transformative power of art therapy. Topics include learning art therapy in a women's shelter, expression in therapy, journaling and the immune system, and using expression to self-regulate.
Expressive arts therapy utilizes art and artistic expression to help individuals heal from trauma.
Engaging the senses through expressive arts activities can enable individuals to explore and process trauma in a deeper way.
Expressive arts therapy promotes a therapeutic connection and active participation, leading to healing, self-discovery, and transformation.
Deep dives
The Power of Expressive Arts Therapy in Trauma Recovery
Expressive arts therapy is a powerful tool in trauma recovery, utilizing art and artistic expression to help individuals heal. While traditional talk therapies have been effective, there is a growing recognition that trauma recovery can be enhanced by addressing other aspects of the mind and body through art and sensory-based methods. By engaging in expressive arts activities, individuals can tap into different senses and tap into their emotions and experiences in ways that may not be easily expressed through words alone. This approach is not only reparative and restorative, but it also allows for a deeper connection between the therapist and the individual. Through these sensory experiences and the therapeutic relationship, individuals can find healing and transformation.
The Importance of Sensory Engagement in Trauma Recovery
Sensory engagement plays a vital role in trauma recovery. Our bodies have various senses beyond just hearing and talking, such as touch, taste, smell, and interoception (the ability to feel sensations within our bodies). Engaging these senses through expressive arts therapy can help individuals connect with their feelings, sensations, and experiences on a deeper level. This can enable them to explore and process trauma in a way that verbal communication alone cannot achieve. By creating a safe and inviting space, therapists can guide individuals in reconnecting with their senses, building resilience, and promoting healing in mind, body, and spirit.
The Therapeutic Power of Connection and Active Participation
Expressive arts therapy emphasizes the therapeutic power of connection and active participation. Through engaging in creative activities together, therapist and individual establish a bond and create meaningful experiences. This connection is essential for trauma recovery, as it provides a sense of safety, trust, and validation. Active participation in the therapy process allows individuals to explore and express themselves in ways that may feel safer than solely relying on verbal communication. Working together, therapist and individual can co-create and build capacity for joy, mastery, confidence, and playfulness. The therapeutic connection and active engagement in expressive arts therapy can lead to healing, self-discovery, and transformation.
Expressive Arts Therapy and Capacity Building
Expressive arts therapy focuses on building capacity and expanding one's ability to experience joy in addition to exploring and expressing pain. By incorporating movement, sound, art-making, and storytelling, individuals can tap into their creative potential and develop a sense of hope in their healing journey. The therapy starts with regulating touch, movement, and rhythm, which are foundational experiences from before birth. The focus is on creating a safe space for expression and providing the witness of a community. This approach can be integrated into various therapeutic modalities and coaching practices, offering a powerful tool to support individuals in their recovery and personal growth.
The Importance of Sensory Integration
Sensory integration plays a crucial role in expressive arts therapy, especially in the context of trauma. Touch, movement, rhythm, and other sensory experiences can help regulate dysregulated nervous systems and provide a pathway to accessing deeper emotions and memories. By incorporating sensory-based activities such as clay manipulation, mark-making, and sensory exploration, therapists can facilitate the exploration of trauma in a safe and embodied way. This approach aims to expand individuals' capacity for regulation, promote self-expression, and instill a sense of hope and possibility in their healing journey.
Join me this week as I chat with world-renowned art therapist and author, Cathy Malchiodi, about the transformative power of art therapy. Art therapy can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and emotional regulation, boost self-confidence and self-esteem, enhance problem-solving and communication skills, and even alleviate symptoms of trauma and PTSD.
We can also use the principles in day-to-day coaching and interaction with others.