Play Therapy Resources
Using Art
Elementary School Counselors are not certified Art Therapist trained to interpret the students drawings. We do, however, offer an opportunity for students to express themself and their feelings in many different, creative ways using art. The saying, "A picture is worth one thousand words" rings true as the student draws or paints a picture.
There are many resources that will guide you as a school counselor when using art. Violet Oaklander's book Windows to Our Children is my number one, go to book. In addition, Dr. Stangline is a Creative Counselor who teaches counselors and students of counseling how to be Creative Counselors. Several of her suggestions are linked below.
Art Therapy Basics 101
http://www.creativecounseling101.com/art-therapy-counseling-techniques.html
Self Protrait guidelines
http://www.creativecounseling101.com/self-portrait-in-creative-counseling.html
Draw a family guidelines
http://www.creativecounseling101.com/family-portrait-in-therapy.html
Setting up the Art area
Set up your office with a section designed for art. Have separate containers for colored pencils, crayons and markers to give students a choice of materials. Also purchase the small water color palettes used with elementary school students. Usually these have 8 basic colors and a brush. In addition, it is nice to have tempura paints which are thicker and easier to mix colors. Having an easle is nice for students to work from. Consider getting sturdy art paper for students to work on rather than copy paper.
Set up a bulletin board with the title FEELINGS in ART. It is helpful to display some drawings that students have drawn (with permission from the student). I use the bulletin board as an example for students to see how others have expressed their feelings through drawing or painting.
The Counseling Session
Although there are many ideas and resources for using Art for elementary school counselors it is helpful to have an example of how to approach the student in an individual counseling session.
After the student has given me some insights into the reason he/she is there for the visit I ask if maybe drawing or painting a picture would be something interesting to do. I show them the Bulletin Board and say, "Did you know that sometimes kids show their feelings in art? You seem to have some pretty big feelings right now (I adjust my language for the age I am working with) and sometimes it helps to draw or paint a picture".
Sometimes the student may say they don't draw good. I say, "Well, you don't really need to be able to draw something. You can just pick up different colors and put them on the paper in all kinds of ways. Did you know that some people think that different colors can match different kinds of feelings. And different shapes can even match different things. Maybe you will want to see what happens as you put down different colors, lines and shapes?"
When the student has completed his/her picture I generally ask them if the picture has a title or name. This is a way to get some insight into the meaning of the work. I also ask the student if he/she wanted to take the picture or for me to keep it. Many times the student will ask me to put the picture up on the FEELING in ART bulletin board.
It is more the process than the final work of art that helps us work through our emotions. Art in counselings provides this opportunity.
There are many resources that will guide you as a school counselor when using art. Violet Oaklander's book Windows to Our Children is my number one, go to book. In addition, Dr. Stangline is a Creative Counselor who teaches counselors and students of counseling how to be Creative Counselors. Several of her suggestions are linked below.
Art Therapy Basics 101
http://www.creativecounseling101.com/art-therapy-counseling-techniques.html
Self Protrait guidelines
http://www.creativecounseling101.com/self-portrait-in-creative-counseling.html
Draw a family guidelines
http://www.creativecounseling101.com/family-portrait-in-therapy.html
Setting up the Art area
Set up your office with a section designed for art. Have separate containers for colored pencils, crayons and markers to give students a choice of materials. Also purchase the small water color palettes used with elementary school students. Usually these have 8 basic colors and a brush. In addition, it is nice to have tempura paints which are thicker and easier to mix colors. Having an easle is nice for students to work from. Consider getting sturdy art paper for students to work on rather than copy paper.
Set up a bulletin board with the title FEELINGS in ART. It is helpful to display some drawings that students have drawn (with permission from the student). I use the bulletin board as an example for students to see how others have expressed their feelings through drawing or painting.
The Counseling Session
Although there are many ideas and resources for using Art for elementary school counselors it is helpful to have an example of how to approach the student in an individual counseling session.
After the student has given me some insights into the reason he/she is there for the visit I ask if maybe drawing or painting a picture would be something interesting to do. I show them the Bulletin Board and say, "Did you know that sometimes kids show their feelings in art? You seem to have some pretty big feelings right now (I adjust my language for the age I am working with) and sometimes it helps to draw or paint a picture".
Sometimes the student may say they don't draw good. I say, "Well, you don't really need to be able to draw something. You can just pick up different colors and put them on the paper in all kinds of ways. Did you know that some people think that different colors can match different kinds of feelings. And different shapes can even match different things. Maybe you will want to see what happens as you put down different colors, lines and shapes?"
When the student has completed his/her picture I generally ask them if the picture has a title or name. This is a way to get some insight into the meaning of the work. I also ask the student if he/she wanted to take the picture or for me to keep it. Many times the student will ask me to put the picture up on the FEELING in ART bulletin board.
It is more the process than the final work of art that helps us work through our emotions. Art in counselings provides this opportunity.
From my Counseling Room
Two stories to share
One of my favorite moments as a counselor came when working with a 2nd grader named Donny. Donny was being raised by his father after his mother left one day and had yet returned. He was a sad little boy with little affect and produced very little work. Donny had many needs so I set up various ways to support him. It so happened that the librarian and Donny shared the same birthday so she became Donny's special buddy.
Each morning on the way to class he would pop into the library for a hug. I got a 6th grade boy to meet with Donny each week to read to him. Donny loved listening to higher level books since he barely could read but loved stimulating his imagination. When Donny came to see me he would draw with crayons the same gloomy picture. Thin dark sky line at the top of the page. A stick figure of himself with a frown and two rocks. Sometimes he would add clouds and rain. He would talk about missing his mom or how his dad was forgetting to wash the clothes. In addition to his counseling time with me I had Donny participate in the Boy's play group and we also did his classwork together in my room. After several months of working with Donny he added one new item to his picture. He drew a large flower. When I asked him if he had a name for the pictures he said, "I am blooming."
Story Two
Danielle was a 6th grade who due to medical reason had to have a hysterectomy. During this period Danielle often experienced hot flashes. Her mother asked me to see what I could do to help Danielle during this uncomfortable and often embarrassing times. I made arrangements with the teachers that when Danielle requested to see me that she could come regardless of the lesson. If it was a test she could take the test in my room. If I was with a student she would wait in the nurses office until I was free. During the times that Danielle came to see me we decided that painting would be the best way to enjoy the hot flashes. I purchased a nice set of water colors and brushes for us to use. I painted with her each session as we worked we would chat.
The full reality of the situation had not hit Danielle since she was only 11 years old, although she knew she could never have children. In fact as she was going through the hot flashes she was also experiencing the normal hormonal shifts of adolescence. The gift of painting allowed Danielle to be distracted from the discomfort of the hot flashes and get lost in the moment. Her pictures were of happy scenes and nature. By spring the hot flashes had passed and Danielle returned to the daily ups and downs of an 11 year old with a nice collection of art work, which her mother has since framed.
One of my favorite moments as a counselor came when working with a 2nd grader named Donny. Donny was being raised by his father after his mother left one day and had yet returned. He was a sad little boy with little affect and produced very little work. Donny had many needs so I set up various ways to support him. It so happened that the librarian and Donny shared the same birthday so she became Donny's special buddy.
Each morning on the way to class he would pop into the library for a hug. I got a 6th grade boy to meet with Donny each week to read to him. Donny loved listening to higher level books since he barely could read but loved stimulating his imagination. When Donny came to see me he would draw with crayons the same gloomy picture. Thin dark sky line at the top of the page. A stick figure of himself with a frown and two rocks. Sometimes he would add clouds and rain. He would talk about missing his mom or how his dad was forgetting to wash the clothes. In addition to his counseling time with me I had Donny participate in the Boy's play group and we also did his classwork together in my room. After several months of working with Donny he added one new item to his picture. He drew a large flower. When I asked him if he had a name for the pictures he said, "I am blooming."
Story Two
Danielle was a 6th grade who due to medical reason had to have a hysterectomy. During this period Danielle often experienced hot flashes. Her mother asked me to see what I could do to help Danielle during this uncomfortable and often embarrassing times. I made arrangements with the teachers that when Danielle requested to see me that she could come regardless of the lesson. If it was a test she could take the test in my room. If I was with a student she would wait in the nurses office until I was free. During the times that Danielle came to see me we decided that painting would be the best way to enjoy the hot flashes. I purchased a nice set of water colors and brushes for us to use. I painted with her each session as we worked we would chat.
The full reality of the situation had not hit Danielle since she was only 11 years old, although she knew she could never have children. In fact as she was going through the hot flashes she was also experiencing the normal hormonal shifts of adolescence. The gift of painting allowed Danielle to be distracted from the discomfort of the hot flashes and get lost in the moment. Her pictures were of happy scenes and nature. By spring the hot flashes had passed and Danielle returned to the daily ups and downs of an 11 year old with a nice collection of art work, which her mother has since framed.