Classic Client Quote: Encouraging words...

Sometimes in my line of work it can be a thankless job. We often have success stories, but don't always get feedback or at least anything in tangible form. From a recent graduate of the program where I work, some poignant words left behind that definitely make this our efforts worth it:

“I can’t imagine the amount of self-control and strength it must take to have to hear some of the horrible stories that have happened to the kids here. You all are changing lives and sometimes saving them. THANK YOU. Now read that 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 times. That should amount to at least half of what I owe you all.”

I wanted to share this with you, and hopefully give you encouragement as well that whether you know it or not, your efforts in helping people's lives get better doesn't always go unnoticed.

"Adventures in Art Therapy" selected as Top 100 Counseling Resource

What exciting news I got today!  This blog has been selected in the Top 100 Counseling Resources, specifically in the section of "Art and Music Therapy."  Aside from having that honor, I recommend that you should check out this site with many resources located in one place.  If you are in the mental health profession, please check it out.  You might find several of the sites they list to be very helpful. :)

A little art humor for today...

Current-day technology helps those with autism communicate

This segment features the use of tablet computers for those diagnosed on the autistic spectrum who cannot speak, but can use them to communicate with others. This is quickly becoming a new trend using something visual to communicate language.

Read the transcript of this episode here.

Artists for Autism

I was made aware of the organization, Artists for Autism, via Candi Spitz, who in her own right is an advocate for those diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders as a spokesperson for Autism Speaks as well as a newly appointed ambassador for Project Lifesaver.  This organization welcomes the use of all forms of the arts - art, music, writing, etc. - as ways to connect with or use as therapy with individuals diagnosed with autism.  They also have a Facebook page where you can also find more information about this organization.  Check it out and help support the arts and creative arts therapies as they improve the lives of those with PDD and ASD.  Since these modalities are nonverbal (other than writing), they are often able to reach this population in a different way than traditional therapies to help them to communicate and to express themselves, to calm themselves, or to help them connect with others.  Art Therapy and Music Therapy seems particularly helpful in this regard.  Many thanks to Artists for Autism for bringing awareness of the importance of the arts in the use of autism treatment!

Digital art therapy used with gambling addiction treatment

Virginia center makes further inroads with art therapy

                                                                                            
June 6, 2012 by Gary A. Enos, Editor

Gambling treatment facility now uses digital formats along with traditional tools    

                 

Already engaging its patients more in art therapy than what can be found at most addiction treatment centers, Virginia-based Williamsville Wellness recently began supplementing its art sessions with digital art therapy using tablet PCs and the iPad. Regardless of the medium, administrators at the center that specializes in residential treatment for gambling addiction believe art therapy facilitates the process of understanding feelings—both for the patient and the treatment team.

 

“Art therapy draws out things that often can’t be drawn out in other forms of therapy,” says Williamsville Wellness founder Bob Cabaniss. When a patient draws something to be interpreted later by a therapist working with the patient, “You can’t hide. You can’t lie,” Cabaniss says.

 

Adds Laurie McArthur, Williamsville Wellness’s art therapist for the past year and a half, “Art therapy gives a person a good way of looking at themselves. It also slows them down—you can’t draw fast.”

 

And the latter is especially true because most patients lament when first introduced to art therapy that they have no art skills and haven’t drawn or painted since middle school, McArthur says. She tries to put patients at ease by reminding them that they have strengths in other areas, and she emphasizes that this therapeutic work is about gaining information, not judging the quality of one’s art.

 

With art therapy now moving into digital formats along with the traditional methods, patients can see their work in more vivid colors, edit their work on an ongoing basis, and be readily reminded of past works when doing so is useful to the treatment experience. “The therapist can now e-mail a drawing to the patient and say, ‘Remember this drawing?’” Cabaniss says.

 

McArthur says she conducts mostly individual art therapy sessions with patients, in an organization that emphasizes individual therapy overall. She does conduct one group art therapy session per week. Patients typically receive two to four hours of art therapy a week while in Williamsville Wellness’s art therapy program.

 

McArthur collaborates with the rest of the center’s treatment team daily, which allows the art therapy to function as an integrated element of the treatment experience as opposed to a stand-alone exercise.

 

“Without it, it would take a little longer to get information about the patient,” McArthur says. “Patients don’t always want to report things upfront.”

I came across this article recently and thought it was particularly poignant since I often come across very creative and intelligent individuals who are dealing with mental health problems, and since I provide art therapy, creativity is inherent in the type of treatment.  An interesting article that I thought would be good food for thought here.

Creativity and Depression: Is There a Link?

Posted by Writing Staff on May 2, 2011 10:59 AM

The mad genius, the tormented artist, the melancholy poet. History is filled with writers, poets, artists, musicians, composers, and other creative people who wrestled with mood disorders. A list of just a few of them would include Dickinson, Poe, Emerson, Dickens, Faulkner, Hemingway, Melville, Tolstoy, O'Keefe, Gaugin, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky. But is this portrayal just a stereotype, or is there really a link between creativity and depression?

Prevalence of Mood Disorders in Creative People

This question haunted Arnold M. Ludwig, a researcher at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. He embarked on a 10-year study of 1004 men and women who were prominent in a variety of professions, including art, music, science, business, politics, and sports. Ludwig found that between 59 and 77 percent of the artists, writers, and musicians suffered mental illness (particularly mood disorders) compared to just 18 to 29 percent in the less artistic professionals.

Most studies on this subject have consistently shown higher rates of mood disorders in creative people, differing only in the magnitude of the results. Are creative people destined to experience depression or bipolar disorder ? Or does having a mental illness make people more creative? Kay Redfield Jamison, professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, addresses these questions in her book, Touched with Fire, and notes that most creative people do not suffer from recurring mood swings. In fact, the majority of people suffering from depression and bipolar disorder do not have extraordinary imaginations. "To assume that such diseases usually promote artistic talent wrongly reinforces simplistic notions of the 'mad genius," she writes.

Unraveling the Mystery

Why is it, then, that such a high percentage of creative people suffer from depression and bipolar disorder? Do these diseases enhance creativity in certain people or do characteristics of the creative mind render one more vulnerable to these diseases? The answers to these questions are uncertain, but a number of theories have been proposed.

Mania and the Creative Process

The manic phase of bipolar disorder is characterized by emotions and behaviors that parallel the creative process. These include:

• Original thinking
• Heightened sensitivity
• Increased drive and productivity
• Increased fluency, fluidity, and frequency of thoughts
• Tendency to use rhymes, idiosyncratics, and alliteration
• Sharp focus
• Intensity
• Ability to function on limited sleep
• Increased quality and quantity of word usage
• Extreme anxiety
• Psychosis

In certain people with bipolar disorder, these manic characteristics will enhance creativity. In contrast, the depressive phase of bipolar disorder is characterized by introspection, rumination, lack of interest in one's surroundings, and intense psychological pain, all of which can add depth and meaning to creative work. This may partially explain the profound creativity seen in many people with bipolar disorder.

The Social Challenges of Being Creative

One theory suggests that many creatively gifted individuals may suffer from depression as a result of being in environments that don't support their creativity. In her book, The Woman's Book of Creativity, C. Diane Ealy, PhD, writes, "Many studies have shown us that a young girl's ideas are frequently discounted by her peers and teachers. In response, she stifles her creativity. Other experts agree that suppressed and misunderstood creativity can lead to severe neurotic and psychotic behavior, addictions, unhealthy relationships, concealment of abilities, hopelessness, and depression.

Gifted and talented people are often divergent thinkers who have unusual, original, and creative perception and elaborate fantasies. They may disagree with authority, invest in their own interests, and express unpopular views. This can present social challenges, particularly for girls and women, as a result of a cultural expectation to conform. Gifted and talented people generally receive little acceptance for their unique selves, and may have poor self-esteem and difficulty trusting people. This situation can lead to feelings of isolation and frequent bouts of depression.

Gifted and talented adults are driven to express their inner creativity but may be hindered by self-criticism, self-doubt, and feelings of inferiority, says Mary Rocamora, who heads a school in Los Angeles for gifted and talented adults. When this happens, frustration can turn into hopelessness and depression.

Finally, creative individuals, such as writers and artists, often spend long hours working in solitude. When faced with various stressors they may not have as much social support as those who work among other people. This may result in increased stress, feelings of isolation, and depression. For this reason, it's helpful for creative people to develop outside interests that involve socializing, especially if their work is solitary.

Treatment Concerns for Creative People

According to Jamison, creative people with mood disorders are often reluctant to comply with drug therapies. These treatments may hinder their creativity by dampening mental processes, perception, and range of emotion. While it is still unclear if a true link between creativity and depression exists, creative people with mental illness require treatments that alleviate their symptoms and prevent serious complications, but preserve their ability to perceive vital human emotions.

by Amy Scholten, MPH

RESOURCES:

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

http://www.ndmda.org

National Foundation for Depressive Illness

http://www.depression.org

Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted

http://www.sengifted.org

References:

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

Ealy, C. Diane. The Woman's Book of Creativity . Beyond Words Publishing Co, May 1996.

Jamison, Kay Redfield. Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament . Touchstone Books, October 1996.

National Foundation for Depressive Illness

Last reviewed May 2006 by Jill Landis, MD

Happy Graduation!

BIG congratulations to the George Washington University Art Therapy Class of 2012 - 

especially my 3 graduating interns from last year and this year - Sara, Rebecca, and Shaina!

Fusing Math and Art

I came across this fundraiser campaign to help a math major - and artist - who wanted to raise money to pay for software to help her convert mathematical algorithms into art.  Sami, who is diagnosed with Asperger's, embarked on this project as a way to communicate through art.  Watch her video here, and discover her unique way of communicating.

Greetings Tellurians, 

Around age fourteen, a number of influences converged upon my thinker to produce the realization that a structure exists hidden inside everything. I was unable to express something as abstract as this awareness was, but I began to see structure everywhere; everything is somehow discretely crystalline.  

I tried to encapsulate my experiences in poetry, but this was not enough. I needed to show people. So I spent four years devoted to studying how to map the world in visual media, i.e. drawing and painting. 

 It then dawned upon me that I needed another language so that I could communicate what I’ve been learning about the world, so I pushed my art practice to the background and began studying mathematics. Now as I continue to study both mathematics and visual arts, I begin to experiment with ways in which I can weave them together. 

 I’ve begun a series of drawings that serve as tiny, quiet, open places in which to think about mathematics while drawing. Right now they are purely experimental, and they feel honest, but my imagination far exceeds my present reach. One thing keeping me back is the need to explore data manipulation and representation through computer programs. My current technology is inefficient and involves burdens that prevent me from embarking on many intellectual journeys of which I conceive. 

 In gaining this initial funding I will be able to begin exploring more of the ideas I have for unifying mathematics and art. Specifically for this project, it will allow me to create a series of carefully planned out and hand drawn pieces, including a set of small drawings (approximately dozens) and four larger, ~14x14 in. drawings that will form a tetraptych, to be completed by the end of the year. 

 I’ve given the title 002303200 to the public manifestation of this and future projects to encourage an unavoidable visual presence. I have a vague dream of it becoming a well-defined system involving research, pure artistic practice, education, and any other relevant entity it may run into. Among many further projects that appeal to me is the creation of distinctly artistic, visual materials to aid students of mathematics, and particularly those with unique learning differences. 

 Your support will be appreciated in a deep, integrated manner, and be a vote for both these artistic and mathematical endeavors and also for individuals with Aspergers, who are everywhere struggling to find the language or mechanism by which they may share with you what they know or find beautiful in the world. 

Sincerely, Sami 

 For more/other information and to see more drawings, visit: 

www.002303200.com 

 To keep up with progress of the project on more mobile planes:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/002303200/364621086905816 

https://twitter.com/#!/002303200 

For You OCD Musicians....

New Documentary Depicts Fan’s Quest to Meet Metallica’s Lars Ulrich

I found out about this new documentary that highlights the life of a man with Fragile X Syndrome, and his siblings' assistance to help him meet his idol fixation, Lars Ulrich of Metallica.  Proceeds from the film will go directly to Mencap, an organization that works with people with learning disabilities and their families.

A new documentary titled ‘Mission to Lars’ centers on Tom Spicer, a learning disabled man who goes on a quest to meet his hero, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. Spicer has Fragile X Syndrome, which is a sort of autism, and is helped on his journey by his brother and sister.

Kate and William Spicer hit the road with their brother Tom, traveling from the UK to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and beyond.  “We had this fantasy of hitting the road with Tom and recreating some of the magic of our teenage years cruising around in £100 cars, eating Burger King and listening to heavy metal on the tape deck,” says Kate. “We thought it would be fun, bonding. We wanted to do something good for our brother. We were also sick of him endlessly asking.”

Kate is a journalist and William a filmmaker, so they have experience in the music industry, but still ran across numerous obstacles in trying to fulfill their brother’s dream. Mencap, the British charity who works with learning disabled individuals, were involved in the making of the film.

The movie’s website says ‘Mission to Lars’ tells the story of the confusing family dynamics around learning disability, and portrays Tom as a complex and likeable character, and not as someone one sees first as learning disabled and everything else second.

In addition to entertaining the audience and raising awareness, ‘Mission to Lars’ is also giving all the profits from the film to Mencap. In June, there will be theatrical screenings of the documentary, which will also be used as outreach opportunities. The soundtrack includes music from Bob Dylan, Devandra Banhart and Blur.

Lars Ulrich himself has seen the movie, and according to the Spicer family, he likes it. Sounds like an interesting documentary with a great message for a worthy cause. In addition to some British screenings, the filmmakers plan on taking ‘Mission To Lars’ on the road.

'Tis True!

Color therapy...with "Baker-Miller Pink"

A recent post from Philbrook Museum of Art in my hometown of Tulsa, noted a discovery of Dr. Schauss with a particular color of pink.  This is just one of many color associations on mood.  But I found it very interesting being noted by an art museum!  Thanks, Philbrook!

THE POWER OF PINK: In 1979, Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D, experimented with the use of a particular shade of pink and its affect on mood and behavior. He called the color "BAKER-MILLER PINK" (seen here). It was found that this pink color was associated with a short-term decrease in aggression. Subsequent experiments also found that this shade of pink could also act as a natural appetite suppressant. Who knew?

World Autism Awareness Day

The fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2012. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. How will you celebrate? To share your events, please "Like" the World Autism Awareness Day page on Facebook and submit your events by posting the information on the wall.

Thank you for celebrating the wonderful people in our lives affected by autism on April 2 and throughout April which was Autism Awareness Month. Learn more about some of the events from April 2, 2012 here!

 There are a few songs that have been written regarding autism, and would like to share a couple here:

"Solitary Shell" by Dream Theater (from Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, 2002)

   He learned to walk and talk on time
But never cared much to be held
and steadily he would decline
Into his solitary shell
Read all the Lyrics here   "Puzzle Box" by Red Lamb (from Red Lamb, 2011)

   Every child’s mind is…
Like a puzzle box
But what of the mind that stays…
That stays forever locked?
Early intervention’s
The key to it all
Now we lift them up
HE won’t let them fall Read all the Lyrics here 

Here is an interview with Dan and Candi Spitz about their autistic twin sons and using Red Lamb's song "Puzzle Box" to increase Autism awareness:
 

16-year-old Girl with Asperger's Focuses on Painting to Express Herself

This is a great story that caught my attention, especially since Amanda is from my home state of Oklahoma, and if her art is selected, it will be exhibited in my current backyard at the MLK Library in DC. :)

Amanda LaMunyon: 

Teenage Artist With Autism Paints Brilliant Nature Scenes

Amanda LaMunyon, a talented 16-year-old artist, has Asperger's Syndrome. Instead of being a setback, however, this allows her to concentrate on her painting. Two years ago, Amanda was a finalist in CVS's "All Kids Can Create" contest, which puts a spotlight on creative kids around the country. The young, Oklahoma-based artist writes on the "CVS Caremark All Kids Can" website, "When I put a paintbrush in my hands for the first time, I instantly felt my life change. I could finally focus without getting distracted and my paintings helped me convey everything I had difficulty expressing,"

At only 12 years old, Amanda addressed the United Nations during World Autism Awareness Day. She delivered a poem, "A Little Secret," which she wrote herself. (She speaks around the three minute mark in the video below.) Looking very self composed despite her young age, the precocious artist reveals, "She is very well meaning, but frequently misunderstood." This can be a common complaint among those living and dealing with people who are autistic; at times, it seems they are living in their own world. But this doesn't get Amanda down; instead, it motivates her to create bridges between people. She writes on her website, "I hope to continue to share my art and my story of overcoming challenges."

We interviewed Amanda about her work, and her responses are below.

HuffPost Arts: How did you first develop an interest in art?

AL: I first developed an interest in art and painting when I was about seven years old. I couldn't stay focused, so my parents thought it was a good idea to have an outlet. They looked up art lessons, and I took my first lesson with my teacher, and after my first lesson she said, "I think this girl can paint;" I've been painting ever since.

HuffPost Arts: Have you kept in touch with this teacher?

Yes, she's a very dear friend of the family. We just love her.

HuffPost Arts: Are there any artists who have inspired you?

I like Monet, Van Gogh, the French Impressionists. I definitely consider myself an Impressionist artist so I enjoy that type of work more.

HuffPost Arts: Do you prefer to do landscapes?

It varies. I like doing anything with nature, whether it's landscapes or animals.

HuffPost Arts: What kind of museums do you like in Oklahoma?

We don't have that many art museums here, but I've been the OKC Museum and the Tulsa one.

HuffPost Arts: Were you ever able to see Impressionist work up close?

I was able to see Monets, yes. Whenever I know there's a piece of Impressionist work [I tell my parents], "We're going to this museum!"

HuffPost Arts: Are either of your parents artistic?

Not much. I believe I was born with the ability; I just had to acquire it.

HuffPost Arts: What do you want to do in the next few years?

Painting is my life now. I want to get a degree in graphic art and painting [and] I want to do more work with charities.

See a slideshow of Amanda's work below, and let us know if you've ever found solace in art in the comments section.

If you'd like to participate in "All Kids Can," please submit your or your child's artwork before April 8, 2012 here, and it will be featured in an online gallery. In addition, the artwork submitted could be chosen for display in the “What Inspires Me” exhibition this August in Washington, D.C. at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. 

Painting to Make a Difference

02/22/2012

"There's always that one person that tells you, 'You're not good enough.' But you are. Keep on doing what you love."

This powerful advice comes from Amanda LaMunyon, a sixteen-year-old from Oklahoma who is hoping to change the way people perceive disabilities through her original artwork.

When Amanda was in elementary school, she had trouble concentrating and couldn't sit still in class.  She had difficulty relating to her peers and struggled to stay focused on her daily activities.  "I knew the rules in school but I just couldn't apply them, and I could never adapt social skills when I tried to communicate with my classmates."

Despite her struggles in school, there was one thing that helped Amanda relax and helped her express all the emotions that she couldn't convey to her teachers, friends and family.  "When I put a paintbrush in my hands for the first time, I instantly felt my life change.  I could finally focus without getting distracted and my paintings helped me convey everything I had difficulty expressing."

When Amanda was eight years old, she was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a condition that helped explain the difficulties she had experienced in school.  After learning of her diagnosis, Amanda's painting hobby turned into an outlet that connected her with the people that had misunderstood her throughout her childhood.

"Learning I had Asperger's helped me come to terms with what I was doing, and made me all the more passionate to exercise my talents with painting.  I always wanted my artwork to be enjoyed, but hearing about how I had Asperger's, like so many other kids in the world, I wanted my artwork to mean something and help other people."

Through her painting, Amanda has dedicated herself to increasing awareness around autism and other sensory disorders like Asperger's. Amanda's artwork is available for purchase online - http://amandalamunyon.com/ - and she donates a portion of the proceeds to organizations that are striving to improve the lives of children with autism like Children's Hospital Foundation and Children's Miracle Network.  In addition, Amanda has participated in fundraisers for organizations including Autism Speaks, The Lili Claire Foundation and Autism Society.

In 2010, Amanda was selected as a finalist in the All Kids Can CREATE campaign with our partner VSA and traveled to Washington, D.C. to have her artwork displayed in a national exhibition.  "Visiting D.C. was an absolute privilege.  It was a humbling experience to meet other amazing young artists that never let their disabilities become an obstacle for them and the trip really opened a lot of doors for me to introduce my artwork to the world."

Since traveling to Washington, D.C. with All Kids Can CREATE, Amanda has gained notoriety in the art world, having pieces displayed in galleries like the Salmagundi Club and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

"It's safe to say my life has changed a lot since I've started painting.  My artwork has given me a lot of opportunities to help other kids like me.  Even though I have trouble socially, I really do have a talent.  Not only do I want to raise money for autism-related research, I want to change the way people view autism, from a disability to an ability. And I want to help encourage other kids to find their own abilities, regardless of whether they have a disorder."

To learn more about our All Kids Can CREATE campaign and to submit original artwork, please visit http://www.artsonia.com/allkidscan. Artwork submitted before the April 8, 2012 deadline will be considered for display in the "What Inspires Me" exhibition debuting at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. in August 2012.

View Amanda here presenting her poem at an art exhibition "Don't Dis the Ability," showing artwork from people diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. The introduction for Amanda starts around 2:29.

"In Session"

This is one reason I love working with the kids I do.  This is a very cute personalized door sign one of my "kids" made for me to show when I'm in session so we won't be interrupted.  She made it with my favorite color for the background (purple) with the art theme and my initial.  She made it at home and brought it in for me today.  So cute!  :)

Here is a lovely post about the effectiveness of art therapy with cancer patients, written by Candida Abrahamson, PhD, who generously allowed me to repost this here.  

Visit her site at www.candidaabrahamson.wordpress.com.

“Art Is A Form Of Power:” Art Therapy and Cancer

Posted on March 19, 2012

Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change – it can not only move us, it makes us move.~Ossie Davis

In my time spent blogging about cancer, I’ve been privileged to come across a number of cancer blogs that are truly wonderful.

They’re too manifold to name here, but one I particularly like, given my affinity for research and outside sources, is written by Andrew at http://lymphomajourney.wordpress.com. Its description is apt and pithy: “Andrew blogs and tweets about his lymphoma journey, and shares articles of interest regarding cancer, healthcare, and related lifestyle issues.”

I encourage you to take a look.

It was as I was composing a post on parental responsibility to pay for a child’s college degree when the child fancies he’d like to major in, say, Horticulture, or–why not?–Bagpiping, that I came across  just such a one of the many fascinating articles and links Andrew shares.  It caught my fancy, and sent me traveling down my  mind’s own path for a day’s vacation from the vicissitudes of parenting adult children.  In his post “Using Art to Help Young Patients in Hospitals – NYTimes.com” you will find the link to the New York Times article “Hoping That Art Helps With Healing.”

And with one read-through of the article I was off the topic of whether a parent is responsible for footing the entire bill for a college degree in Agriculture for a daughter who truly wants to be a ballerina. . . .

Hmm, thought I to myself, I know the New York Times well, and they wouldn’t claim that “researchers have found that such [art therapy] programs decrease patient stress and improve quality of life,” without actually having consulted some real, not theoretical, researchers.  But–and this is something of a bone I have to pick with the outstanding paper–here, as often in its articles, the Times leaves us hanging about precisely who such researchers are, what exactly they might have found when, and how they went about finding it (and, of course, my own obsessional question: did these authors get to look at a good meta-analysis?).

So–I went ahead and filled in those blanks. I know many of you might be thinking: Who cares [I taught high school school many years ago and that's a question that crosses generational, class, gender and many other lines. I've seen the "who cares" enemy, faced it down, and emerged victorious before.]?

Can’t we just trust the Times? you think. I mean, who can you trust anymore if you can’t trust the Times? Profound questions, my friend, and I leave you to ponder them if that’s what you’d like to do.

For you of the “who cares?” club,  I also recommend skipping the rest of this post, and maybe looking for something less factually oriented and settling in for a nice skim. How about “Stupid Young-Adult Tricks” or “You Will Never Go Broke Underestimating the Intelligence of the American Public” and an ice cold beer? You will certainly not run into any random controlled trials, statistics, talk about p values, and concern about peer-reviewed journals there.

We can all reconvene tomorrow to talk about how much you owe for your child’s degree in Artisanry.

For anyone hardy enough to hang with me through this survey of the lit on art therapy and cancer. . . let’s get a move-on.

Why not start with an article published in the February 2006 issue of Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, where the authors conducted a study right here in my hometown of Chicago, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital? The study’s specific aim was to determine the effect of a 1-hour session of art therapy on pain and other symptoms common to adult cancer patients currently hospitalized. Fifty inpatients in Northwestern’s oncology unit were enrolled in the study for a 4-month period. Initially 9 symptoms were assessed (pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, lack of appetite, well-being and shortness of breath). Each session was individualized, and patients had complete choice over materials and product.

Although patients could use the session to delve into psychological matters if they wished, there was no obligation to, and some merely played around with the materials, or created light products, just for enjoyment.

The results were excellent. Overall the patients reported reductions in 8 of 9 measured symptoms (nausea was the only one without improvement) after working for an hour on an art project of their choice.

The authors of the study were thrilled. Nancy Nainis, an art therapist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and lead author on the study, was particularly intrigued by the reduction in tiredness. ”Several subjects made anecdotal comments that the art therapy had energized them,” commented Ms. Nainis. “This is the first study to document a reduction in tiredness as a result of art therapy.”

Just a year after the Nainis study, Bar-Sela et al published a paper with the type of title I love for its profound lack of creativity, and tendency to give it all away before you’ve even had to read through the method section (not that there isn’t a lot to say for that), called “Art therapy improved depression and influenced fatigue levels in cancer patients on chemotherapy” (still guessing at the outcome?).

They focused on depression and fatigue alone, cutting out the other 7 symptoms.

The group studied sixty cancer patients on chemotherapy who took part in once-weekly art session that involved painting with water-based paints. The authors designated 19 patients who took part in 4 or more sessions the “intervention group,” and the remaining who took part in 2 or fewer sessions were the “participant group.”

Once again, mean scores for both depression and fatigue dropped–significantly–in the intervention group.

I found this exciting enough that I’d be mandating art therapy coverage for all cancer patients who wanted it. But in true ”research-talk,” the authors pull their punches and conclude only, “Art therapy is worthy of further study in the treatment of cancer patients with depression or fatigue during chemotherapy treatment.” 

Sometimes research writing gives me a pain.

And then, what does any discussion of research need, to really get those scientists excited? A random controlled study, of course. So let’s look at one of those, with yet another title that blows the ending before we can really get going: “Art therapy improves experienced quality of life among women undergoing treatment for breast cancer: a randomized controlled study.”

This study came out of Umea, Sweden, and looked at art therapy as an intervention for 41 women undergoing radiation for treatment for breast cancer. 20 women were randomly assigned to individualized art therapy sessions once a week. Both this group and the control group had their quality of life assessed before radiation start started, 2 months, and then 6 months after the onset of treatment. (Quality of life was assessed utilizing the WHOQOL-BREF and EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-BR23, the one for breast cancer specifically.)

Conclude the authors, “A significant increase in total health, total QoL [quality of life], physical health and psychological health was observed in the art therapy group.” Seems like they got even more than they bargained for. 

Art Therapy at the Cedars Cancer Institute

And let’s not leave a very vulnerable group of cancer patients unaccounted for: children.  In a study of children with leukemia, the authors highlighted the painfulness of certain procedures these children must undergo, such as lumbar puncture or bone marrow aspiration.  This research team, headed by Favara-Scacco, noted that children scheduled for for painful procedures demonstrated resistance and anxiety during and after these procedures.

So they began providing the children, between 2 and 14 years of age, with art therapy in September 1997, with the aim of preventing anxiety and fear during these most painful treatments, and of avoiding completely ongoing emotional distress in the long-term. Therapy was continued up until within a few months of the October, 2001, publication of the paper, “Art therapy as support for children with leukemia during painful procedures.”

The change was profound. When painful treatments were necessary, children who had been provided with art therapy demonstrated more collaborative and less resistant behavior than those in the control group, and a significant number of patients or parents requested art therapy again when the treatment had to be repeated.

The researchers were impressed. Once again, in that oh-so-understated way of writing, they asserted that art therapy was”shown to be a useful  intervention that can prevent permanent trauma and support children and parents during intrusive interventions.” Compared with general anesthetic’s side effects, it’s a home run, at least in my book.

And I’d like to end in a place where so many patients fear they will find themselves–in hospice care.  

Blessedly, there is much we can do to ease the physical suffering of the terminally ill cancer patient. But that does little, sometimes, to quiet the mind, with its fear of death, its attachment to this world, its anxieties about further suffering–and then, perhaps, fear of suffering even after the end.

Art therapy has been used in hospice care units since the early 1990s, to help ease the emotional strain on bereaved family members. But this was the first study to explore the effectiveness of art therapy for terminally ill cancer patients themselves.

Art at Treetops Hospice

Published just this month, the study took place at the Hospice Palliative Care Unit in Taipei Veteran General Hospital from April 2001 to December 2004 (see Lin citation).

In order to assess the impact of the therapy, researchers evaluated patients’: 1. Feelings (of concentration during the art appreciation component of the therapy; of fun while painting, and feelings toward the artworks themselves); 2. Cognition (including thoughts on the meaning of life and sharing thoughts on life and death); 3. Behavior (meaning patients developed an approach to art appreciation and creation without focusing on progress); and 4. Impact on illness (feeling of relief of emotional stress and improvement of medical symptoms during therapy).

The researchers were quite pleased with their results. In a rather more creatively written paper than the standard, “Art therapy for terminal cancer patients in a hospice palliative care unit in Taiwan,” they assert, ”[i]n the process of the art therapy, we found that patients went from inactivity to actively creating artworks. .  .These patients were able to overcome physical distress such as pain, and transformed the pain into creative artwork (McIntyre, 1992; Hawkins, 1993; Mayo, 1996; Kaye, 1997; Kennett, 2000; Michele, 2004). From the description of the artwork they created, we could easily sense the spirit of the patients.”

Ever the cynic, I’m not at all sure how they could “sense the spirit” in a way that “counts” in a research paper, but despite snide asides, I found the paper’s ending even more uplifting:

“. . .[T]hrough art appreciation and hands-on painting, terminal cancer patients who were in deteriorating health conditions and facing death could have a chance to manage their emotional crisis. They were able to experience a sensation of nonverbal communication, and soothe the pressure and discomfort from illness (Kuo et al., 2002).”

If art therapy offers symptom relief, a feeling of a modicum of control for young cancer patients, and the potential to “manage emotional crises,” then, really folks, where are the watercolors?

References

Bar-Sela G, et al. Art therapy improved depression and influenced fatigue levels in cancer patients on chemotherapy. Psycho-Oncology 2007; 16(11):980-4.

Bidgood Jess. Hoping that art helps with healing. New York Times March 14, 2012.

Favara-Scacco C, et al. Art therapy as support for children with leukemia during painful procedures. Medical & Pediatric Oncology 2001; 36(4):474-80.

Lin MH, et al. Art therapy for terminal cancer patients in a hospice palliative care unit in Taiwan. Palliative and Supportive Care 2012; 10(1):51-7.

Nainis N, et al. Relieving symptoms in cancer: innovative use of art therapy. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2006; 31(2):162-9.

Svensk AC, et al. Art therapy improves experienced quality of life among women undergoing treatment for breast cancer: a randomized controlled study. European Journal of Cancer Care (Engl.) 2009; 18(1):69-77.

How the brain benefits from making art...

Art and How it Benefits the Brain 

By Grant Eckert

Art and How it Benefits the Brain: Many people question the purpose of art. They acknowledge an aesthetic approach but ignore any possible positive benefits of a more practical nature. Contrary to popular belief, art is not purely aesthetic. It is not a product with no possible effects outside of the obvious - an "artistic" product. Art is not of less use than science in preparing individuals for the "real" world. In fact, the contrary is true. Art is very important in helping the brain reach its full potential. 

How does art accomplish this? It introduces the brain to diverse cognitive skills that help us unravel intricate problems. Art activates the creative part of our brain - the part that works without words and can only express itself non-verbally. Art, in thought and through the creative processes, activates the imaginative and creative side, the spatial and intuitive side of our brain. Art jumps over the process of linear and logical thinking. It trains the brain to shift into thinking differently, of broaching old problems in new ways. 

 This is what makes art so important. It benefits the brain by training it to think outside the box. It helps children understand concepts with greater ease. It aids children in getting better grades. In the real world, the artistic side of the brain helps engineers solve problems. It guides individuals to cerate solutions. Art is the property of fine artists; it is also the product of engineers, technicians and computer designers. Art, in many different ways, helps people make the world a better place. 

There have been copious studies on the relationship between art and its benefits to the brain. Semir Zeki, a former professor of neurobiology at the University College, London and co-head of the Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology, published an article, "Artistic Creativity and the Brain," in Science Magazine, in July 2001. Zeki detailed the relationship between the development of cognitive abilities and the creative process. He stated artistic expression is the key to comprehending ourselves. He also considered art and its expression as an expansion of brain function. In other words, art helps the brain in its search for knowledge. 

 Teachers apply this in the classroom, helping children improve their cognitive capabilities and stretch their ability to solve difficult problems. Professional therapists have also embraced art as another tool in their arsenal of leading the brain-weary back to health. In fact, several psychiatrists and psychologists highly recommend this form of treatment. Furthermore, training is now in place to ensure the standards remain high in this developing field. 

 Art therapy is now a common means of helping individuals to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being. It bases its approach on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people in a number of different positive ways. It facilitates them in ending or finding a solution to various conflicts and problems. Art also aids them to manage their behavior, develop interpersonal skills, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, lessen stress and attain insight. 

Professionals use art therapy with children, adults and teens, individuals and groups. It is employed regardless of age or gender. Combining the areas of human development, visual arts such as painting, drawing and sculpture, and the creative process with the various models of counseling and psychotherapy, art therapy assesses and treats the following mental problems and disorders: anxiety, depression, mental illness, substance abuse and other addictions. Art therapists address family and relationship issues, abuse and domestic violence and social and emotional difficulties related to disability and illness. Art therapy is applicable in situations of trauma and loss, physical, cognitive, and neurological problems and psychosocial difficulties related to medical illness. 

So what are the benefits of art on the brain? When individuals create art and reflect on it, the processes, increase self-awareness, initiate awareness of others and help people cope with stress, and traumatic experiences. Art enhances cognitive abilities and provides individuals with the ability to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art. 

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Enjoy some Van Gogh this Starry Night....

Starry Night (interactive animation) from Petros Vrellis on Vimeo.

Project Unbreakable

Thanks to a friend who tipped me off to this project, using photography as a way to help survivors of sexual abuse/assault.   She photographs survivors with quotes from their perpetrators.  Recently, people have been taking pictures of themselves and their quotes and sending them to Grace from all over the country.  Read more about it below:

In October of last year, Grace Brown began a photography project called Project Unbreakable. Grace uses photography to help heal sexual abuse survivors by photographing them with posters that hold quotes from their attackers. Rape survivor and advocate for victims of sexual abuse, Yvonne Moss, describes the project as a way for victims to take the power back of the words that were once used against them. 

 Grace plans on photographing survivors for as long as she possibly can. Her goal is to spread light, awareness, and healing for those who have been affected. 

If you are interested in participating by either being photographed or sending in your own image, you may send her an email at projectunbreakable@gmail.com with the subject line "Photograph Me" or "Submission", depending on the circumstance. 


If you have an image you would like to submit, please email me at grace@50extraordinarywomen.com  And if you’re in NYC, MA, NJ, or Washington DC then I would potentially be able to photograph you in the near future - just send me an email.

More than origami...

AWESOME THING OF THE DAY: Cities Made Of Paper
January 22, 2012

Dutch artist Ingrid Siliakus makes shapes out of folded paper, but she's not just another origami hobbyist. (Although she can probably whip off a pretty awesome crane in no time.)

 Instead, Siliakus makes incredibly detailed and fantastical cityscapes, which look like pages from the most amazing pop-up book you can imagine.

Some of Siliakus's work will be on display until February 29 at Erve Kots in the Netherlands.

Autism Definition Could Change in New DSM-V

As an art therapist who works with some teens diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder or high-functioning Autism, this could make a big difference in the field of psychology:

New Autism Definition Could Exclude Many 

Proposed changes to the definition of autism might make it much harder for a person to be diagnosed with the disorder. The change would likely slow the rapidly increasing rate of autism diagnoses but also spark fears that some children with autism would no longer fit its definition, excluding them from services and treatments they depend on. 

A panel of experts from the American Psychiatric Association re-evaluating the definition currently published in the “bible” of psychiatry, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is used to determine treatment, insurance coverage and access to services for a variety of mental illnesses. 

That definition includes a number of disorders under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorder, including autism disorder, Asperger’s disorder and pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified, which usually includes people who don’t fit neatly into the other categories of autism. Currently, people must show at least six out of 12 possible behaviors to be diagnosed as autistic. 

According to a report published Wednesday in the New York Times, proposed changes to the definition for the new DSM edition, slated to be published next year, would exclude Asperger’s and PDDNOS and consolidate autism diagnoses under a narrower category of autism. The person would have to show three deficits in social interaction and communication and two repetitive behaviors, a stricter set of criteria. 

Many autism experts support the proposed changes, saying they will make it far easier to diagnose autism. 

“Distinctions between the current subtypes are difficult to make, and do not necessary have differential implications for treatment. The line between PDDNOS and autism is often blurry, as is the line between Asperger’s disorder and ‘high functioning’ autism,” Wendy Stone, director of the University of Washington Autism Center, told ABC News. “Even well-trained researchers and clinicians using standardized measures may not agree on which side of these ‘lines’ an individual may fit.” 

Experts say the changes will probably also arrest the rate of autism diagnoses, which have been rising sharply in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 110 children in the U.S. has autism under the old definition. 

Dr. Fred Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine, led a team of researchers who analyzed data from a 1994 study testing the criteria used in the current edition of DSM. According to a statement from Yale University, the researchers found that half of the people diagnosed with autism in that trial would no longer merit a diagnosis under the new proposed criteria. In the statement, Dr. Volkmar emphasized that these preliminary findings suggest that “only the most cognitively able” would be excluded from an autism diagnosis. 

Lori Warner, director of the Hope Center for Autism at Beaumont Children’s Hospital Center in Royal Oak, Mich., told ABC News that these cognitively able, ‘high-functioning’ autistics still require a number of treatment and support services. “People tend to think that the more severely impacted children need the most services. But often these high-functioning individuals with enough help could either move out of the spectrum or live more functional lives with dignity,” Warner said. “If the Volkmar group is correct, I’m very worried for that segment of families.” 

If patients lose their diagnosis status, they might not be able to get the treatments and services provided for autistic patients and their families, which often require a diagnosis to qualify for insurance coverage, special education and other assistance. “Really, in a lot of states, you need that diagnosis in order to have treatment covered. If you don’t have that diagnosis, you’re going to try to pay out of pocket or you have no access to these services,” Warner said. “It could be devastating for a lot of families.”