As a counselor, I have the opportunity to help adolescent consumers explore and touch upon a variety of issues or ‘human interest’ topics during their treatment. As the A.R.T.C. Specialist of the Franklin County site, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is using the arts—music, photography, videography, creative writing, blogging, painting, and on and on—to help these consumers express their emotions, usually in very exciting and creatively appropriate ways. Even consumers that often have difficulty expressing or identifying their emotions enjoy using the arts, which grants them the freedom to say what they want. When a consumer has that ‘lightbulb’ moment where they can use colors, sounds, pictures, or words to convey what they are feeling or thinking, it is an awe-inspiring thing to witness.
We live in a scary and confusing world sometimes. Around the world there is heartbreak and suffering every day. The recent tragedy at Sandy Hook gave many people a reason to take to social media to discuss the “whys and hows” of the situation. Consumers were definitely not unaffected by this event. Many addressed their own opinions and thoughts on this tragedy, discussing their shock and grief at the evil that exists in this world, and even more expressed underlying fears that it could happen to them at their own little schools (a hard conversation to have, regardless of age or years of experience). Fortunately, these young people were able to turn to art when words failed them as so much of what they face and have experienced is not adequately expressed in average everyday language. Whether they were expressing anger, confusion, sadness, or fear, many consumers used their creations to identify the struggle to understand ‘why’.
Most consumers I work with have a fascination with
painting. As I always say, ‘art is
definitely messy’ and I think they enjoy that no-holds barred type of
project-making. Recently, we have used
a lot of splatter painting, texture painting, or even finger painting to
express emotions. When consumers engage
in this project, we usually spend a lot of time addressing what their emotions
are like to them, using colors to describe their feelings, and assigning colors
to particular emotions. As they splatterpaint onto a canvas, or use fingers to swirl the paint around, we address which
feelings they are representing with each particular color, and why they made
that color choice. Also, since some of
my consumers have sensory issues, the finger-painting was therapeutic for them. We also experimented at using found objects
as ‘stamps’ for their paintings, such as sponges, forks, or even pieces of
bread (a very interesting session, to say the least!). If we give consumers the opportunity to use
art as an outlet, perhaps they can turn to these appropriate coping skills when
they experience these feelings, or would be more apt to correctly identify
their emotions rather than struggle with these.
My consumers continue to amaze me with their ability to cope
and their resiliency. They give me hope
that the world can still be seen as a positive and hopeful place, and that they
can take these coping skills with them into the future, and teach others as
well.
by Megan Smith
About the author: Megan Smith serves as the A.R.T.C. Specialist in our Franklin County
A.R.T.C. program, providing youth experiencing high risk situations with
creative supportive services.
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