Myths, Materials and Magic: What Clinicians Need to Know About Using Art Materials in Trauma Treatment

This webinar features two professional, licensed and board certified art therapists providing an overview of the unique role of the creative arts in the treatment of trauma related disorders. Starting with a basic introduction to the neurobiology of trauma, we will review the importance of a “bottom up” approach (making art) as a way to bypass words, which may be largely unavailable when processing traumatic material. The webinar will address “what is art therapy” and clarify common myths such as the assumption that one needs to have art talent to engage in this approach (they do not!) Ethical issues such as client confidentiality, storing and displaying client art, and working adjunctively with art therapists will be discussed. To deepen the experience, participants in the webinar will be invited to engage in some simple art making practices so we can explore the varied properties of different art materials. Furthermore, we will consider several art making strategies that can be used to facilitate expression of implicit memory and manage traumatic responses. The magic of art therapy will be illuminated though the presenter’s discussion of case vignettes that will synthesize this rich material.

This course is based on the recorded webinar, Myths, Materials and Magic: What Clinicians Need to Know About Using Art Materials in Trauma Treatment created by Tally Tripp, MA, MSW, ATR-BC et al in 2019.