Where The HeArt IS
Art Therapy - Fall Issue - published by The Anglophone East School District
Picture a serene classroom, soft music playing, and eight students quietly painting. Their only assignment is to follow their heart and paint accordingly. As far fetched as this quiet classroom may seem to some teachers, this was the case for two groups in April 2013. Last school year, students at Harrison Trimble High School were able to take part in a life changing activity – art therapy. With the help Pamela Cail, a local artist, and the Canadian Mental Health Association, sixteen students were able to create a personal abstract artwork, as well as two group art pieces. They now hang in the guidance office at the school.
Art therapy is “…. a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages” (American Art Therapy Association, 2012). Although the practice has been around since the 1940’s, it is not widely used around the world. Some people think that it is only for people who have a certain level of ability or age, but this is untrue. According to Margarita Tartakovsky, “…. art therapy has been used on a variety of populations, with everyone from young kids to the elderly, war veterans to prisoners and people with physical disabilities to those with psychological disorders.” A counselor would be able to use this technique to give a voice to an issue that was hard to voice.
In April, the students were invited to join me and the artist for one full day to be inspired and to create. They were able to meet Pamela, a wonderful artist, who taught us to listen to our heart and our emotions, and to be able to find our inner artist. She taught us to use Rainbow Energy Alive art, her version of healing art therapy. According to her, “…. she channels her client’s spirit, guides to deliver messages and healing in the form of beautiful, colourful and passion-driven art.” She guides the students to discover the hidden message of their painting by listening to the energy vibration and feeling of it.
To begin the activity, two separate groups were created. The goal of the first group, which was comprised of students from various grades, was to improve their mental well-being. The second group consisted of only grade 12 students who were nervous about future transitions and life changes. Both groups were first introduced to the concept of meditation, chakras and whole body experiences. Pachelbel played while the students brought to life their visualization on canvas. Each piece was unique and beautiful. Some portrayed roads to the unknown, while others had hints of past or future successes.
Then, each group came together and painted a group painting – one group chose the theme “Hope”, while the other one chose “Happiness”. We listened to inspiring music, such as Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and brought back Pachelbel. The students’ emotions, dreams and hopes guided the final images.
Amongst the splash of color and the fury of finger painting, each team of students created a final painting that summed up their feelings and experiences.
After a full day of retreat, all students came out with a positive self-view, a beautiful painting, and a couple new friends. By using art, we were able to help develop coping strategies, as well as life skills, for students who might have been looking for a bit of guidance. Since then, some of the students have come back to our guidance department to showcase their newly found coping skills, or even to inquire about future opportunities to help others. By becoming group leaders and school mentors, these students are now able to help other students become inspired.
The idea for art therapy initially came from the belief that the brief therapy that is currently being used in most schools, does not work for all students. At Harrison Trimble High School, we have experimented with other types of therapy, such as group cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, we have also brought in outside community agencies, such as Atlantic Wellness Center, YWCA, etc. to meet our students’ needs. We thought adding art therapy, with the help of the Canadian Mental Health Association, would be a great experience for our students. By doing this, we were also able to use a teachable subject and combine it in a non-traditional way with a non-curricular area – guidance.
This year, we hope to repeat the experience, but with more students. We will apply for grants and will, hopefully, be able to expand the program. As a result, more students will be able to be involved, and for a longer period of time. Our goals are to create a blog that will provide these students with a venue to reflect upon their experience, and to involve the local press in an attempt to create awareness regarding different approaches to therapy. Finally, the culminating point would be an art exhibition of paintings created during this process. We strongly believe that each student in our school has an inner artist, and with our help, they will be able to come out and shine.
Written by Julie Doucette - Student Counsellor - Harrison Trimble High School
Art therapy is “…. a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages” (American Art Therapy Association, 2012). Although the practice has been around since the 1940’s, it is not widely used around the world. Some people think that it is only for people who have a certain level of ability or age, but this is untrue. According to Margarita Tartakovsky, “…. art therapy has been used on a variety of populations, with everyone from young kids to the elderly, war veterans to prisoners and people with physical disabilities to those with psychological disorders.” A counselor would be able to use this technique to give a voice to an issue that was hard to voice.
In April, the students were invited to join me and the artist for one full day to be inspired and to create. They were able to meet Pamela, a wonderful artist, who taught us to listen to our heart and our emotions, and to be able to find our inner artist. She taught us to use Rainbow Energy Alive art, her version of healing art therapy. According to her, “…. she channels her client’s spirit, guides to deliver messages and healing in the form of beautiful, colourful and passion-driven art.” She guides the students to discover the hidden message of their painting by listening to the energy vibration and feeling of it.
To begin the activity, two separate groups were created. The goal of the first group, which was comprised of students from various grades, was to improve their mental well-being. The second group consisted of only grade 12 students who were nervous about future transitions and life changes. Both groups were first introduced to the concept of meditation, chakras and whole body experiences. Pachelbel played while the students brought to life their visualization on canvas. Each piece was unique and beautiful. Some portrayed roads to the unknown, while others had hints of past or future successes.
Then, each group came together and painted a group painting – one group chose the theme “Hope”, while the other one chose “Happiness”. We listened to inspiring music, such as Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and brought back Pachelbel. The students’ emotions, dreams and hopes guided the final images.
Amongst the splash of color and the fury of finger painting, each team of students created a final painting that summed up their feelings and experiences.
After a full day of retreat, all students came out with a positive self-view, a beautiful painting, and a couple new friends. By using art, we were able to help develop coping strategies, as well as life skills, for students who might have been looking for a bit of guidance. Since then, some of the students have come back to our guidance department to showcase their newly found coping skills, or even to inquire about future opportunities to help others. By becoming group leaders and school mentors, these students are now able to help other students become inspired.
The idea for art therapy initially came from the belief that the brief therapy that is currently being used in most schools, does not work for all students. At Harrison Trimble High School, we have experimented with other types of therapy, such as group cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, we have also brought in outside community agencies, such as Atlantic Wellness Center, YWCA, etc. to meet our students’ needs. We thought adding art therapy, with the help of the Canadian Mental Health Association, would be a great experience for our students. By doing this, we were also able to use a teachable subject and combine it in a non-traditional way with a non-curricular area – guidance.
This year, we hope to repeat the experience, but with more students. We will apply for grants and will, hopefully, be able to expand the program. As a result, more students will be able to be involved, and for a longer period of time. Our goals are to create a blog that will provide these students with a venue to reflect upon their experience, and to involve the local press in an attempt to create awareness regarding different approaches to therapy. Finally, the culminating point would be an art exhibition of paintings created during this process. We strongly believe that each student in our school has an inner artist, and with our help, they will be able to come out and shine.
Written by Julie Doucette - Student Counsellor - Harrison Trimble High School
We provide this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for professional counseling and/or the advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage you to follow the directions and advice of your professional counselor and/or primary health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by Pamela Cail, Rainbow Touch, and REA Rainbow Energy Alive.