An art therapy approach to behavior modification

1. An art therapy approach to behavior modification By: Ashley Morissette ED 7201 Dr. O’Connor-Petruso Fall 2011

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS • Introduction • Why Art Therapy? • Pros and Cons • Statement of the Problem • Review of Related Literature • Current Instructional Strategies • Hypothesis • References

3. introduction Art therapy is a growing field and has gained wide acceptance as a modality that uses the nonverbal language of art for personal growth, insight and transformation. (Malchiodi,2007) Art therapyhas been used as a medium to assist students with special needs, physical and mental disabilities and students with behavioral problems such as ADHD and ODD.

4. WHY ART THERAPY? Art therapy uses the creative process to help individuals: • resolve conflicts and problems • develop sense of self (Nisenson, 2008) • manage behavior • create new patterns of learning (Nisenson, 2008) • increase self-esteem and awareness

5. Pros & cons • PRO:Art Therapy for Children: How it Leads to Change by Diane Wallerdiscusses how positive change occurs as a result of participation in the arts. Waller shares various case studies of putting art therapy into practice with students and enabling them to convey feelings that they cannot put into words. • CON: Art Therapy as a field is under constant pressure to become more “evidence-based” in order to prove its benefits. The debate lies on the fact that there are many different definitions to what “evidence” means. Evidence to prove the efficacy of art therapy is lacking and therefore makes it the subject of ridicule.

6. Statement of the problem • Special education students with behavioral problems have trouble staying focused and on track. • Behavioral management distracts from valuable instruction time. • Some classroom environments do not nurture special education students needs. • Majority of the subjects taught throughout the day tap into logical thinking skills and not enough time is spent on their senses and imagination. • Art serves as a vehicle for developmental learning and can impacts the spirit and emotional response of a child. • Arts instruction is a catalyst for creative expression, social development and can aid in problem solving. • Budget cuts have caused very little to no arts instruction.

7. Review of related literature • Art therapy practices facilitate in connecting children’s expression of emotion as well as serve as a vehicle for non-verbal communication and a way to promote interaction between children.( Adu-Agyem, 2009) • Art therapy is intended to create an environment that promotes the developmental stages that were perhaps missed upon special education students. Nisenson believes that art and music therapy are a mirror into the personality that is portrayed through colors, textures, shapes, melody and rhythm. (Nisenson, 2008) • Children whose emotional health is strained can benefit from art therapy through the intervention of play work and creative arts. Frost believes that children strive to express themselves through play and art even under the most brutal circumstances. (Frost, 2005) • Henley states that behavioral problems were effectively addressed when the child was encouraged to draw a picture about a faulty behavior incident. When addressing a topic through drawing or painting, the children’s defenses, such as resistance or oppositionality, often escape the mind’s censor. When drawing a picture about the behavior, the problem can be objectively examined and an alternate perspective can be made concrete. (Henley, 1998)

8. Review of related literature (cont’d) • According to Furniss (2008) it is critical for all students, including those who are atypically developing such as those with autism, to have access to an art experience at school. In addition to teaching art, art-making for children with disabilities may also be an opportunity to teach other subjects. • Art therapy as a component to social skills training may increase the willingness of children to participate because art is an activity that they find acceptable. (Epp, 2008) • Art therapy allows children to solve problems visually and offers a non-threatening way to deal with rejection. (Freilich, R., & Shectman, Z., 2010)

9. Current instructional strategies • Self-soothing image book • Non-verbal team art task • Spontaneous painting • Group collage • Feelings journal • Integrative arts therapy

10. hypothesis • Research Hypothesis 1: By implementing art therapy practices to 15 students at PS X for 45 minutes a day, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks, students will increase their on-task behavior and positive social skills.

11. references • Adu-Agyem, J. (2009). Enhancing children's learning: The art perspective. International Journal of Education through Art, 5.2-3. 143-155 • Derby, J. (2011). Disability studies and art education. Studies in Art Education: AJournal of Issues and Research, (52) 94-111 • Dunn-Snow, P. (1999). A school inclusion approach: Evaluating embedded assessment within the context of multicultural group art experiences. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin. 66(1) 41-50. • Epp, K.M. (2008). Outcome-based evaluation of a social skills program using art therapy and group therapy for children on the autism spectrum. Children & Schools, 30(1) 27-36. • Freilich, R., & Shectman, Z. (2010). The contribution of art therapy to the social, emotional, and academic adjustment of children with learning disabilities. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 37(2010), 97-105 • Frost, J.L. (2005). Lessons from disasters: Play, work, and the creative arts. Childhood Education, 82(1) 2-8.

12. References • Malchiodi, C. (2007). The art therapy sourcebook.(2nd ed.) New York, NY: McGraw Hill • Furniss, G. (2008). Designing art lessons for children with Asperger's syndrome. SchoolArts. • Henley, D. (1998). Art therapy in a socialization program for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Art Therapy, 37. • Henley, D. (1998). Facilitating socialization within a therapeutic camp setting for children with attention deficits utilizing the expressive therapies. American Journal of Art Therapy, 38 (2) 40-50. • Nisenson, K. (2008). Arts for healing: The importance of integrated music and art in therapy and special education. Exceptional Parent, 38.3 42-44.