finding a safe place: creating safety for survivors of domestic violence through art
DESCRIPTION
Important themes and considerations when addressing safety issues through art expression with youth and adult survivors of domestic violence.TRANSCRIPT
Finding a Safe Place: Finding a Safe Place: Creating Safety for Survivors of Creating Safety for Survivors of
DomesticDomestic Violence through ArtViolence through Art
Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC, CTC-SRegistered Board Certified Art Therapist
Certified Trauma Consultant
ObjectivesObjectivesLearn the benefits of using art to address safety
in trauma intervention and recovery with domestic violence survivors
Be able to identify how safety, resilience, and adaptive coping can be explored through art
Be introduced to appropriate material & media considerations to create a safe creative environment and to explore fears & worries.
About Domestic ViolenceAbout Domestic Violence
Domestic violence (also called interpersonal or intimate partner violence) is a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to
gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. ~National Domestic Violence Hotline | www.thehotline.org
Domestic abuse is when a partner uses a pattern of coercive and assaultive behaviors to obtain power and control;
Coercion is defined as “to force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or intimidation or to compel; to dominate, restrain, or control forcibly; and to bring about by force or threat.”;
What makes a relationship abusive is the repeated and patterned behavior by a partner that attempts to control aspects of the other person’s life through manipulation, fear, bullying, and multiple other coercive tactics.
Ohio Domestic Violence Network: www.odvn.org
Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolencePhysical, sexual,
emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats.
Behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound.
Linked to increased medical, psychological, and social problems.
Battered women suffer more health disorders vs. non-victims: i.e. PTSD, substance abuse, anxiety, depression
Domestic Violence & SafetyDomestic Violence & SafetyIncrease risk when a victim leavesPersonalized (Emotional) Safety PlanningProtection Orders, CourtFleeing to a Shelter / Safe Housing
Adaptive coping- women & childrenNormalize trauma reactions & triggersSafety is fluid and can change quickly
Safety Planning in a Trauma Informed Manner- ODVN Best Practices and Protocols for Ohio’s Domestic Violence Programs (2011)
Creating SafetyCreating SafetyThe Experience Matters:The Experience Matters:
•Honoring & validating trauma experience•Normalize trauma reactions•Early Intervention•Relational enrichment•Safe opportunities to share ones story
Physical ImpactPhysical ImpactHormone coritosal is released by the
brain to respond to impending threatCauses increase in adrenalin, heart
rate, blood pressure, muscle tensionSleep disturbances Heightened state of arousalHyper vigilance / Startle response
Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry's Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children from Violent Homes: http://tinyurl.com/6mlqqtv
Themes:•Safety & protection: inclusion of alarms, cameras, computer surveillance, videos
•Fear of fire, someone breaking in
•Image and verbalizations suggest anxiety, heightened watchfulness, title projects fear of explosiveness, violence in the home
BehavioralBehavioral
AggressionRegressionNightmares Separation
AnxietyOppositional Repetitive play
Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry's Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children from Violent Homes: http://tinyurl.com/6mlqqtv
DepressionIrritability Anger FearfulnessAnxietyLack of affect
EmotionalEmotional
CognitiveCognitiveDecrease in attention spanDifficulty concentrating Memory ImpairmentPersistent intrusive
thoughts & imagesConfusion around traumatic
eventPoor self image and self
esteem
Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry's Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children from Violent Homes: http://tinyurl.com/6mlqqtv
Art making is a safe way to distance painful and frightening experiences from self and the environment
Art safely externalizes internal experiences
Art can help reduce, contain, or provide insight into states of fear, anxiety, and worry
Creating Safety through ArtCreating Safety through Art
BENEFITSBENEFITS
Creative expression through art can be less threatening to explore and share feelings or memories, as well as provide the flexibility to experiment, and take risks in a therapeutic environment;
Exploration through art can help the survivor begin to manage trauma and make meaning.
Art expression facilitates an immediate hands-on outlet for survivors to feel safe, explore steps for change, reduce stress, decrease tension;
Creativity and imagination restores a sense of possibility, identity, and reconnection within the self;
Malchiodi & Miller, 2012. Domestic Violence and Art Therapy. In Malchiodi, C. (Ed.),
The Handbook of Art Therapy (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press. pp. 335-349.
Art can find and create a voice that was silenced in the violence and abuse;
Art offers a safe place to tell a survivor’s story and experiences with dignity & courage
Malchiodi & Miller, 2012
ObjectivesObjectives
•Art experiences that make one feel safe•Environment of predictability & consistency•Sensory based intervention•Promotes expression•Restores a sense of safety & stabilization•Fosters resiliency•Supports adaptive coping
Restoring SafetyRestoring Safety
“Loss of safety is at the core of trauma”Dr. William Steele, Helping Children Feel Safe
Help provide containment at a sensory level experience for restoring safety through:
BoxesBook makingMandalas3-D and 2-D Symbols of Safe Places
Material & Media Material & Media ConsiderationsConsiderations
Safe Places & Safe Houses
3-D Paper House Making
•Repetitive, here & now focus through the paper folding process
•Containment ofemotions connected to worry, fear, uncertainty
•Opportunity forsymbolic storytelling
(Miller, (2011). Paper house making with youth exposed to domestic violence PDF: http://tinyurl.com/7nalsau.
Papier-Mâché Safety House Box
Safety Book
Portable Safe Place | Artist Trading Card
Using collage with printed paper, tissue paper, and
magazine photo collage & words on a 2 ½ x 3 ½ space-
create an image of a safe place or scene that can
travel, become mobile, or easily be carried as a visual reminder and grounding tool for wellbeing, comfort, and
emotional safety.
Safe Place Mandalas
Emotional Expression:Emotional Expression:Worries & FearWorries & Fear
Fighting & HurtingPhysical or Emotional Safety & WellbeingCourt, Legal, Social Services ProceedingsShelter AdjustmentSeparation & DivorceCustody & Visitation ArrangementsSomething “bad” happening again
Creating a box to safely hold
worries
Worry about Court and Fears about Testifying
Worry about Pets left behind or separated from
Emotional X-Ray Drawings: Scared & Frightened
Outside/Inside Masks | OutsideWhat feelings do you feel safe showing to others?
Outside/Inside Masks | InsideWhat feelings do you not feel safe showing to others?
Fostering ResilienceFostering Resilience
What is Resilience?What is Resilience?
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines resilience as “the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even
significant sources of stress”.
“Resilience is important because it is the human capacity to face, overcome and be
strengthened by or even transformed by the adversities of life”.
Pizzolongo, P.J. & Hunter, A. (2011). I am safe and secure. Promoting resiliency in young children. Young Children, 66(2): 67-69.
Dennis S. Charney, M.D (2004) Psychobiological Mechanisms of Resilience and Vulnerability: Implications for Successful Adaptation to Extreme Stress
Strength Bowls
Strength Boxes for Coping
Stones of Strength
Word of strength, positive affirmation in
permanent marker
Feeling to let go & have less power in chalk
Create a special container or fabric
pouch to hold stones
Courage Stick
About Post Traumatic Growth (PTG)About Post Traumatic Growth (PTG)Positive psychological change experienced as a result of the
struggle with highly challenging life circumstances
Martin P. Seligman, Ph.D., MD, leading researcher, author and professor in positive psychology notes:
Often Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) occurs much more than the onset of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Individuals who experienced one awful event had more intense strengths (and therefore higher well-being) than individuals who had none.
Traumatic events could lead to transformation and growth.
Creating a Creative Creating a Creative Safe SpaceSafe Space
Make sure there is enough physical/table space to create comfortably.
Select and create a safe space that communicates permission to freely create without worry about messiness and can be cleaned up easily.
Material Planning & PrepMaterial Planning & Prep
When planning to incorporate art making be mindful that different art materials and media can have different emotional effects
Consider how materials that are being introduced and their properties may impact the client internally
On the continuum of art material properties, drawing media offer the most control, while media such as paint and water-based clay can quickly stimulate expression and regression
Material Planning & PrepMaterial Planning & Prep
Create a balance and experience of material offerings that empowers choice, decision making, and control without over stimulating;
Pre-structuring materials can help decrease feelings of being overwhelmed easily and create containment.
Additional ConsiderationsAdditional Considerations
Art materials do not have to be of "fine art" quality or expensive, but also should work well and more importantly, not add frustration the art making experience.
Art materials should be treated and offered to the group with respect by the therapist, as this reflects additional meaning and importance connected to the experience.
Provide an environment that allows the client to freely create without judgment
Show your interest in the client's art through inviting him/her to share
Prompt invitations to share with: "Tell me about your picture...“
Actively listen to what the client has to say about his/her art expression
Creating a Safe Environment Creating a Safe Environment for Art Expressionfor Art Expression
Schirrmacher, J. (1986).
Make observations about the client's art without interpretations or assumptions
Create opportunities to encourage storytelling about the art expression
Focus on the art expression's design qualities: color, placement, line, shape, form, texture, energy
Thank the client for sharing, whether this is talking about his/her art and/or showing what they have created
Compliments about the client's art or the expectation that their art should be pleasing and "look good"
Comments about the art product that are judgmental or interpreting in nature
Valuing the product over the process
Direct questions that make the creator feel they did something wrong (i.e. "What is that?", "Why did you draw that?")
Telling an individual the "right" way to make or create something. This inhibits sincere expression.
What to Avoid:What to Avoid:
Schirrmacher, J. (1986).
ReferencesReferencesCharney, D.S. (2004). Psychobiological Mechanisms of Resilience and
Vulnerability: Implications for Successful Adaptation to Extreme Stress.
Malchiodi, C. & Miller, G. (2012). Domestic Violence and Art Therapy. In Malchiodi, C. (Ed.), The Handbook of Art Therapy (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press. pp. 335-349.
Pizzolongo, P.J. & Hunter, A. (2011). I am safe and secure. Promoting resiliency in young children. Young Children, 66(2): 67-69.
Schirrmacher, J. (1986). Talking with young children about their art. Young Children, 41(5): 3-7..
Steele, W., Malchiodi, C., & Klein, N. (2002). Helping Children Feel Safe. National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children.
Domestic Violence & the Arts ResourcesDomestic Violence & the Arts Resources
A Window Between Worlds- www.awbw.org Dedicated to using art to help end domestic violence.
SpeakArtLoud- www.speakartloud.org Innovative social-profit organization that uses the arts to empower women and improve communities.
Be a Voice Arts- www.beavoicearts.com Using the arts to speak up about abuse.
Domestic Violence Resources
Courage Network www.couragenetwork.org A resource, community, and inspiration
for victims, advocates, families, friends and those dealing with domestic violence in their personal lives.
Ohio Domestic Violence Network- www.odvn.org Trauma Informed Care DV Best Practices & Protocol: www.odvn.org/images/stories/FinalTICManual.pdf
National DV Hotline- www.thehotline.org
Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC, CTC-SRegistered Board Certified Art Therapist
Certified Trauma Consultant
[email protected] www.gretchen-miller.com