Why art therapy works well for children

I am continuously amazed by the raw authenticity of children’s artwork. Compared to adults, creative expression comes naturally to children for communicating deep emotional content that they may not be able to put into words. After all, how many kids do you know who can articulate the underlying reasons for their difficult behaviors? However, the process of art making, under the guidance of an art therapist, is a highly effective way of accessing information that may be troubling the child. The art therapist is able to do that by using suitable art materials and providing directives.

Moreover, art therapy is a gentle and non-confrontational way of addressing difficult emotions that may be related to family, school, self-image, trauma, loss and so on. The art therapist can work through metaphors or symbols in the artwork without tackling the problem directly. For instance, a child who is being bullied at school may be able to work through the issue by sculpting the bully as an animal or an object rather than talking about the fear-inducing reality. Similarly, another child who may be experiencing divorce between parents can express feelings by drawing a landscape that is indicative of the difficult circumstances at home.

5- year-old boy processing his parent's divorce through his drawing

As a result, most children like coming for art therapy as it provides them relief through fun-based activities. Parents like the approach because it is a safe and effective way of tackling difficult situations/emotions and finding workable solutions without the burden of having to drag the child to therapy.

Channelizing aggression in children through art

A 5 year old's expression of her internal trauma

Aggression in children could be a symptom of underlying issues that find external expression in inappropriate verbal and/or physical behaviour. The common course of treatment for anger management in children is behaviour modification and in extreme cases medication. These approaches have their merits and can help in averting disastrous consequences for the child and his/her family. However, focusing on behavioural techniques in isolation may inadvertently conceal the psycho-emotional problems that are at the root of the behaviours and may be a call for help from the child, rather than a deliberate attempt to cause harm.

Children lack the ability for metacognition or the capacity to think about their thoughts. Simply put, they may have no clue as to why they act out, transgress limits, push buttons and indulge in inappropriate behaviors beyond what is considered typical. Amongst the many reasons they may be doing so, attachment issues, familial problems, stress related to school and peers, learning differences and developmental challenges may be implicated. Thus, it seems rather one sided to expect external compliance from a child who may be suffering emotionally, without addressing the internal aspect of the matter.

I find art therapy to be most efficacious when it comes to addressing psycho-emotional problems in children as it has the capacity to tap into the hidden content of a child’s psyche that may not be accessible through words. Art making can by pass defence mechanisms that prevent access to deep-seated conflicts.

Very importantly, art therapists work through metaphors in the child’s artwork thus, if some trauma or difficult emotional content surfaces through art making, it can be processed in a safe and non-confrontational way. Art therapy is a safe therapeutic modality in that it avoids re-traumatization of the individual from exposure to difficult memories.

Art therapists are also trained to direct negative emotions into creative acts through the prudent use of art material. Clay may be pounded or kneaded, scratched, and poked in order to express anger or frustration just as paint may be splashed or paper torn and crushed to channelize aggressive effect into appropriate expression.

Art making, whether in the form of seemingly random scribbles and doodles or skillful images and sculptures is an expression of the unconscious. Thus, to partake of art therapy absolutely no skill in art making is necessary. In fact, I have come across children who do not show any inclination to draw or paint yet can be tempted to engage in acts of creation that lead to inner expression.

A child cannot convey with words what they are not aware of, and some children may not have the ability to speak. You will be amazed to find what can be achieved through the simplest forms of creativity and relational art-making with an art therapist.

Time and time again I am asked if art therapy and art class are one and the same? Once again, I will repeat that ONLY a Master’s level art therapist can conduct art therapy. Most art therapists are registered with regional boards of art therapy associations and have gone through hundreds if not thousands of hours of clinical practice.

A call to parents of children with special needs!

It’s not the first time I have felt apologetic, almost embarrassed in front of  parents of special needs children who have very limited or almost no access to expert therapists and therapeutic resources in their countries, whether due to lack of provision or affordability, whereas I have had easy access and the means to both for my son Moeez who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three.  Mo is lucky to have been treated by top therapists in Singapore, where I moved to from Pakistan, just before he was diagnosed. He is now studying in a specialist school in England. God has been kind and munificent beyond words and I can not thank him enough!

However, when I go around extolling the virtues of one intervention over the other, emphasising urgency and consistency, I wonder at the utility of my words when a parent turns around and asks me helplessly, “what do I when there are barely any resources available in my country to diagnose and treat my child? What little is available is so expensive that it is out of the reach of most except a privileged few. Where do I go? How can I help  my child?

I often find myself grappling with advise for the justifiably frustrated parent, who is battling an ignorant and discompassionate society,  schools that cater to only ‘normal’ children, a severe dearth if not abscense of  experts to treat and diagnose most developmental issues and special needs. Really… what does one say to a parent whose child is suffering in the ‘here and now’ and does not have the luxury of time to wait for the day that things will change and the situation will get better?

This April during my visit to Lahore, Pakistan, a country lacking severly in resources for special needs individuals,  once again I encountered this dilemma. What could I tell parents who were not as lucky as I was to move to Singapore just as my son was diagnosed with autism? Reflecting upon the situation I put together my thoughts in the following ideas which may be of some help to struggling families:

Expose and disclose

In my opinion the biggest disrevice that we can do to our special children is to isolate them from society. Not only do we deprive them from opportunities to learn from others, we also contribute to the ignorance of people from all sorts of special needs be it dyslexia or Down’s syndrome or autism and so on. Hence:

·      Take your child everywhere that you would your regular children.

·      Do not make excuses for your child’s different behaviour instead explain to others why he/she behaves or not in a certain way. Stop hiding yourself and your children!

·      Form social skills groups with siblings of special needs children.

·      Invite a special need child to play with your regular child and vice versa.

Educate and advocate

There is no moving ahead if we do not understand what it is that we are dealing with. Therefore, thoroughly research your child’s condition. Most of us have access to the internet if not to actual physical resources. Read and research treatments, therapies, latest developments and more importantly share this information with others. Not just with other parents in similar situations but with your family and beyond. Also make presentations in mainstream schools and do talks in social gatherings. Make others listen!

Learn and train

·      Take online courses to educate yourself and others.

·      Connect to international experts and try to get them to conduct workshops in your country.

·      Create a forum  to collect funds for training yourself and other dedicated individuals.

Most autism resource centres are created and run by a groups of concerned parents and are excellent resources for others.

This is just a start of course but it is critical because a few very significant things will happen. You would have created a united front with others in a similar situation. You will learn from others and draw inspiration from each other. Not only will you push each other to action for change but also provide emotional and perhaps financial support that you or the other individual may need.

This April, in Lahore, I held a book reading in a centre that provides therapy to special children. I read from my memoir ‘Wrapped in Blue’ where I talked about my son, his autism and our journey together. Of the 70 plus guests at the talk,  barely any parents of the children who avail services at the centre came to the talk.

I was told by Mo’s therapist once, “we can only do 20% of the work for your child, the rest is up to you”! Ladies and gentlemen, the choice is yours!

Do you tell an unsuspecting mother that you think her child may have a problem?

Have you ever come across a situation where you see a child and recognise that something may be a bit off? Perhaps it is at a birthday party or in your kids school, in a play group or in another random social situation that you get the feeling that something’s not quite right somewhere? The child’s mother is an acquaintance with whom you have chit chatted a couple of times and you know that she doesn’t suspect anything. Or, if you want to take it to another level, you have a hunch you’re your nephew has something going on developmentally and your brother and sister in law are in complete denial. In fact they keep on making excuses for his lack of interest in others or his delayed speech and have no clue why he is mesmerised by the rotating fan in your living room. You of course know what could be going on because you are almost a therapist yourself as your child is on the spectrum and you’ve been there and done it all!

My question is what would you do? Would you communicate your observation to the unsuspecting mother? Or would you turn away and let your sibling discover the inevitable at what could be a much later date and time?

I have been faced a few times with this situation. In one case the mother in denial cut off all communication with me. In another, the mom needed a slight push to go seek an assessment and that is exactly what she did. It’s a tough one really, to say or not to say. However, in my opinion and I am sure you agree, there is only one thing that matters and that is the child in question, for time is everything.

Most often it is the parents/caregivers that hold back a child’s progress. Nothing can be more detrimental to the prognosis of a child with differences and special needs than parents in denial.

The best advise I was given at the very beginning of the discovery of my son’s autism was that I should go see a psychologist for my own emotional needs and thank god I listened. Raising a child with ASD is a job and a half and more. I am forever grateful to the paediatrician who advised me to seek help and to my husband who encouraged me. Do not procrastinate. It is not worth it!