My new book: S-BRATA:Supporting Psycho-Emotional Needs in Children with Autism

Hi,

Excited to share that Routledge is releasing my new book Sensory-Based Relational Art Therapy Approach on 28.12.20!

Below is an excerpt from my book

...what led me to the development of the Sensory-Based Relational Art Therapy Approach (S-BRATA) was the desire to seek a deeper understanding of an approach that I had developed organically over the years while working with children with autism and comorbid SID. The way I conducted art therapy seemed to work well for these children, but there were gaps in my knowledge that needed to be filled, and a doctorate seemed to be the best way to bridge those gaps between theory and practice.

S-BRATA is the result of the search for a deeper understanding of a concern that was instigated by my son’s condition and gradually grew into a passion. Essentially, the framework that S-BRATA provides for doing art therapy with children with autism is preliminary; however, it has potential for further development and growth. 

Importantly, S-BRATA is not meant as a guide for art therapists alone but for all professionals using a multisensory kinesthetic approach, be it art, music, dance/movement or other therapies espousing a mind-body approach. Due to the flexibility of its scope and its capacity to integrate different modes of expression and creativity, the principles of the S-BRATA can be adapted and incorporated across multiple disciplines. 

The relational aspect of the S-BRATA can also serve as a guide for caregivers who want to gain insight into interacting and communicating with children with sensory challenges and those who may be highly anxious and appear to be averse to interaction with the outside world.

You can pre-order the book on Amazon or The Routledge website.

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.