Creating Illustrated Storybooks in Family Therapy

Source: Hanney, L. & Kozlowska, K. (2002). Healing traumatized children: Creating illustrated storybooks in family therapy. Family Process, 41 (1).
(This is one of the most helpful art therapy research articles I have found. It has a lot of great intervention strategies, strategic rationale, and a couple of well-thought-out case examples.)

Materials: several sheets of 12x12 paper (to be bound upon completion of book), markers, colored pencils, oil pastels, crayons, and/or paints

Procedure: 1. Explain the rules: All members must participate at least partially, respect for each member's artwork and potential differences in point of view and memories. No member may change another members drawings, although each member may modify his/her own drawings as needed. 2. The storybook begins at non-traumatic period of the family's story (i.e. how the parents met, the birth, etc.). It is important for the story to begin at a place of minimal anxiety so that the participants can enjoy the art making and become more comfortable with the process before more difficult material is explored. 3. The story may contain only images or images and writing. There are no rules about how each page is created or how family members share space and materials. 4. The therapist facilitates family members as they visually address important moments of the family's story. A page may be devoted to each important occurrence, or a page may house several important occurrences- the family decides.

Processing questions: Tell me about this picture. Who is this person here? Why is this person so far away? What's happening in this picture? Does anyone remember this differently? How does this person feel inside? Do you get this feeling as well? Show me where you get this feeling. Can you draw this feeling for me? Who in the family comforts you when you feel this way? I noticed that Johnny kicked Mary's leg and stole her crayon. Does this happen at home? What do you do when this happens at home?

Rationale: Creating illustrated stories over several sessions helps to establish a pattern of predictability to each session and encourages active engagement from multiple members of the family. Family members who are less verbal are still a necessary part of the process. Can help participants to "re-author" their lives. Provides opportunities for modeling and positive reinforcement of interaction among family members. Provides opportunities for discussion of sharing, appropriate expressions of anger, and parental management of interactions.

Adaptations: Illustrated storybooks can also be used as a therapeutic tool for fostered or adopted children to explore their origins.