Pillows

Title: Pillows
Source: Valerie Milholland, ATR
Materials: Paper, pencil, pre-cut rectangles of polyester fabric, needles, thread, batting (stuffing), crayola fabric crayons, iron
Procedure: 1. Ask the participant to draw his/her name in big letters onto a piece of piece of paper using a pencil. 2. Flip the paper over and decorate the name (that now appears to be backwards) using fabric crayons. 3. Place the crayoned sided of the paper on top of the fabric and run a hot iron over the back of the page, thus transferring the name onto the fabric. 4. Once the fabric is cool, pair with another rectangle of fabric, with the design facing inward. 5.Work with the participant to stitch 3 3/4 sides of the pillow. (Leave enough space unstitched to fit a hand inside.) 6.Put hand into the unstitched gap and grab hold of the fabric, pulling it out through the hole and turning the pillow inside out. (The design should now be on the outside.) 7. Insert stuffing through the gap that is unstitched. 8. Sew the gap closed.
Rationale: Valerie has several years experience of working with children in residential settings. She often uses this directive as an opening activity for a number of reasons: The close proximity required during the stitching provides an opportunity to build rapport and demonstrate that she is a safe and trustworthy person. Pillow-making is a functional art-making intervention that reaches the participant on a survival level, as well as on a creative level. The resulting product is something comfortable and personalized. Pillow-making would be categorized as an "art as therapy" intervention, focusing on the process and potential for creative flow.

Tribute to a Color

Title: Tribute to a Color
Source: Sara Crafton
Materials: Primary-12X12 white cardstock. Optional materials-Lots of colorful media: May include but not limited to watercolor and acrylic paints, paint brushes, markers, crayons, oil pastels, precut magazine images and words, colored pencils, tissue paper, and glitter.
Directive: Make a visual tribute to a color of your choice. Choose a color based on: your current mood, your favorite color, a color associated with a memory, the favorite color of someone close to you, etc. Use whatever media you would like to use, and mixed media is encouraged!
(See Adaptions section for optional steps.)
Processing: Did you have a reason for choosing the color you chose? If so, what was the reason. What was this process like for you? Are you happy with your tribute to your chosen color? Did you explore any media that you haven't used much before? If so, what was that experience like for you?
Rationale: This intervention encourages media exploration, and playful risk-taking. If your only objective is to portray "blue," for example, then the creative mind is called on to figure out the best way to color the page and meet the objective.
Adaptations: One additional step that adds an element of uninhibited expression is to tell the participant(s) to try to avoid getting overly attached to their artwork because the piece will be somehow altered after the "tribute" is created. Then after the participant is satisfied with their color, tell them to alter their artwork/create something new/ collaborate with other members to create a unified piece. Altering the piece encourages creative problem solving and adaptive thinking/reacting. If you (as the facilitator) want to encourage team building, the collaborative piece is an effective option.

Spill Journaling

Title: Spill Journaling, as prepared by *Sara Crafton for 2010 KYATA intervention exchange
Materials: 12”x12” cardstock in different colors, stack of recycled magazines, pens, glue sticks, scissors, any other media as desired

Procedure:
1. Choose a magazine, and flip mindlessly through the pages, tearing out pages of interest. Try to avoid over-thinking this process.
2. With the same mindless intention, go through the chosen pages and tear out the word(s), image(s), and/or pattern(s) that attracted you to the page.
3. Now use the selected torn words, images, and patterns to create a collage on the cardstock. Leave as little or as much space as you like for journaling.
4. Journal with, around, and/or over the collage using stream of consciousness journaling (freely writing what comes to mind without judgment or analysis). Spill your thoughts onto the page, and feel free to add other artwork or doodling if desired.

Continue onto step #5 or stop here (depending on time and objective).

5. Repeat the process, only this time, take your time. Instead of tearing, use scissors to cut out words, images, and patterns. This second collage may be more methodical, orderly, and intentional.

Processing:
Compare and contrast the process of steps 1-4 with step 5. How did the final products vary? Was there a common theme between the two collages? Were there any surprises?

Rationale: This intervention helps to identify the essence of a stressor or obstacle. It is freeing, encourages a sense of play, and may help a person to distinguish true desires from outside expectations. It also stimulates the creative “flow,” and helps inhibited individuals approach art more confidently.

Adaptations: Spill Journaling can also be used as an artistic approach to information synthesis. For example, you might read a book or attend a workshop that you want to fully comprehend or identify the take away points. Spilling helps to consolidate and highlight useful information, while discarding less important information in a fun and creative way. Similarly, spill journaling could be used to address a specific concept or ideal, such as compassion or humor, or to reflect on a powerful quote or anecdote.

7 rules for successful conflict resolution

Source: 2/12/2010. As prepared by Catherine LeSaux, LCSW, for intra-office memo

When conflict occurs:
1. Take your temperature. Addressing a problem in the heat of the moment or when you're hot under the collar is not always the best time for problem solving. Give yourself some cooling off time.
2. Remember problems are not created in a vacuum. Ask yourself, "What's my responsibility, my part of the equation? What have I contributed, perhaps, unintentionally, to the problem?"
3. Accept and acknowledge your part of the equation. i.e. "maybe I wasn't clear in giving instruction; maybe there was an edge in the tone of my voice that may have been misinterpreted."
4. Address the issue of concern directly with your co-worker. If a resolution hasn't been reached, consult with a mentor or supervisor. Gossiping with co-workers is passive-aggressive and non-productive.
5. Focus on the problem, not personalities.
6. Be assertive rather than aggressive in your approach. You can still have very strong feelings about the topic while conducting yourself with a professional demeanor.
7. Remember that relationships are often strengthened and creative solutions can result from situations where the conflict has been addressed in a healthy manner.

Art therapy interventions for Substance Abusing population

Source: Handout prepared by Marian Lancaster, obtained during presentation in Ethics class

Self-perception
1. Self-using vs. Clean/Sober self
2. Inner-Outer self
3. How I see myself how others see me
4. Paper bag or box: inner-hidden, unshared, parts of self one wants to discard vs. outer-shared, false confident
5. Masks

Step work
1. First step: Powerlessness (collage helpful during detox)
2. Second step: Higher power, Spirituality
3. Third step: "Turning over" - Letting go
4. Fourth step: Inventory (cleaning out the refrigerator)

Bridge Drawing
From addiction to recovery: Where I've come from and Where I am going/Where I want to be (may add expected obstacles)

Road to recovery
Life/experience in treatment

Protection and Gates
Addressing defenses

Battle Drawing
Addiction vs. Recovery; Person vs. substance

Garbage Bag or God Bag
Get rid of inside garbage, or turn things over, "Let go, Let God."

Favorite Animal
Loner or pack animal, defenses, needs for survival, domesticated or wild, how does it relate to self, safe place for animal

Worst thing that ever happened when using
Look at guilt, shame, and forgiveness

Feelings
Mood states/mind states, collage, drawings, movement, body work

Boundaries/Trust
round robin drawing, trust walk, awareness of energy in fingers preferably 2 people move their hands close but not quite touching

Guided Relaxation, guided imagery, stress management techniques

Group
joint projects, survival on an island, quilts, murals, self-symbol in clay shared with other members

*My intention is to expand upon these ideas with a more formal post for each, or at least most, interventions. I was always digging out this hand-out, though, so I thought I should go ahead and post it for future convenient referencing.

Magazine Mosaic

Source: This project emerged out of a group brainstorming session that started out as a mural design.
Materials: Old magazines suitable for tearing, a large sheet of posterboard (does not have to be new because surface will be covered), pencil, several paint brushes, modge podge
Procedure:
1. Draw rough outline of a scene or design onto the posterboard.
2. Identify what colors will be used for what parts of the drawing, and create a pile for each color to be used. (It is helpful to distinguish different shades of the same color. For example, if you will use light blue for the stream, and dark blue for the sky, then it is helpful to have a light blue pile and a dark blue pile, although not completely necessary.)
3. Begin searching through magazines for the appropriate colors. (Look for bigger pieces of color without a lot of other colors/writing.) Tear into smaller pieces. (Size of pieces is guided by personal preference.)
4. Once you feel you have enough of each color to complete the design, paint small sections with modge podge and glue colored magazine pieces down. (If working in a group setting, one person can paint the modge podge on, and one person can glue down the pieces.)
5. After all pieces are glued down, paint a thin layer of modge podge onto the finished product to seal pieces and discourage fly-away pieces.
*Expect this entire process to take 3-4 hours.
Rationale: This intervention utilizes an Art as Therapy approach, and encourages "flow," the term used to describe the therapeutic state of being fully present and engaged with an enjoyable activity. This activity is inexpensive and easily accessible, due to its use of recycled materials. As a group activity, the procedure is well-suited for improving cohesion and ability to work together as a team.
Adaptations: An Art as Psychotherapy approach may be incorporated in more insightful, high-functioning groups. Here, group members may base their design off of a therapeutic goal or theme, such as "Healing," "Wellness," "Energy," or "Grief." This approach lends itself to more cognitive-based processing questions.
This intervention could also be used on an individual basis.