ART THERAPY TECHNIQUES

Created by Alicia Lambert. Based off Psychologist J. William Worden's model of grief and James Hollis’ book, Swamplands of the Soul. Wolden's model poses there are four tasks of mourning with the last being to find an enduring connection to the deceased. James Hollis, Jungian Psychoanalyst, wrote, " We honor best those we have lost by making their contributions to our lives conscious, living with that value deliberately."

This is to represent your commitment to holding onto the meaning and value of the ones you've lost. The vase should represent you, the cracks are Kintsugi and symbolize the pain of grief and the beauty the ones we lost have given us. The flowers should represent the lost ones, you can use their birth month flowers or any flowers of significance.

Art Supplies needed: I used acrylic paints, this can be done with any art mediums. 

During the chrysalis stage, the caterpillar digests itself until it's goo. Biologist call the goo, imaginal self. After the dissolution of the caterpillar the butterfly manifests. This is symbolic of the process of individuation, becoming your authentic self. The term was introduced by Carl Jung. Jung believed that individuation is a self-realization process that involves divesting the self of the persona and becoming your authentic independent identity. 

Consider the parts of yourself you would like to dissolve, or integrate in a more healthy way. Consider your most authentic self (imaginal self), all you desire to be and are. Depict your imaginal self as a butterfly to represent your transformation. 

Art Supplies needed: Any mediums, I use watercolors. The butterfly shown was created by my colleague. 

Unknown creator, this is an art therapy activity I learned observing an art therapy session years ago. Based on Carl Jung's analytical psychology, the persona is the social face that a person presents to the world. It's a socially adapted aspect of personality that's influenced by the outer world, and is a compromise between the individual and society.  The term "persona" comes from the Latin word persona, which refers to the masks worn by Etruscan mimes.   The persona is a "kind of mask" that's designed to make an impression on others while concealing the individual's true nature. 

Represent your persona on a blank mask you can purchase or draw your own. On the front represent the version of yourself you show to the world. On the back of the mask, represent the parts of yourself you hide. 

Art Supplies needed: Blank masks, paper. Any mediums. 

Created by Alicia Lambert, inspired by the teachings of one of my mentors. Below is a prompt for a guided contemplation you can utilize to help with this technique. Pick an emotion you'd like to represent in art form. You can choose an emotion you are currently feeling. Emotions have something to tell us and can give us wisdom. Sit with your emotion and see how you can represent it on the page or through writing. 

Optional Emotional Wisdom Contemplation:

Close your eyes when able and take your time. Sit with the identified emotion. How doe sit feel in your body?

Is it in your chest, ribs, arms?  is it tight, cold, does it tingle? Does it have a sound, shape, body, face? What does this emotion have to tell you?

Art Supplies needed: Any mediums.