Author: Lisa Hunter, Art Psychotherapist

Traumatic experiences are hard to think about, talk about and process. Art psychotherapy uses artmaking as an additional tool to communicate and process difficult thoughts and feelings by allowing us to consider ourselves from an ‘outside-looking-in’ perspective.

As an Art Psychotherapist working with people who have experienced trauma, a particular interest of mine is the disconnect I have observed between the mind and body as a result of traumatic experiences. The mind no longer feels safe to interpret signals from the body and the body no longer understands signals from the mind. This miscommunication can mean regulating emotions promoting a sense of happiness and calm are no longer seen as safe and feelings of overwhelm, hypervigilance, dissociation and panic are promoted. I view art psychotherapy as a bridge in trauma work. A bridge between mind and body, past and present, verbal and non-verbal communication and between therapist and client.

Art psychotherapy moves between a ‘top down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approach. The top-down approach considers how we make sense of what has happened to us, with the bottom-up considering the signals our body is sending to our mind and how connected and safe we feel within our body. Using artmaking in therapy provides a space to make sense of what might appear from either approach. Importantly, it also promotes a sense of safety in that the pace can only be set by the client, who will some days cross the bridge many times and others choose not to cross the bridge at all. The materials used in session themselves walk the bridge with collage, pencils and pens more easily controlled, more brain-led and painting and clay work less predictable and more body-led… somatic.

So, what can happen on this bridge space created?

Keeping the body grounded in the present while recalling difficult experiences

Keeping the body moving at a pace set by the client during recall sends positive and ‘safe’ feedback signals to the brain. Using artmaking in this way helps regulate the body and mind meaning distressing subjects can feel easier to talk about.

Finding our voice and telling our story

Sometimes people who have experienced traumatic childhoods and events struggle to talk about what has happened to them verbally. Sometimes there is simply too much. Through artmaking we can express what we may find difficult to explain in words. While many people do not depict events themselves in imagery (nor would ever be asked to) working on visualising emotions or expressions of how we view ourselves can help us tell our story. Some people do find narrative work to be extremely helpful. There are many ways to tell our story visually.

Helping to make sense of emotions and fragmented memories

By projecting our thoughts and feelings into a physical form we have the ability to consider them from an external perspective and rebuild lost narrative. Clients can find it helpful to reflect and think about their present and past using the artwork itself as a bridge between the conscious and subconscious mind.

Introducing somatic artmaking

Learning to slow and soothe our nervous system. Mindfulness, visualisation and breathwork are a natural result of the artmaking process. Somatic artmaking pushes this further to incorporate texture and rhythmic drawing, stimulating the brain through the body to release emotions stored in the body.

Boosting healthy mind-body connections

For some people it can be important to focus on boosting healthy mind-body connections over exploring trauma itself. At least for now. Many people find they are unable to engage in healthy activities that would boost these connections. Especially if they are experiencing a ‘live’ trauma or have recently experienced a traumatic event. Sometimes the act of artmaking itself in a facilitated therapeutic environment can be enough to start the process of healing.

Overview

Most trauma specialists agree trauma affects both the mind and body and that therapies utilising a dual approach can have beneficial outcomes.^1,2,3 This is due, in part, to theories around our nervous system and its impact on our emotional regulation including the Polyvagal Theory by Psychologist and Neuroscientist Stephen Porges, who places an emphasis on the vagal nerve, our longest nerve connecting our body to our brain.⁴

There is still much to do in researching the benefits of art psychotherapy and trauma work. It’s a difficult form of therapy to measure. Sessions are completely personalised around the goal of the client and change is measured within this space. Saying that, there are many key themes of working with trauma across the discipline. Some of which I have shared above as having observed in my own practice. It’s an interesting and ongoing conversation I’m very happy to be part of.

References:

1. Herman, Judith. (2022). Trauma and Recovery (4^th ed.). New York, NY: Basic Books.
2. Levine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.
3. Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma. UK. Penguin Books.
4. Porges, S.W. (2017). The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe. W. W. Norton & Company.