The team at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) understands that treatment is not always clinical. There are other creative therapy options, like art therapy, that help the recovery process and contribute to healing and rehabilitation.
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art as the primary mode of communication. This can be done through painting, collage, sculpture and more. “Allowing someone to explore their inner world, art therapy provides a safe environment for expression. It is used to communicate with others and improve physical, emotional and mental wellbeing” explains Vanessa Clough, MA, ATR-P, Art Therapist at PPI.
As someone who was always creative, Vanessa knew she wanted to be in the art world. “Art gave me the opportunity to express myself and be seen; it was a way to communicate.” When earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, she took psychology electives and was drawn to the ‘why’ of art, finding more interest in knowing why somebody made something than judging it. From there she earned her master’s degree in art therapy from New York University.
Anyone that is willing and open minded can see an art therapist. “You don’t have to be good at art to participate in art therapy. Stick figures are always welcome. It’s about the process, not the aesthetics” notes Vanessa. Vanessa works together with PPI’s traditional therapists to identify who can benefit from art therapy. Depending on therapeutic goals, art therapy can be a way to help someone express more emotion, get in tune with their memories and process trauma. “If someone is struggling to process verbally and it’s hard for them to assess or verbalize how they are feeling, it could be appropriate for them to express themselves or work through those emotions with art” expresses Vanessa.
Vanessa sees patients of all ages, from children through seniors. “Children may not yet have the skills to put their experiences or feelings into words, but they can use art as a form of expression. With children, art therapy can allow them to practice coping skills through the art process. For example, if they could benefit from mindfulness or grounding techniques, I’ll take out watercolor and straws and have them move the paint around by blowing through the straws, where they are practicing breathwork as they paint. Most of the time children are very willing to create, older adults on the other hand, are sometimes more hesitant. I work with them to break down the barriers of judgement and fear of not being good at art. I help to find a way that allows them to feel safe and supported in expressing themselves, letting go of preconceived ideas of what it should look like.”
Working on setting up an art therapy space in each unit, Vanessa currently travels with an art cart to the activity and day rooms to meet with patients. “My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for patients so they can freely create without judgement” explains Vanessa. She chooses materials and interventions appropriate to the therapeutic goals of each patient, making sure they have a variety of choice while also keeping track of the materials to ensure safety.
“I pay attention to how people use art materials in combination with assessment skills, which can help me gain a better understanding of the patient. For example, if someone is withdrawn, or exhibits restricted movements and restrained use of color in their work, they might be experiencing symptoms of depression. On the other hand, if someone presents as more restless and is more expressive with color and their mark making, it’s possible that they might be feeling more impulsive or overwhelmed.”
Depending on the symptoms, Vanessa chooses an activity and materials that would be of the most benefit for the therapeutic goal. “If the goal is to reduce anxiety or stress, I might have them use something more fluid like watercolor or tempura paint sticks. If the goal is to release tension or anger, I might encourage something more physical and kinesthetic, like tearing paper or sculpting clay.” notes Vanessa.
Specifically exemplified for those with PTSD, art therapy provides a great avenue for the healing and recovery process. “When people experience trauma, it is processed in the nonverbal areas of the brain, and therefore those memories and experiences can be hard to access. Art is a great way to access those areas to express the emotions that are difficult to verbalize otherwise.” Art therapy gives a voice to someone’s innermost thoughts and feelings while also providing a sense of normalcy and autonomy for admitted patients. It gives them a break from talking and group work to do something enjoyable and stress-relieving. Art therapy also provides addiction recovery patients with a healthy alternative coping skill.
Although trained to assess and understand symbols, being an art therapist is not about assuming the meaning but focusing on the artist self-identifying the meaning of their work. Vanessa illustrates, “The process of making art itself can be healing and transformative. By engaging in the process of creating something, you’re starting something, you’re building something, reorganizing it, reconstructing it. In doing so you’re making a lot of choices in the process which allows people to reflect on the choices they make and what is created out of that. By engaging in that process and looking at the final product, it becomes a metaphor for how we live and deal with things in life. The final product itself is a container for those thoughts and feelings and experiences. It allows people to gain new insight and perspective where they can become more self-aware and have a greater understanding of their life and the world.” An art piece becomes a tangible object that can be looked at that helps externalize difficult experiences. Over time, these pieces show the physical progress of the patient.
Through her work, Vanessa has seen how art therapy can transform lives. “I had a client who went through a lot of trauma and abuse at the hands of her parents who also struggled with substance use when she was younger. She struggled with her self-esteem and negative self-talk. Through art therapy she was able to find a voice and feel empowered. She became more verbal about her art and even wanted to hold an art show to share it with others.” Vanessa’s passion for her work and how it positively impacts those she works with is clear to see.
Art therapy is currently only offered for inpatients at PPI. Learn more about our other programs here, or reach out to our admissions department to make an appointment, by calling (717) 782-6493.