The Integrative Treatment Approach for SchooAge Children Who Stutter – part 5
Posted by admin in Art EssaysThe concept of spontaneous expression showed very intimate relationship with the psychoanalytic and analytic approach to art therapy. The spontaneous expression was said to provide direct link to the unconscious. In this case the patient is encouraged to create any art forms using any media expressing any of her/his feelings. Thus the spontaneous expression is helpful to bring out the internal feelings of the patient as freely as possible with the therapist playing the role of art instructor teaching the use of different media in art to the inexperienced patients (Malchiodi, 2003). The spontaneous expression method was found to be more helpful to find out the mental state of a person when s/he is undergoing in profound change in life or is experiencing any crisis. Proper instruction by the therapist was also found to be extremely important in this regard. Studies have found directive drawings to be equally reflective as the spontaneous expression in case of terminally ill patients. The scribble technique was also found to be very helpful to generate spontaneous expression. It was often seen that children who stutter draw expressive pictures from the scribbled lines on the paper which help the therapist to analyze the cause of their discomfort (Malchiodi, 2003).
The third concept related to art therapy is amplification and active imagination. This is the analytical procedure related to dream interpretation developed by Jung. According to this concept the content of an image can not be interpreted alone until and unless the symbolization of the images has been understood. The concept encourages the therapist as well as the patient to stick to the original image as much as possible while generating views on different facets. The concept of amplification relates to both objective and subjective approach. The objective approach connects the image of the dream or drawing with mythological stories to draw the conclusion. The subjective approach is related to active imagination using fantasy and dreams in order to produce the inward images by the individual (Malchiodi, 2003). The four stages of active imagination as described by Von Franz involves emptying the mind through meditation, entering and passing the images through the field of attention of the individual, producing the objects seen through writing or painting and reflecting on the messages received from the experience. It was often seen that with persistent practice of active imagination the patients can often find out the meaning of their images and can ultimately transform their personalities and relationships with others in a positive direction (Malchiodi, 2003).
