How Art Therapy Can Help Survivors of Trauma Access an Embodied Sense of Safety: A Literature Review

Traumatic stress can disrupt systemic rhythms in the brain and body that enable a person to feel safe in the world. Therefore, the initial phase of trauma treatment must focus on establishing an embodied sense of safety. This literature review examined cross-disciplinary data to assess whether art therapy can help trauma survivors access an embodied sense of safety, and if so, what therapeutic mechanisms contribute to its effectiveness. The data indicated that trauma-informed art therapy can support an embodied sense of safety through activating key therapeutic factors that downregulate instinctual defense mechanisms which can occur as a result of traumatic stress. Results revealed seven therapeutic factors that contributed to feelings of safety: therapeutic alliance; group belonging; synchrony with the natural world; affect regulation; sensory integration; a positive emotional state; and a sense of agency. Additionally, the paper outlines specific art therapy interventions that exemplify each therapeutic factor, and mechanisms that can illuminate how these therapeutic factors support an embodied sense of safety

Art Therapy and Parts Work with Survivors of Sexual Violence: Development of a Method

Trauma-focused approaches to psychotherapy continue to gather attention as a growing body of research demonstrates the pervasiveness of traumatic experiences and trauma-related disorders across the lifespan. Art therapy, a relatively young field within the mental health landscape, utilizes the creation of images in therapy through a variety of art media as a tool for intra and interpersonal communication in the therapeutic space. Parts work, a collection of trauma-informed theoretical methods that includes Internal Family Systems therapy, Structural Dissociation and Ego-State therapy, is a systemic framework that proposes that each person is comprised of various parts (or distinct inner voices), under the leadership of the authentic Self. There is limited research regarding the efficacy of combining parts work and art therapy with survivors of sexual violence. To expand upon current intersecting research in this field, the author explores methods of integrating art therapy and parts work at an outpatient clinic with eight sexual violence survivors (five adults and three children) over the course of eight months. As a result, all clients demonstrated an increase in self-awareness regarding symptoms and trauma-response triggers, and some demonstrated a decrease in intensity of trauma-related symptoms. Data was collected through therapist observation, client self-report surveys including the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth addition (PCL-5) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), and client surveys tracking severity and intensity of symptoms. The positive responses to trauma-focused art therapy and parts work interventions indicate that this can be an effective trauma treatment modality that warrants further exploration

The Efficacy of Guided Imagery for Recovery from Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Replacement

As an exploratory, developmental injury intervention study, this research investigated the efficacy of providing psychological intervention in the form of relaxation and guided imagery to a group of orthopedic patients recovering from major knee surgery. Utilizing a prospective, experimental research design with 30 subjects randomly assigned to either an intervention, placebo, or control group, this study employed physiological as well as psychological outcome measures. Intervention consisted of 10 individual mental practice sessions for intervention group members as an adjunct to physical therapy. Content of these sessions was intentionally designed to facilitate physiotherapy goals. Imagery protocols with which to deliver these standardized sessions were also designed to directly parallel established physical rehabilitation protocols. Placebo group participants were exposed to nonspecific intervention factors of attention and support, while control group members completed their physical therapy as usual. Results of this study revealed that for this sample of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) orthopedic patients, psychological injury intervention in the form of relaxation and guided imagery contributed to statistically significant better physical and psychological outcomes. Strength and extension improvement, as well as reduction in state, trait, and reinjury anxiety, were superior for the intervention group as compared to placebo and control groups from preintervention (2 weeks postsurgery) to post-intervention (24 weeks postsurgery). Other benefits of the intervention, according to subject self-report, included pain and stress management, empowerment, control of recovery, and overall body wellness . Implications of these research findings are discussed, as well as suggestions offered for subsequent injury intervention research

Child Massage Integrated Therapy: A Preliminary Intervention Manual for Psychological Trauma Treatment

This dissertation introduces an original preliminary treatment manual as a guide for mental health providers interested in adding a research-informed massage therapy component to traditional child trauma psychotherapy.Child Massage Integrated Therapy (CMIT) offers a standardized protocol to support the implementation of a replicable treatment modality that fosters critical somatic resources for traumatized children within real-world settings. The multidisciplinary field of interpersonal neurobiology, including attachment and polyvagal theories, as well as the concept of interoceptive awareness, are the theoretical constructs informing the proposed model of care. A review of the research literature recognizing massage therapy\u27s role in creating a regulating mind/body experience provides the fundamental basis for pursuing this line of intervention as a component of a phase-oriented psychological trauma treatment

Individualized Music Relaxation and Composition as a Coping Skill for Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse in and out of the Therapeutic Setting

In one day in 2016, there were 41,195 domestic violence victims reported in emergency shelters or transitional housing units within the United States. Many of these victims struggle with PTSD, stress, and anxiety. There is a need for creating a coping skill that can address traumatic responses in and out of the therapeutic setting. Creating a musical representation of a survivor’s internal safe space could be used as a coping skill to reduce trauma responses. The purpose of this study was to see if the creation of an individualized musical safe space as a coping skill could reduce stress of a person in and outside of the therapeutic setting. The researcher created a format to guide the composition process with the three participants. The researcher practiced using the coping skill with each participant. Stress levels were monitored using a STAI self-assessment while in-session, and showed statistically significant reduction of stress in the participants. The participants then used the coping skill outside of the therapeutic setting for 10 days. The participants self-reported through a survey and interview that the coping skill was helpful for reducing stress in their daily lives. Creating an individualized music and relaxation composition shows promise as a coping skill for reducing trauma responses, stress, and anxiety in domestic violence victims

The Significance of Touch in Psychiatry

Touch is one of the fundamental media for interpersonal communication. Over recent decades, scientific efforts have been devoted to establishing the significance of touch, particularly affective touch, in the treatment and prevention of mental disorders and clarifying the underlying mechanisms of touch and massage therapy. This book contributes to this rapidly expanding area of research and gives new insights on recent clinical and experimental findings. A strong plea is made by the editors for well-designed clinical studies which require very special methodologies. A broad spectrum of various touch therapies are already available at present. Modern treatment and prevention of mental disorders should go beyond the pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches and should make use of the beneficial effects of touch therapies with the additional benefit of a very small risk of adverse outcomes

Catharsis in psychotherapy

The historical context of catharsis in psychotherapy is discussed, with particular reference to drama and ritual. The 'cathartic technique' of Freud and Breuer is then presented as part of the continuing development of approaches that advocate feeling-expression as a way of promoting personal change. The contemporary approaches considered include Reichian therapy, bioenergetics, primal therapy, and reevaluation counselling. Heron's theory of catharsis in human development is emphasized, and is central to the two experiential research inquiries presented later. The evidence for the efficacy of catharsis is reviewed from the perspective of the various 'schools' of emotionally-expressive therapy, and reference to the psychosomatic and bereavement literature is also made. Two research inquiries are presented which investigate the effects of catharsis on human functioning. A new paradigm experiential approach was adopted in which co-researchers engaged in a collaborative inquiry. 'Inside’ measures of subjective experiencing, contingent upon emotional catharsis, were gathered through self-report, as well as 'outside' measures of blood pressure, pulse rate, and personality functioning. Results suggest that physiologic tension decreases following somatic emotional catharsis, but that longer term changes in psycho-somatic functioning require the development of insight into the genesis of the 'symptom', as well as complementary therapeutic strategems. It is further suggested that the development of insight is contingent upon historical somatic catharsis. The results also show that where cognitive catharsis occurs without affective release, an increase in psycho-physiologic tension is effected, as shown in both the physiological measures and subjective experiencing. Finally, the implications of catharsis for therapeutic practice are discussed

Restoring Functions of Christian Worship: An Examination of the Impacts of Biblical Musical Meditation on Anxiety

Based on diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Study Replication (NCS-R), an estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience anxiety at some time in their lives. This project outlines a mixed-methods research that examines the impact of music and Scripture, and illustrates the experiences of multiple individuals experiencing situational anxiety. For fifteen minutes, for seven days, the three groups listened to a cycle of three songs that depicted calming instrumental music, general worship music with promising themes, and positive lyrics or songs with lyrics based on Scripture. The three groups received varying treatments of music while completing a modified version of the Hamilton Anxiety Scale before and after. The results of the study demonstrate the impact Scripture lyrics have on each individual’s thinking and suggest that music with Scripture decreases general anxiety. The work is necessary because it illustrates the impact lyrics have on one’s thoughts and mind. The study also demonstrates how music, in combination with Scripture can improve one’s overall physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health

Perceptions of Healing: Mind, Body and Spiritual Implications For Yoga Therapy and Art Therapy Students

This study employed a mixed method approach to explore perceptions of healing, particularly as it relates to the mind, body and spirit. The data was collected via a questionnaire consisting of word lists, scaling questions, narratives and an art based component among thirty-two yoga therapy students and twenty-one art therapy students at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. The information gathered was used to explore, compare and contrast the perceptions of healing within and between the two groups. The findings suggested that both study groups shared similar concepts about the integration of the mind, body and spirituality in their healing journeys while decidedly demonstrating the importance in personal change and growth in their perceived healing experiences. However the yoga therapy participants appeared to take a more concrete approach that was directly related to the practice of yoga and its philosophy, whereas the art therapy participants seemed to take a broader and more intuitive path. These differences were especially noted in the expressive art pieces