Art Therapy Program for Addiction & Mental Health Recovery:
Art Expression Group
Brandon Bruce Dellario LMSW LASAC
Art Expression Group is an art course for people in recovery from addiction and or other mental conditions.
The program runs for eight weeks. Each week new art mediums and techniques are introduced to the group. The subject of group projects will also change from week to week, allowing group members to open up conversations regarding recovery while developing artistically. The group will be instructed by an artist who also is a certified counselor or therapist. The group could also be coordinated by both an artist (as art instructor) and a counselor/therapist (as group facilitator), but the lead facilitator of the group must be a certified counselor/therapist.
Group A meets on Mondays from 3pm to 4:30pm. Group B meets on Wednesdays from 3pm to 4:30pm (Group B is for overflow purposes if necessary). Each group member will be evaluated on their performance in class. Members who successfully complete all eight classes will graduate and receive a letter of recommendation from the Art Expression Program Coordinator. This letter of recommendation can be used to pursue employment, education, art business and the like.
A graduation ceremony and art show reception will be held at the facility one week after the last class, 3pm to 4:30pm. The art will remain displayed at the facility for one month afterward. Our program does not claim responsibility for any damages/theft of art from the facility or otherwise. It is the responsibility of the group member to take care of their own art in class, and pick-up soon after the art display.
Art Expression Program Curriculum:
Firstly the art media is set up for the group as directed by the group facilitator. Throughout the course, portions of class time will allow open discussion related to recovery, the art project and art in general. Each individual class starts with set up (10 minutes), then specific instruction regarding the art medium (15 minutes), followed by an art-making icebreaker (15 minutes), an art project (40 minutes) and cleanup (10 minutes). The week’s icebreaker and art project have one of a variety of subjects on recovery. The classes are scheduled as follows:
Week #1
Introduction to the course: Coordinator and facilitators will introduce themselves, their own professional background and what the program will look like in the future.
Art Medium: Pencil, Conte & Charcoal
Instruction: Sketching techniques
Icebreaker: Who or what are your 5 greatest supports? How do you use those supports? What are the barriers to your own personal recovery? How do you think you can remove those barriers? Draw one of each.
Art Project: Bridge to Recovery
Week #2
Art Medium: Chalk Pastel
Instruction: Techniques in use of chalk pastel
Icebreaker: How are actions and consequences related? What actions lead to health, happiness and serenity? What actions lead to sickness, depression and insanity? Draw one action and one consequence that you have experienced.
Art Project: Gay Walker’s “Life Path”
Week #3
Art Medium: Pen & Felt tip markers (fine and wide tipped, Sharpie and Crayola)
Instruction: Free draw
Icebreaker: What are some of your own personal values? What is it about these values that attract you? What do they do for you? How are they different or similar to the values of others? What are some definitions of the terms “principles” and “values?”
Art Project: Draw the 12 Steps
Week #4
Art Medium: Oil Pastel
Instruction: Techniques for use with oil pastel
Icebreaker: What is your personal definition of spirituality? How does it help you in your life? How is spirituality, in a broad sense, different from the disease you suffered from (addiction or chronic mental condition)?
Art Project: Paint the Disease
Week #5
Art Medium: Magazines, Glue and Masks
Instruction: Techniques of collage
Icebreaker: What are some of the faces you show to the world and why? What are some feelings you have behind those faces and why? How are they alike or different?
Art Project: Masks
Week #6
Art Medium: Acrylic Paints
Instruction: Acrylic painting techniques
Icebreaker: What is an example of an affirmation? What are some things you tell yourself to help you through the day? What are some things you’d like to tell yourself in the future? How do affirmations help an individual in life?
Art Project: Pet Rock
Week #7
Art Medium: Watercolors
Instruction: Watercolor painting techniques
Icebreaker: What are some ways you help others? What are the things you enjoy about helping others? What are the pitfalls of helping others? What are the ways you avoid those pitfalls? What are the ways people help you? What are the difficult things about accepting help? What are some ways to avoid those difficulties?
Art Project: Boundaries
Week #8
Art Medium: Choose your own medium
Instruction: Ask instructor and classmates for suggestions regarding your medium of choice.
Icebreaker: What tools are the most helpful to you? Calling/sharing/fellowship with others? Groups? One on one? Prayer/meditation/relaxation? Reading/writing? Singing/dancing/art-making/music/cooking/sports? Out of these last eight weeks, what are the new tools you have gained? How do they help you? How will you remember to use them when necessary? Who will help you to stay accountable (mentor, sponsor, spiritual guide, pastor, etc.)? Tell us about your plan for regular maintenance of recovery (replacing bad habits with good habits regularly)
Art Project: Self-care
Art Expression Program Rules & Contract
5 Rules of Group Sessions:
1. Group members must agree to treat one another with respect and dignity at all times.
2. Group members must agree to remain focused on the instruction and group project during class, and to engage in casual conversation related to recovery or art-making only while working on class projects (as dictated by facilitator).
3. Group members must not bring drugs of abuse, paraphernalia or weapons into the facility.
4. Group members must speak to facilitator privately if experiencing problems in or out of the group.
5. Group members must have fun making art J
Group Member Signature:_____________________ Date:_____
If a group member is having difficulty in class, the coordinator will discuss the situation with the member in private and offer individual guidance and referral. If problems persist and agreed-upon alternatives have not been followed through by the group member, a written warning will be given to them.
If the issue continues to rise, and there continues to be no commitment to change by the group member, they will be dropped from the Art Expression Group. At this time, the coordinator will meet with them privately for guidance and referral purposes. They will be allowed to try the program again during the next program session if there was no threat of physical harm to anyone related to the program or facility.
Information for the Agency & Facilitator
The facilitators of the Art Expression Program will direct students who arrive early to set-up materials for the day’s work. This will give students competence, promote self-efficacy and build on their familiarity with the media/art room. The art room must have a space for display of art, storage of materials, adequate furniture, a nearby sink and space for students to express themselves in. The environment must be safe and secure. This room is a sanctuary to the students. Its’ character is of importance to the functioning of the group. Ideas involving alternative expressive art therapy models must be carefully designed, orchestrated and submitted to the program director for approval.
The classes are conducted by an artist/mental health professional that plays the role of instructor and facilitator. With the supervision of a mental health professional, an outside instructor can donate time to come in and teach a certain media or technique if the group so desires. Decisions regarding this program’s evolution will be made by the class, but only when approved by the group coordinator and program director. No oil painting or other hazardous materials will be used in this program.
An art-making icebreaker follows the initial instruction, after which an art project is introduced to the group. The group sessions will involve art instruction regarding a variety of different materials which are easy to control and clean up. Some are listed here: pencils, erasers, felt tip pens, markers (Sharpie), a variety of colored markers (Crayola), conte crayons, charcoal, chalk pastels, oil pastels; acrylic paints, watercolor paints, brushes, mugs for water, rags, pallets; scissors, tape, glue; newsprint, typing paper, quality sketching paper, water color paper, canvas/wood/masonite, stones, masks; smocks, plastic or cloth covers for table, storage bins, containers; proper safe and secure work space with running water and necessary furniture.
The group facilitator can offer alternatives to group members who wish to create something outside of the weekly project or art medium. No more than two classes can be used to work on something outside of the weekly project.
The facilitator can ask open-ended questions of the members to facilitate their art making or group discussion. The facilitator must also promote and maintain and atmosphere conductive of recovery. If a group member is acting inappropriately, it is a great opportunity for the facilitator to reach out by pulling that person aside casually, asking them to meet for a one-on-one meeting, or referral to a worker or agency who might be able to help. 911 should be called if there is a serious threat of physical harm.
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