Know of any good and effective art therapy techniques with teens?

Question

I'm currently an intern working at a residential facility with abused and/or neglected girls. The two clients I am seeing right now are ages 15 and 16. One was sexually abused, one was abandoned by her mom and has self harming tendencies. I started them both on "visual journals" and presented it to them as a way to draw and paint their feelings rather than write them (the 16 year old is cognitively like a 4th grader and is not very verbal). What other art therapy techniques can I use in session?

Answer 1

You could take them outside and let them look at the clouds and draw pics they see with their imagination.
Also, poetry would help them, and music therapy.
The best way they can get rid of the anger is read poetry in the book of proverbs in the bible.
They need to forget their past and move on to a positive level.

Answer 2

I really enjoy scrapbooking...and you could combine it with a journal. They can decorate a journal with scrapbook supplies and make it completely personal... I find scrapbooking very therapeutic.Do the girls have therapy together??? Maybe have them each write a passage/thought in a book and then switch every week?? I did this once while I was going through depression, and reading someone elses thoughts and problems actually kind of helped in a sick way. Good luck! It's very commendable what you are doing!

Answer 3

I know teens really like making and printing T shirts. A class in T-Shirt printing is very enjoyable for them. But the equipment and techniques are not very accessible they may want to paint a T shirt instead.

Answer 4

look for
"Managing Traumatic Stress Through Art" by Barry Cohen, mary-michol barnes, and anita b rankin.

"The Soul's Palette"/ "Handbook of Art Therapy" by cathy malchilodi

"Windows to Our Children" by violet oaklander