Day 8 | 1/5/2010

Our session with the Fancy Free group (which consists of mentally impaired/disabled adults, was similar to the last couple of sessions with he Islandia based groups, involving portfolio reviews. The clients were excited to review their work, as well as the work of their peers, but were anxious to create art work 0 a good sign - but a reminder, or nag at my recent questions regarding the discussion of the art work as a therapeutic aspect of the process.

The clients were all positive in terms of the discussion of the art works. Once again it was immensely fulfilling to witness the sense of accomplishment even the surprise at their own artistic success. On the flip side, the group did have an increasingly difficult time focusing - some members went off in their own conversations that were unrelated to the review of art work. I wonder if there would be more to discuss and read into if the at work was reviewed one on one with the therapist and client - although it would be extremely difficult in our particular sessions...

I imagine that creating a greater notion of self worth in the clients [something that I think is a particular goal with our fancy free group] is part of the goal in our art therapy sessions. In this regard I think the portfolio review was very successful. It serves as a major reinforcer to the weekly steps towards building confidence and self worth in the clients lives and minds and spirits. Each client was taken aback by the amount of work they had created individually, as well as by the success of each piece.

The energy in the room was slightly heightened by the emmittance of a a less than positive vibe. It was brought forth in a client that has recently lost her mother. The client became very emotional - with seemingly no trigger at all. Several minutes after responding to the question of where she had gotten a bottled water (asked by her staff), the client shouted "I'm sorry I was a bad girl! I'm sorry I was a bad girl!". She began grinding her teeth loudly and rubbing her hands together anxiously.

The outburst took a toll on the group (everyone came to a pause with our attention on this particular clients). The staff members were able to calm her down shortly after, but the client was sensitive [and insensitive to others] for the remainder of our session. The client interrupted others or deflected conversations and praise of her peer's to herself. The client continually mentioned the loss of her mother, and it was my instinctive reaction to discuss it with her. However it had been decided by her behavioral staff that she was only supposed to speak about her loss in a structured one-on-one environment because of her behavioral and emotional threshold. Lauren was able to redirect this behavior by focusing her attention into the artwork and process.

Reflections and questions:

So far I have not seen this client express the emotion connected to the loss of her mother in her art. I would like to gear her in that direction... but am not sure how... would she understand if I told her to draw how she felt?

- Are my expectations of 'drawing how you feel' hindering me from seeing that she may be doing this in her own way?

- How can you gear a clients to make expressive art V.S. drawing/craft?

- Is all art not expressive on at least some level?