As an intern art therapist, I work with child populations at a community center in Brooklyn, New York. The community center provides after-school programs for pre-K to high school students at no cost. Art therapy is also provided as a part of the programs for children who present behavioral or psychological problems in the classroom. Fortunately, I have opportunities to observe a classroom of children aged seven to eight and to interact with them prior to my art therapy session. The classroom teacher offers various artistic activities and frequently mentions that many children have benefited from these. Indeed, most of the children in the classroom actively participate in the artistic tasks. During the observation period, interestingly, I have
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The theme allowed me to consider a safe place psychologically, where I felt the most comfortable. I formed a place in my mental image, which is not actually present in reality. The place is where I rest and invite family and friends, as I have recently moved to New York and live by myself. Through the demonstration, I could realize other aspects of my inner world to which I have been indifferent. This encouraged me to be more aware of myself. The process was very therapeutic for me. At first, I had a hard time to establish and shape the basis – I will provide a shaped tray for my client. I wanted to sculpt a wall that looks cozy, but due to the characteristic of air-dry clay, it was hard to look to be comfortable and warm. This allowed to me build the wall that is composed of spheres. I was immersed in making the spheres and spent all clay I had. The tactile quality of clay and repeated hand movement was effective in my anxiety. Although I chose the air-dry clay to color, I did not due to its complexity of the artwork. I pour brown-colored water in the cups on the table, since I wished to show I love coffee. I enjoyed this experience, and it was helpful to expect what my clients may have a difficulty …show more content…
Many children at the community center in Bushwick area of Brooklyn, are referred to art therapy for various reasons such as anger, self-harm ideation and low self-esteem. Children in an inner city consistently encounter societal, environmental, and domestic stressors. Camilleri (2007) identified eleven stressors that threaten the well-being of children in inner cities: racism, poverty, violence, housing crisis, low quality of education, healthcare, employment, parenting, domestic conflict, parental mental health, and child abuse. The stressors, which are insurmountable, often influence children to present behavioral and psychological problems. For example, financial and family stress causes child abuse and is often associated with children’s emotional, behavioral, and cognitive impairment. Children who are exposed to violence are more concerned with immediate survival and lose their hope for the future (Camilleri, 2007). Indeed, the unemployment rate of Bushwick is the second highest in Brooklyn, and thirty percent of residents live below the Federal Poverty Level. Twenty-two percent of elementary school students in Bushwick miss twenty or more school days. Such an environment limits healthy lifestyle choices and is bound up with negative physical and mental health outcomes (NYC Health, 2015). For these children, the art therapy session at the community center is held weekly for thirty minutes in an
The theme allowed me to consider a safe place psychologically, where I felt the most comfortable. I formed a place in my mental image, which is not actually present in reality. The place is where I rest and invite family and friends, as I have recently moved to New York and live by myself. Through the demonstration, I could realize other aspects of my inner world to which I have been indifferent. This encouraged me to be more aware of myself. The process was very therapeutic for me. At first, I had a hard time to establish and shape the basis – I will provide a shaped tray for my client. I wanted to sculpt a wall that looks cozy, but due to the characteristic of air-dry clay, it was hard to look to be comfortable and warm. This allowed to me build the wall that is composed of spheres. I was immersed in making the spheres and spent all clay I had. The tactile quality of clay and repeated hand movement was effective in my anxiety. Although I chose the air-dry clay to color, I did not due to its complexity of the artwork. I pour brown-colored water in the cups on the table, since I wished to show I love coffee. I enjoyed this experience, and it was helpful to expect what my clients may have a difficulty …show more content…
Many children at the community center in Bushwick area of Brooklyn, are referred to art therapy for various reasons such as anger, self-harm ideation and low self-esteem. Children in an inner city consistently encounter societal, environmental, and domestic stressors. Camilleri (2007) identified eleven stressors that threaten the well-being of children in inner cities: racism, poverty, violence, housing crisis, low quality of education, healthcare, employment, parenting, domestic conflict, parental mental health, and child abuse. The stressors, which are insurmountable, often influence children to present behavioral and psychological problems. For example, financial and family stress causes child abuse and is often associated with children’s emotional, behavioral, and cognitive impairment. Children who are exposed to violence are more concerned with immediate survival and lose their hope for the future (Camilleri, 2007). Indeed, the unemployment rate of Bushwick is the second highest in Brooklyn, and thirty percent of residents live below the Federal Poverty Level. Twenty-two percent of elementary school students in Bushwick miss twenty or more school days. Such an environment limits healthy lifestyle choices and is bound up with negative physical and mental health outcomes (NYC Health, 2015). For these children, the art therapy session at the community center is held weekly for thirty minutes in an