Individual And Group Art Therapy Sessions With Two Adolescents In A Juvenile Detention Center PDF Download

This arts-based inquiry was situated within my clinical art therapy internship at a residential treatment center for children and adolescents. This center disproportionately treats African American boys, ages 6-16, who are resilient survivors of complex trauma with a history of acute emotional and behavioral challenges, resulting in them being removed from their homes. This investigation led to a holistic view of mental health not existing in isolation from one's racial marginalization or other identity markers. All of the youth were collectively a part of a subjugated group by default of being in residential care, involved with the child welfare system, and most, having inconsistent guardianship. My personal use of creative expression was integral in the formulation of my focal question: Within a culturally competent and trauma-informed framework, how do I effectively incorporate integrated arts (visual arts, hip-hop, movement, theatre/performance and writing) and Positive Youth Development (PYD) values into my art therapy practice at a residential treatment center for children and adolescents? A review of relevant literature for each of the approaches provided the theoretical foundation for this arts-based inquiry. Over the course of six weeks, I employed an intentional method of answering a set of "Processing Questions," and creating art in response to art therapy sessions with two groups and two individual participants. This resulted in the creation of clinically sound directives and interventions that evolved from participants' interests and needs as indicated by their weekly participation and my clinical observations. My clinical techniques included: maintaining an evolving working definition of culture, and making personal artwork alongside the youth or supporting them in their own projects. In the context of Positive Youth Development, there was a balance between being authoritarian and authoritative to maintain structure and boundaries. I assert that these combined approaches facilitated healthy and meaningful client-therapist relationships, fostered hope, promoted self-discovery and helped in the process of reconciling past traumas.