Printmaking Towards Reconnection: Art Therapy's Use in Harm Reduction with Substance Abuse Disorders
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
For this paper, what will be presented is the use of Art Therapy in the harm reduction community with substance abuse disorders. What will be discussed is how the introduction of art therapy helps in harm reduction, how art therapy’s integrative approach provides clients with creative ways to cope and process individual substance abuse, and evidence to support actual harm reduction. There will be a more specific focus on the use of printmaking in a therapeutic setting and its use in harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Art Therapy can be considered a non-threatening treatment modality that provides an alternative to verbal processing. The art therapist places the client as the interpreter and expert of their experience. This allows clients to engage in treatment in a non-judgmental environment and focus on self-expression through their art making process. It can be a safe approach to help clients begin to address their traumas, causes of addiction, and consequences of their addiction. Lastly, by using the example of printmaking, what will be shown is the medium creates a therapeutic bridge that would improve both substance abuse and any underlying mental disorders. A brief history of printmaking and its multiple uses with the Gestalt therapeutic approach will show its beneficial implementation to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Eleanor Lampell
College Affiliation
College of Arts & Letters
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Art Therapy | Printmaking | Psychology | Substance Abuse and Addiction
Session Title
Art History 3: Matters of Interpretation
Location
Zoom Room R
Start Date
3-20-2021 12:00 PM
End Date
3-20-2021 12:55 PM
Printmaking Towards Reconnection: Art Therapy's Use in Harm Reduction with Substance Abuse Disorders
Zoom Room R
For this paper, what will be presented is the use of Art Therapy in the harm reduction community with substance abuse disorders. What will be discussed is how the introduction of art therapy helps in harm reduction, how art therapy’s integrative approach provides clients with creative ways to cope and process individual substance abuse, and evidence to support actual harm reduction. There will be a more specific focus on the use of printmaking in a therapeutic setting and its use in harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Art Therapy can be considered a non-threatening treatment modality that provides an alternative to verbal processing. The art therapist places the client as the interpreter and expert of their experience. This allows clients to engage in treatment in a non-judgmental environment and focus on self-expression through their art making process. It can be a safe approach to help clients begin to address their traumas, causes of addiction, and consequences of their addiction. Lastly, by using the example of printmaking, what will be shown is the medium creates a therapeutic bridge that would improve both substance abuse and any underlying mental disorders. A brief history of printmaking and its multiple uses with the Gestalt therapeutic approach will show its beneficial implementation to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.