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.

Presenting Author Name/s

Eva James

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

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Mar 20th, 12:00 PM Mar 20th, 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.