ARTSNET's K.E.Y.S. to Art Program
(Knowledge, Education, Youth, Success!)

Art Therapy For Disadvantaged Teens

Art Therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and literature offers a way to not only educate but communicate to young children and adolescents about anger management and violence and can open and foster discussion about emotional violence (including racism and prejudice) and physical violence. When it comes to art therapy for these young adults, their feelings are all on canvas. The canvas shares their burden. Once their work is finished on canvas they find it easier to explain the painting, therefore telling you their personal story. Which in turn aids in coping and healing.

"Violence comes in many forms, guns, fists, and words of hate and contempt. Unless we change the way we treat others in school and out, there will only be more and more horrible tragedies." Statistics are sobering. The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (www.nccev.org/violence/statistics.html) states that, "Approximately 4 million adolescents have been victims of a serious physical assault, and 9 million have witnessed serious violence during their lifetimes." The Center also states that, "The U.S. has the highest rates of childhood homicide, suicide, and firearm-related death among industrialized countries."

An adolescent can be reluctant and uncomfortable with verbalizing feelings. However, in the art process, "diagrams, symbols and metaphors allow the adolescent to distance . . . from the potential anxiety" of "feeling" tasks in the immediacy of the group process (Linesch, 1988, p. 142).

"A form of expression is desperately needed, one which matches the intensity and complexity of (the adolescent) experience, is direct but nonthreatening, is constructive and acceptable. The creative arts provide this means of expressing the inner explosiveness of adolescence" (Emunah, 1990, p. 102).

Adolescents generally find it more difficult to eloquently verbalize such feelings: they are often overwhelmed and even confused by the onslaught of complex feelings that come as they move toward adulthood. However, for teens, most conflicts involve differences between family members

For adolescents, the approach of the therapist needs to reflect their current life experience. Therefore, "talk therapy" tends not to be as effective as therapy that involves activity or experience (such as Art Therapy, experiential therapy and play therapy). These forms of therapy allow symbolic expression of internal conflicts.