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Catharsis in art therapy: A case study of a sexually abused adolescent

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Michael Joseph Hanes at HOPE Community Services
Michael Joseph Hanes
  • HOPE Community Services
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Abstract

This case study discusses the use of catharsis in art therapy with a 16-year-old female who had been sexually abused by her stepfather. The client employed art materials to produce an effigy of her abuser, which she fastened to an altar and repeatedly stabbed with sharpened pencils. That enactment provided an outlet for latent emotions and aggressive drives which could not be expressed in daily life. Rather than intervening or diverting her process, I supported the opportunity to discharge pent-up emotions stemming from her abusive experiences. I discuss how catharsis was part of a broader therapeutic context that included both emotional and cognitive components.
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Copyright © 2000. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2000. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2000. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2000. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2000. All rights reserved.
... Group art therapy is the therapy of choice in work with victims of sexual abuse, or in general with persons who have had traumatic experiences. Artistic activities that combine different media, together with a group discussion at each session are designed to encourage group cohesion, develop trust, and strengthen self-image (59)(60)(61). Group therapy treatments are organized so that the first meeting is conducted with the parents in order to provide emotional support and enable them to express their concern for their children's future. After work with the parents, group art therapy is conducted with victims of abuse for 8 weeks. ...
... The artistic projects at first indicate significant emotional instability, but gradually became more cohesive and calmer, and positive therapy outcomes are reported (59). This approach has shown a significant reduction in anxiety, PSTD and disassociation in participants in group treatment (59)(60)(61). ...
The Creative Art Therapies in Work with Children and Adolescents with Traumatic Experiences
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  • Feb 2022
This article is theoretical in nature and sets out to explore how creative art therapies create useful intervention and therapeutic approaches for working with children and adolescents. Creative art therapy is an approach in the treatment of child trauma widely used by art therapists as well as psychologists and counsellors. Published articles and books that focus exclusively on the use of creative art therapies for treating children who have experienced a traumatic event were included in this review. An overview of the unique characteristics and potential difficulties of treating children and adolescent who have been exposed to traumatic experiences with individual and group creative art therapies is presented. Finally, the article provides an overview of the effectiveness of creative art therapies in working with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. Conclusion − The research, albeit few in number and methodologically limited, shows that expressive creative therapies help children and adolescents express their traumatic experiences in a safe way and gives them the skills and hope they need to enjoy life to the fullest despite their traumatic experience. Several methodological issues are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided in this review.
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... They were opportune to designate the most common emotions with history of abuse i.e., feelings of anger, victimization, worry, anxiety, embarrassment, dislike, loss, and so on. The findings predicted the psychological disturbance and child sexual abuse in their stories narrated (Calam et al, 1998;Dufrence, 1994;Hanes, 2000Hanes, , 2001Moon, 1999;Young, 1998, Silver, 1988b). ...
... The counselor has to keenly observe the non-verbal behavior demonstrated by each child along with their body language. When abused children answer questions which bring them to their inner most feelings or emotions, they may try to hide them instinctively by displaying sudden aggression or non-cooperation (American Counseling Association, 2005;Zuercher, 1983;Hanes, 2000Hanes, , 2001. It was observed that social support and positive social interactions with others decrease the vulnerability of children to negative outcomes. ...
Expressive Art activities for children surviving abuse and neglect
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2020
Child abuse and neglect within their family are considered grave issues demanding immediate attention and action to attenuate the prevalence rate. Also, even though there are initiatives taken at the primary preventive level, there is a dearth of focused research on exploring the intervention counselling approaches for psychological healing of children who have been sexually-emotionally abused and neglected. The paucity of formal research in the use of expressive art therapeutic activities in case of children with lower socioeconomic status seems to provide fertile ground for further exploration and provides a rationale for this study. The present research revolve around the two abused young girls from a poverty-stricken families from a rural village in India and their emotional upheaval with regard to struggle faced during their life. Therefore this research is just a drop in the ocean, attempting to provide a review of the current research base of art therapies with children who were sexually emotionally abused and neglected. It also provides support for the effectiveness and feasibility of art therapies with children in counselling who have experienced some form of abuse and neglect.
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... They were opportune to designate the most common emotions with history of abuse i.e., feelings of anger, victimization, worry, anxiety, embarrassment, dislike, loss, and so on. The findings predicted the psychological disturbance and child sexual abuse in their stories narrated (Calam et al, 1998;Dufrence, 1994;Hanes, 2000Hanes, , 2001Moon, 1999;Young, 1998, Silver, 1988b). ...
... The counselor has to keenly observe the non-verbal behavior demonstrated by each child along with their body language. When abused children answer questions which bring them to their inner most feelings or emotions, they may try to hide them instinctively by displaying sudden aggression or non-cooperation (American Counseling Association, 2005;Zuercher, 1983;Hanes, 2000Hanes, , 2001. It was observed that social support and positive social interactions with others decrease the vulnerability of children to negative outcomes. ...
Expressive Art activities for children surviving abuse and neglect
Research
Full-text available
  • Jun 2020
Child abuse and neglect within their family are considered grave issues demanding immediate attention and action to attenuate the prevalence rate. Also, even though there are initiatives taken at the primary preventive level, there is a dearth of focused research on exploring the intervention counselling approaches for psychological healing of children who have been sexually-emotionally abused and neglected. The paucity of formal research in the use of expressive art therapeutic activities in case of children with lower socioeconomic status seems to provide fertile ground for further exploration and provides a rationale for this study. The present research revolve around the two abused young girls from a poverty-stricken families from a rural village in India and their emotional upheaval with regard to struggle faced during their life. Therefore this research is just a drop in the ocean, attempting to provide a review of the current research base of art therapies with children who were sexually emotionally abused and neglected. It also provides support for the effectiveness and feasibility of art therapies with children in counselling who have experienced some form of abuse and neglect.
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... As PTSD patients are often overwhelmed by the traumatic events they experienced, visual art or poetry can help them to imagine, make sense of, and explain the overwhelming thoughts and sentiments in more contained ways [63]. Using visual arts and poetry in psychotherapy can ease mental processes, which can benefit the treatment (i.e., releasing and recognizing one's emotions and thoughts, facing one's fears, and establishing a new sense of oneself) [64]. Poetry and visual arts can be used for various treatment intentions, which may benefit a PTSD patient. ...
MDMA-Based Psychotherapy in Treatment-Resistant Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Brief Overview of Current Evidence
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  • Aug 2023
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health disorder that causes significant dysfunction in individuals. Currently, there are many approved Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy treatment options for PTSD, but unfortunately, half of the patients do not respond to traditional therapies. In this article, we reviewed clinical trials and research on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) assisted Psychotherapy in PTSD patients, its pharmacokinetics and current treatment guidelines for PTSD. Based on the results of the efficacy of MDMA assisted Psychotherapy from six phases II Randomized controlled trials. MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD has received the “Breakthrough Therapy” designation from the FDA. MDMA can potentially reduce PTSD symptoms even in treatment-resistant cases by increasing certain neurohormones, i.e. dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and oxytocin. It also modulates activities in the brain regions involved in fear and anxiety. Future research is needed to show whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and whether its use can be integrated into available treatment options for PTSD.
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... As PTSD patients are often overwhelmed by the traumatic events they experienced, visual art or poetry can help them to imagine, make sense of, and explain the overwhelming thoughts and sentiments in more contained ways [56]. Using visual arts and poetry in psychotherapy can ease mental processes, which can benefit the treatment (i.e., releasing and recognizing one's emotions and thoughts, facing one's fears, and establishing a new sense of oneself) [57]. Poetry and visual arts can be used for various treatment intentions, which benefit a PTSD patient. ...
MDMA-Based Psychotherapy in Treatment-Resistant Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Brief Narrative Overview of Current Evidence
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  • Nov 2023
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health disorder that causes significant dysfunction in individuals. Currently, there are many approved pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatment options for PTSD, but unfortunately, half of the patients do not respond to traditional therapies. In this article, we review clinical trials and research on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy in PTSD patients, its pharmacokinetics, and current treatment guidelines for PTSD. Our findings are based on the results of the efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy from six phase II randomized controlled trials. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD has received the “breakthrough therapy” designation from the FDA. MDMA can reduce PTSD symptoms even in treatment-resistant cases by increasing certain neurohormones, i.e., dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and oxytocin. It also modulates activities in the brain regions involved in fear and anxiety. Future research is needed to show whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and whether its use can be integrated into available treatment options for PTSD.
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John Cage and Catharsis in the Light of an Artistic Experience (In persian) جان کیج و کاتارسیس در پرتو تجربه هنرمندانه
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2018
کاتارسیس در اندیشه ارسطو، امری اخلاقی، در تئاتر برشت به تخلیه عاطفی-جسمی و آگاهی شناختی و در نوشتار ویگوتسکی به تضاد آگاهی‌بخش پیرامون تجربه زندگی تعبیر شده است. جان کیج، موسیقی‌دان برجسته قرن بیستم، نیز ایجاد چالش برای کُنش ادراکی مخاطب و هویّت اثر در تجارب موسیقایی و پرفورمنس‌هایش، که اساساً از ماهیّتی کاتارتیکی برخوردارند، را هسته اصلی اندیشه هنری خود می‌دانست. ازاین‌رو، هدف پژوهش حاضر جست‌وجوی وجود و مفهوم تجربه کاتارسیس در آثار جان کیج است و در این راستا از روش تاریخی و توصیفی- تحلیلی و منابع کتابخانه‌ای بهره گرفته‌است. یافته‌ها نشانگر سه مرحله تغییر اندیشه وی، از فاصله‌گذاری به انگیزش مخاطب برای مداخله، و در نهایت، متأثر از اندیشه ذن، بخشیدن مقام هنرمند به مخاطب، به‌عنوان روش ویژه خود در راستای دادن تجربه کاتارسیس به وی، است. کیج با قرار دادن مخاطب در جایگاه هنرمند، با بخشیدن مقامی رفیع به انسان، کاتارسیس را به تجربه دائمی وی در زندگی بدل می‌سازد.
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Ästhetisch-bildende Prozesse mit einer Vielfalt von Kindern und Jugendlichen: Reflexion von Welt und Selbst über Materialerfahrung und Gestaltung. Seminar-Lektionen mit Denkimpulsen und Transferaufgaben
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Wie vermögen Prozesse der Materialerfahrung und des Gestaltens die Auseinandersetzung mit der Welt und dem eigenen Selbst zu fördern? Dieser Studienband bietet Grundlagenwissen zur ästhetischen Bildung, zur ästhetischen Sozialisation und zur Entwicklung der Bildnerei im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Geschöpft wird dabei aus kunstpädagogischen, kunsttherapeutischen und medientheoretischen Diskursen. Sodann geht es um die Anwendung dieses Wissens, in der pädagogischen Arbeit mit Kindern und Jugendlichen, in der Familienbildung, in Kindertagesstätten, in Grund-, Sekundar- und Förderschulen, in integrativen und europäischen/internationalen Freizeitprogrammen. In weit über 300 Abbildungen wird eine grosse Bandbreite an ästhetisch-bildenden Prozessen dokumentiert, mit einer ebenso grossen Vielfalt von Kindern und Jugendlichen, vom sonderpädagogischen Forderbedarf bis hin zur besonders hohen Lernmotivation.
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Anger, catharsis, the reformulated frustration-aggression hypothesis, and health consequences
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Full-text available
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Questions the therapeutic value of catharsis of anger and suggests alternative therapeutic activities. The question and the suggestions are examined within the context of the reformulated frustration-aggression hypothesis (L. Berkowitz, 1965) and motivational factors related to health and disease. A review of pertinent research leads to the recommendation that catharsis be abandoned as a therapeutic tool. Four therapist strategies that seem appropriate based on the research reviews are offered. Therapists might help clients learn to (1) develop positive attitudes toward others; (2) deal directly, in the present, with their interpersonal issues; (3) respond in assertive ways rather than with anger; and (4) transfer the assertive response mode developed with the therapist to other interpersonal relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Catharsis in psychotherapy: A new perspective
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  • Apr 1985
Reviews contemporary thinking about catharsis in psychotherapy, which is still dominated by J. Breuer and Freud's work with the cathartic method. Psychoanalysts view the fact that Freud abandoned catharsis as evidence of its ineffectiveness, while the emotive therapies developed in the 1960's returned to Freud's earliest view that neurosis results from repressed affect and can be cured by cathartic uncovering. Emotional memories continue to be thought of as foreign bodies lodged in the human psyche and requiring purgation. It is argued that this view divorces people from responsibility for their conduct and encourages a fractionation of human experience into feeling, thought, and action. It is proposed that catharsis is, instead, a label for completing a previously restrained or interrupted sequence of self-expression. It is accompanied by recovery manifestations of some sort, for example, tears or angry shouting. Implications of this view for psychotherapeutic practice are proposed, using examples of patients going through catharsis. It is concluded that therapists should allow catharsis as a means of helping patients discover their predilections, but should recognize this as a preliminary step. After blocked aspects of self have been discovered, then the patient must begin to claim responsibility for choosing more congruent actions and appropriate social expressions, thereby defining a richer, more satisfying existence. (60 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Florence: An abuse survivor with multiple physical complaints
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Effects of content of verbal aggression on future verbal aggression: A field experiment1
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Abreacting and Assimilating Traumatic, Dissociated Memories of MPD Patients through Art Therapy
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  • Jan 1994
When used to treat patients diagnosed with multiple personality disorder (MPD), art therapy aids in translating unspeakable memories into a visual format, which may be used for psychotherapeutic exploration and mastery. As anger is sublimated, associations to artwork may be actuated to bridge affective states and memories. “Stepping in,” a drawing process developed by the author, may then be used to promote “cross alter associations” to the imagery drawn by other personalities. Consequently, new feeling states may be experienced through abreaction and cognitive awareness, the comprehensive expansion of memories, and the lessening of self-destructive ideation. This process may be utilized to break down amnesic divisions, and ultimately to diffuse personality barriers originally created to ensure the survival of the severely traumatized child. This paper addresses the recovery of traumatic material (metabolizing the trauma) and its subsequent resolution and integration.
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Art Therapy with Adult Female Incest Survivors
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“Very little systematic research has compared different types of treatment for adult victims of sexual assault” (Resick & Schnicke, 1990, p. 488). Art therapy research in the treatment of sexual abuse has mainly been concerned with the content of art expressions produced by clients (Spring, 1984; Ticen, 1990). Therefore, comparative studies of art therapy and group verbal therapy have the potential of aiding therapists in treating this population. Fifteen adult female incest survivors participated in this study which employed a control group and two experimental groups. Participants rated the significance of the curative factors of catharsis, cohesion, and insight in their treatment. The results of this study indicate that group art therapy, using a series of structured tasks, increased the value assigned to each of these curative factors.
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The role of the creative art therapies in the diagnosis & treatment of psychological trauma
Article
  • Mar 1987
  • ART PSYCHOTHER
Describes the major elements of trauma and its treatment, and presents a rationale for creative arts therapy as the treatment of choice. Psychological trauma results in a dissociation of the self, interpersonal effects that attach the victim to the victimizer, and a feeling that one's humanity has been compromised. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress are outlined, and stages of treatment via gaining access to and working through the traumatic memories and rejoining the world are described. The special role of art therapy in facilitating the processes involved in these stages is discussed and illustrated via case examples of Vietnam veterans treated for posttraumatic stress syndrome with the aid of visual, literary, and dramatic arts. The cognitive, developmental, and psychodynamic reasons for choosing art therapy are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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A Posteriori Error Bounds and Global Error Control for Approximation of Ordinary Differential Equations
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The author analyzes a finite element method for the integration of initial value problems in ordinary differential equations. General and contractive problems are treated, and quasi-optimal a priori and a posteriori error bounds obtained in each case. In particular, good results are obtained for a class of stiff dissipative problems. These results are used to construct a rigorous and robust theory of global error control. The author also derives an asymptotic error estimate that is used in a discussion of the behavior of the error. In conclusion, the properties of the error control are exhibited in a series of numerical experiments.
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