Overview
Expressive Arts Based Activities (EABA) is the use of the creative arts through a variety of media (dance, photography, art, poetry, music, drama, collage, altar making, drum circle, creative writing, etc.) as a form of therapy, social action, group facilitation, and/or to awaken personal growth, deeper reflection and creativity. Expressive arts processes have been used successfully in almost all psychotherapeutic contexts, ranging from work with the chronically mentally ill, children who have experienced trauma, hospice work, community art projects especially after catastrophic events, soldiers returning from combat, and survivors of domestic violence.
Unlike traditional art expression, the process of creation is emphasized rather than the final product. In expressive arts theory, Knill (2005) speaks of the need for EABA to be a low skill/high sensitivity activity so that clients can be successful in art making.
Assignment Task and Outcome
In sessions 13 & 14, the class will form a non-judgmental Art-Healing Group in which each student will share their expressive arts work and focus on the areas below for disclosure:
- Describe the work you created.
- What about it inspired you?
- What was the deeper reflection or insight that you developed in creating this artistic piece?
- Did the process of creating your art work have a therapeutic/healing value? If so, how? If not, why did this experience not personally work for you?
- How may the expressive arts have a therapeutic/healing value for your future clients in CYF, AHA, or COBI settings?
- Allow other members of the group to share their responses to your art piece.
ANSWER:
Impacting Communities, but Failing Myself
Ever since I attained my first qualification as a social worker, my focus has been to enhance the social functioning and well-being of communities and their members. I have participated in advocacy efforts to steer change in the society and in development initiatives by community organizations to address psychical, psychological, and social issues among senior citizens, and helped people struggling with substance abuse and mental health. I have adopted a collaborative culture after successful self-identity. However, though I have impacted families and individuals positively, I have sustained emotional pain. For instance, I recently experienced … To continue reading, click on the button below.