Using Art Therapy For Healing: Interviews

from the Navajo Reservation

By J. Olivia DrummEmporia State University

Art Therapy

• Heavily influenced by American and European focus on the unconscious 19th/20th century

• Group of psychiatrists in Europe became interested in the spontaneous art created by mentally ill

• Emergence of projective testing in clinical psychology• Art appreciated as tool for assessment, incorporated into

psychotherapy• Examples of Projective assessments: Kinetic Family Drawing

(KFD), Scribble Technique• Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Psycho-educational, Systemic,

Integrative

Elizabeth Layton

Client• Axis I: 296.53 Bipolar I Disorder, Most

recent episode Depressed, Severe without psychotic features

• Axis II: 301.83 Borderline Personality Disorder

• Axis III: diabetic, congestive heart failure, high B.P., rotting shoulders, enlarged heart, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, diverticulosis, anemia, ulcers

• Axis IV: extreme poverty, inadequate finances, insufficient welfare support

• Axis V: Some impairment in reality testing or communication

•DOB: 11/24/1951•Female•Widow•Caucasian•First ECT in 1986•Has experienced 60 to 70+ ECT treatments

Artwork

Artwork continued

Hypothesis

Art therapy is an appealing and culturally appropriate form of

therapy for populations with beliefs in traditional healing

564 Federally Recognized Tribes

POW WOW LAWRENCE, KS 2009

I AM ART St. Michaels, AZ 2009

I AM ART

Appropriate Use of Images

Symbol Systems

Taboos

Navajo Nation

Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Behavioral Health Department

Staff Interviewed

• IHS Native Medicine Traditional Practitioners• Psychiatrists• Psychologists• Social Workers (Medical, Supervisor)• Mental Health Counselors• Substance Abuse Counselors• Student Intern• School Counselors

Interviews Questions

• What is your definition of culture, ethnicity?• What is your cultural/ethnic background?• What brought you to this place you are working? • What sparked your interest in the field of mental

health/healing profession?• What is your understanding of the roles of the other

members of the Behavioral Health Staff?• What are your thoughts on using art therapy with the

population you currently serve?• What are your thoughts on having an art therapist on staff?

Scribble Drawings

Art Therapy On the Navajo Reservation

– Indian Health Services (IHS)• Chinle Comprehensive Health Services

– IHS does not have a position available for an art therapist or any of the creative arts/expressive arts

– Staff using art therapy with patients, but no art therapist on staff, or staff formally trained in art therapy

– Department of Behavioral Health Services• Navajo Regional Behavioral Health Center

– Advertises art therapy as part of residential services available but does not have a position available for an art therapist