establishing the sense of safety for clients through the creative arts american counseling...
TRANSCRIPT
Establishing The Sense Of Safety
For Clients Through The Creative Arts
American Counseling Association
Asia-Pacific Counseling Conference
(Singapore 2015)
Starter QuestionsAnswer any of the following questions by
describing HOW YOU FELT and
WHAT YOU DID
Describe a situation where:
a) You felt frightened and out of control
b) You knew you were doing something
wrong and did it anyway
c) You witnessed or overhead something
that disturbed you but you did not
understand and could not talk about
Defining Safety • What is Safety?
Webster’s: The state or condition of
feeling free from the occurrence or risk of
injury, danger or loss
• What is Therapeutic Safety?
The state or condition of an individual
feeling free from the occurrence or risk of
injury, danger or loss by the counsellor
within a therapy session
The Client in Counselling
• It is not easy for people to come to counselling
• Client Resistance to Counselling
– Shame
– Fear and Insecurity
– Embarassment
– Failure
– Bias and Assumptions of Counselling
Role of the Counsellor • Counselling 101- The most essential
predictor of counselling success is the
relationship between the counsellor and
the client
• “The best research evidence available
overwhelmingly supports the conclusion
that successful therapy is mediated by a
relationship between a therapist and
patient that is characterised by trust,
warmth, empathic understanding, and
acceptance” (Yalom, 1985)
Role of the Counsellor
• Trust- person on whom one relies
• Warmth- possessing a sincere, non-smothering
concern
• Empathic Understanding- sensitivity and
ability to “feel with” and understand the
struggles of the client
• Acceptance- receiving the client as he or she is
The Secure Base • The careful observation of a client’s first
moments in the office can inform the
approach of the counsellor to increasing
safety for that particular client
• Some clients will feel safest if they are
given the lead whilst others require slightly
more direction or freeze
• Reflecting the discomfort of the client and
giving permission to express will allow
some ease of tension
The Secure Base
• The establishment of the sense of safety for the
client should be at the forefront. If not, very little
work can be done
• First role of counsellor is to become a secure base
for each client by trying to understand what they
are asking for when they come into a session
• Becoming a secure base by accurately responding
to the moment-to-moment needs of their clients
The Use of Creative Arts in Strengthening Safety• Definition of Play Therapy
“the systematic use of a theoretical model
to establish an interpersonal process
wherein trained play therapists use the
therapeutic powers of play to help clients
prevent or resolve psychosocial
difficulties and achieve optimal growth
and development” (Association for Play
Therapy, n.d.)
The Use of Creative Arts in Strengthening Safety
• Mediums of Creative Arts Used
- Play (Puppets, Games, etc.) - Art
- Drama - Sandtray
- Dance/Movement - Music
- Photography - Poetry
- Story-telling - Clay
Why the Creative Arts?
• Play is not only central but critical to
childhood development (Roopnarine &
Johnson, 1994)
• The intense sensory and physical
stimulation that comes with playing helps
to form the brain’s circuits and prevents
loss of neurons (Perry, 1997)
Why the Creative Arts?• Use of creative arts helps establish a
working relationship with children,
especially those who lack verbal self-
expression, and even with adults who
show resistance or an inability to
articulate their feelings and issues
(Haworth, 1964)
Words of Caution• It is important to give permission for
the client to create a safe place
• We cannot assume that a client has a
safe place in their current repertoire of
experiences
• Getting clients to close their eyes and
imagine a safe place could have
adverse effects (eg: clients who have
experienced trauma)
The QuestionCreating Creative Safe Places
1) Think of a place that you have been
where you felt really safe
2) Create a place where you could feel that
way
3) For those using mediums of art, it might
help to stay away from actual detailed
drawings and use shapes, colours, etc.
The Process
1) Name the situation/issue (eg: starter
question)
2) Draw your feelings about the situation
using colours, shapes and lines
3) Decide where (in or out?) you will put
yourself in this situation and how (as a
shape, colour or symbol?)
The Process
4) Take note of the feelings/emotions that
you are experiencing as you are doing Step 3
5) Place yourself in the situation where you
feel safe
6) Take note of the “safety feeling” you are
experiencing
Intervention Examples
• Mediums of Creative Arts Used
- Play (Puppets, Games, etc.) - Art
- Drama - Sandtray
- Dance/Movement - Music
- Photography - Poetry
- Story-telling - Clay
Intervention Examples
• Dance/Movement (eg: Doodle Dance, Safety
Moves)
• Music (eg: Drumming, Xylophone, Meditation)
• Poetry/ Journalling
• Story-telling (eg: Third Party Stories)
• Clay
• Photography
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Conclusion
• Faith
• Hope
• Love
References • Haworth, M.R. (1964). Child Psychotherapy: Practice
and Theory. Northvale, NJ: Aronson
• Roopnarine, J. & Johnson, J. (1994). Child’s Play in
Diverse Cultures. Albany: State University of New York
Press
• Perry, B.D. (1997). Incubated in Terror:
Neurodevelopmental Factors in the “Cycle of Violence”
in J. Osofsky (Ed.), Children in a Violent Society
(pp.124-149). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
• Yalom, I. D. (1985), The Theory and Practice of Group
Psychotherapy (3rd Edition). New York, NY: Basic Books
Thank You!