Art Therapy

[DL Windell]

Hi there,
I am a regular poster here, and I have a question for those of you
interested.

I'm going into a graduate art therapy program in sept and am interested in
working with children with AD(H)D with art therapy techniques. I hypothesize
that the use of these therapies in addition to "talk" therapy (which can be
difficult for some ADD children, with their problems concentrating, etc.)
would greatly help them express their feelings and pinpoint specific areas
of self-esteem that are in need of fortification.
Self-esteem being the problem it is for so many ADD individuals, I feel that
it should be targeted more in therapy, in addition to coping skills, etc.

What do you think? Anyone have any thoughts on this or experience receiving
or giving art therapy to individuals with ADD?

Deb

[Nick/Kate Coe]

Okay, here's the deal;. Talk therapy will help some children overcome or find
methods to deal with feeling left out, unaccepted, different, etc. It won't
help any one concentrate. Some kids can develop some psychological problems due
to ADD/ADHD that's not deal with. It's not a given that all kids with a frontal
lobe disorder will develop psychological problems.
That's a very important point--if the brain dysfunction is diagnosed early
enough and dealt with appropriately, there's NO reason any child should develop
any more problems that the kid who lacks ADD.

Self-esteem is created from mastering, acquiring, learning, overcoming a skill,
a task, a job, a new subject, project, etc. You *earn* self-esteem. It's not
just " feeling good about yourself"--that's hollow and leads to narcissism and
an unproductive life, in my book.

That's a very important point--if the brain dysfunction is diagnosed early
enough and dealt with appropriately, there's NO reason any child should develop
any more problems that the kid who lacks ADD.
My 7 1/2 year old daughter is a talented artist--she hyper focusses when
creating. I've got a whole arsenal of coping strategies, ways to create
structure, order, reminders, etc. Therapy's not really on the map.

Good luck!
Kate Coe

[DL Windell]

I've got a whole arsenal of coping strategies, ways to create
>structure, order, reminders, etc. Therapy's not really on the map.
>

THanks for your response Kate,
However, the coping strategies you speak of are often the focus in therapy.
Some people need to be to how to create structure, write lists, prioritize
goals, etc etc. I am not specifically talking about psychotherapy when
saying "talk" therapy. That generally means all other therapies. Self-esteem
does develop from self-efficacy which develops from mastering tasks, etc.
Lots of ADD children and adults are repeatedly frustrated by not completing
tasks (shifting attention, beginning new tasks before finishing old ones),
losing things, not remembering things, and just generally feeling
"different" and "disordered"

Those are the problems I was referring to.
If I misunderstood your post and my responses don't relate, sorry, it is
late.
:)
Deb

[Karen Dodge]

Hi there. I am new to this newsgroup. I wanted to put in my 2 cents worth. I
have seen art therapy work wonders as an occupational therapy intern in an acute
psych unit of a hospital. BUT, before you spend the time, money, and effort
on the degree, check out the the job market. I don't ever remember actually
seeing an ad for an art therapist. I have had my OT license for 6 months and
have been unable to find a job in my area. Be careful.

[Hotairpat]

>My 7 1/2 year old daughter is a talented artist--she hyper focusses when

>creating. I've got a whole arsenal of coping strategies, ways to create

>structure, order, reminders, etc. Therapy's not really on the map.
>

Kate,

I also have a daughter that way she is 15 now and is a very good artist - but
does not do as well in other subjects. She does get hyper-focused when drawing
though. Please share some of the strategies that you have found to be
successful with her. Thanks
Patty
Hota...@aol.com

[Dee Dee Coronado]

Karen Dodge wrote:

I am a baby boomer with ADHD. I believe my father also had this very interesting
disorder. I have three adult children who also have this. I have been working in an
elementary school for 15 years and currently am attending Junior College. I hope to
one day earn my teaching credentials.

For five of the fifteen years I worked in a self esteem program for kindergarten to
third grade. Your art therapy sounds wonderful. I think art can benefit all
children, but I imagine will be very beneficial to ADD children. I think it will be
a wonderful experience for the kids.

Thanks,
Dee Dee

[Nick/Kate Coe]

I don't know that a 15 year old will be as willing to deal with this stuff as a 7
1/2 year old, but:

My kids have a very tight schedule. On the way homefrom school, I ask about how
much work they have, what's due when, etc. If my 12 yr. old, doesn't have
something, I used to make him go back into the school to get it. We come home
from school, walk the dog, have a snack, turn on Mozart, and they sit at the
dining room table (I'm on the kitchen) and do work. They work for about 20
minutes straight, take a break. Then, do another bout of work. It never
varies--even on Friday afternoons.

Dr.'s appointments and play dates have to work around this time. In soccer season,
we work around practice, but otherwise, every day is just like the one before.

If one or the other has a project due in the future, it gets started the day it's
assigned, and worked at every day.

At 5:00pm, they both watch a favorite show, play outside or do household chores
'til dinner, and then we eat. After dinner, my son usually has more work, my
daughter draws, plays, etc. They get to watch another TV show at 7:30 and then
bath, reading etc.until bed.

If there's homework over the weekend, it gets started on Sat. am, after breakfast
and worked on for about 20 minutes. same on Sunday am.

I have a vast amount of supplies, the local library is within walking distance,
and we use the 'Net for research a great deal.

This sounds so robotic, and I have friends who tell me how boring it sounds., but
without this structure, homework would be chaos. They don't argue, I don't nag.
Since developing self-discipline is hard for most kids , but esp. for ADD'ers, I
set it up so there's no chance for escape, basically. We've done this for 2
years, and it works. They know there is no way around homework, no way around
checking the calendar for future projects, etc.
Kate Coe

[samantha]

In article <373F6161...@pacbell.net>,

Four stars and two thumbs up! That sounds like such a good balance of
structure and freedom- perfect for ADD children who have zero problem
creating their own excitement. I hope you're proud of yourself for
setting up such a good system ( music and everything!). You certainly
ought to be.
--
Samantha

--== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==--
---Share what you know. Learn what you don't.---

[Nick/Kate Coe]

Thank you--it was pretty grim at first , as I'm as easily distracted as the
next person. When just my son had homework, it was more trouble to keep the
little one from bugging him.
kate Coe

[David Moisan]

On Sun, 16 May 1999 17:22:57 -0700, Nick/Kate Coe <nc...@pacbell.net>
wrote:

>This sounds so robotic, and I have friends who tell me how boring it sounds., but
>without this structure, homework would be chaos. They don't argue, I don't nag.

<laughs> You run it like one of your TV productions! Been there...

:)
Take care,

Dave

David Moisan, N1KGH, GROL n1...@amsat.org
Invisible Disability: http://www1.shore.net/~dmoisan/invisible_disability.html
GE Superradio FAQ: http://www1.shore.net/~dmoisan/faqs/superradio/gesr_faq.html
Sangean ATS-909 FAQ: http://www1.shore.net/~dmoisan/faqs/sangean/ats909faq.html

[Nick/Kate Coe]

AAGH! I'd not thought of that, but it's so true! I even have a craft services table!

If only I got P(ension) and W(elfare) for this!
Kate