By Judy Koh, Activity Therapist, Mount Elizabeth-Charter Behavioural Health Services
Art is a means of communication. Spoken language depends on words to communicate conscious thoughts and feelings. We also communicate through our body using gestures, postures, facial expressions and reflexes such as blushing. Art is a pictorial language that allows us to understand and access both conscious and unconscious perceptions and emotions. The image that we produce, no matter how simple or unskilled, helps us to understand ourselves and others better. It is through understanding that feelings of frustration, anger, guilt and shame can be released. Art-making is therefore a process and mode for healing.
For children, art-making is a spontaneous activity. The toddler will use any gooey substance to make marks, smearing all surfaces within reach. It is their way of exploring themselves in relation to the environment. Children who have internalised negative feedback from adults about their artistic efforts will be reluctant to draw. Believing themselves to be poor in art, they often perceive it as just another aspect of academic performance. Consequently, they lose the opportunity to develop, nurture and communicate the deeper aspects of their selves. It is therefore crucial for parents and teachers to be encouraging and accepting of children’s art products. The value of a child’s drawing does not lie in its realism. The role of the adult is to gently facilitate the child’s visual means of communication. The child tells the story and the adult listens and understands.
An art product such as a drawing, painting, sculpture or craftwork is always projective; it captures symbolically the traits, behaviour, feelings and thoughts of the artist. A child that has hearing difficulties may draw a person without ears, with emphasised ears, or ears that look similar to those drawn by most children. It is important that we do not jump to conclusions; ask the child to tell his story. A person drawn without ears may mean acceptance or sadness about a hearing deficit or a symbolic need to avoid hearing. Its true meaning depends on the physical characteristics of the child and other aspects of the drawing such as how the figure is constructed and placed on the paper, as well as what other images are included. An emphasised part of a drawing may express anxiety about that aspect and signify overcompensation or need for help. Again, the child should be encouraged to tell his story in a general sort of way. Try asking the child, “Tell me more about this person.”
Some children, and especially adolescents, may be resistant in talking about their artwork. They may reply to questions about aspects of their work by saying, “I don’t know; it’s just a drawing.” Free association can be used to help the young artist generate her own meanings to her images. This is a non-threatening process of listing words that the image evokes. For example, the emphasised ears may elicit words such as hurt, tears cry, friends, gossip, lonely etc. Reflecting on these words in association with the drawing may help the young person understand that the reason for her depression and school reluctance is due to her perception that her friends are gossiping about her.
Images are unique symbols that, like dreams, offer insight into the unconscious parts of our selves. Anyone who wants to help others explore this ‘royal road to the unconscious’ should be familiar with the process of art-making. Being an artist yourself and healing yourself through art helps you understand the nuances of this visual language, appreciate its subjectivity and universality, as well as an awareness of your own projections onto the work of others. When you have travelled diverse roads, you will be more able to guide others along various paths.
Behavioural & Psychological Health Services
Mount Elizabeth-Charter Behavioural Health Services is a private behavioural and psychological health service that operates within Mount Elizabeth Hospital’s well-developed medical care infrastructure. We provide health services including:
– Child and adolescent psychiatry
– IQ Test, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Test, Literacy Assessment for Children and others
– Help for emotional and behavioural problems
– Adult and elderly psychiatry
– Treatment for alcohol, drug dependency and other addictions
As a community outreach program, we offer the Mount Elizabeth-Charter Helpline 1800 738 9595 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and an Initial Free Assessment with our trained counselors who will conduct the assessment, interview the parents and then to propose an individualized treatment plan.
At Mount Elizabeth-Charter Behavioural Health Services, we offer confidential assessments at no cost or obligation. Come in now for a Free Initial Discussion!
