We think in images as much, and sometimes more than we do in words. We are bombarded with external images every day —online, in periodicals, movies, on TV and billboards. But we can also create our own images to express who we are and how we are feeling. Art therapy provides a vehicle for capturing the internal images that give meaning to our lives.

Facing a blank piece of paper can feel daunting or even intimidating at first. It is important to understand that art therapy is not about being an artist or having any artistic skill. It is also crucial that this activity take place in the therapeutic setting with a professional who is highly skilled and trained in the fields of psychology and art therapy.

If you have ever made art, you know it can feel therapeutic simply to create. Art therapy, however, takes art making much further by focusing on the process, rather than just the finished product. Through it one can discover self-awareness, clarity, self-definition, resolution, a safe place to vent, and more. Art therapy can be used as a therapeutic vehicle with all kinds of populations and in the service of a variety of issues. In this article I will briefly focus on the benefits of art therapy in healing trauma.

People who have been through one or more traumatic events often cannot easily express their experiences in words. Interventions using the art process allow an individual to begin to “talk” about these things. The non-verbal art process affords an individual the opportunity to externalize what has happened–a process that is crucial to recovery from trauma. In addition, creating images can provide a safe way to visually explore memories as well as difficult thoughts and feelings. Processing what has happened can begin to transform disturbing thoughts and feelings, leading to some sense of relief from them. Further, exploring one’s traumatic story through art can provide release from the emotional numbing that often accompanies trauma. Art Therapy also allows for experimenting with a new perspective or for reframing a traumatic event.

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I had a reminder recently of the stigma facing those dealing with trauma related to childhood abuse.  I have encountered this before of course, perhaps vicariously, during my 20 plus years in the trauma treatment trenches.  As a psychologist specializing in treating trauma I am well aware that many people do not want to be reminded of the less than pleasant aspects of life.  Even mentioning what I do for a living can get me interesting responses, or sometimes just shut down the conversation altogether.

Someone unfollowed me on Twitter, and wrote to inform me,  because I was not a “positive psychologist”. This took me aback  and I tried to understand what led to that impression.  I looked through my most recent Twitter postings to try to see what they saw.  I had been posting, as I always do, about the impact of trauma and had recently written an article about how childhood experiences are linked to adult problems: Childhood Wounds: Understanding Yourself in Context.

“You are only as sick as your secrets”.  If the oft repeated 12 step slogan is true then our culture is indeed sick.  The refusal to acknowledge the link between childhood trauma (big T and little t) and mental health issues of all sorts in adulthood seems to me to be a kind of cultural dissociation.  We would rather blame the victim, or in family systems terms set up the “sick” one as an identified patient, who has bad brain chemistry or has come by their mental “illness” in any way other than as a result of their childhood experiences.

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There are many ways in which you can save electric power and energy within your home. Nowadays it is necessary to live a greener lifestyle, but it is a common misconception that this is easier said than done. You can change the way you use your electricity power and energy with 3 easy lifestyle adjustments.

These 3 lifestyle adjustments are easy to implement in your home and should only be the beginning of your green journey. These solutions will help you to save money because you will be able to cut down on your homes electricity power and energy usage.

1. LED lighting. Is the first step that needs to be undertaken when changing to a greener lifestyle. This is due to the fact that it will require time and money. LED lighting requires far less energy to function than conventional lighting. The next time one of your conventional light bulbs goes out replace it with an LED bulb and carry on in this manner until your entire home has LED lighting.

2. Nature is your friend. Remember that nature is your friend, there are many solutions that are “natural” which will help you save electric power and energy. Instead of using your tumble dryer to dry your clothes, hang them on the washing line, the sun and wind will dry your clothes and will keep them in better condition than when you use the tumble dryer. The tumble dryer uses a lot of power and energy to run. Another way you can implement a natural remedy in your home, is to use as much natural lighting as possible. Wait until the last moment to switch on your lights, this will not only help you to save electricity but the sunlight can heat up your home too. Remember that there are natural solutions for almost everything, it is just a matter of figuring out which ones can work in your lifestyle.

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