finding a safe place: creating safety for survivors of domestic violence through art

Finding a Safe Place: Finding a Safe Place: Creating Safety for Survivors of Creating Safety for Survivors of

DomesticDomestic Violence through ArtViolence through Art

Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC, CTC-SRegistered Board Certified Art Therapist

Certified Trauma Consultant

ObjectivesObjectivesLearn the benefits of using art to address safety

in trauma intervention and recovery with domestic violence survivors

Be able to identify how safety, resilience, and adaptive coping can be explored through art

Be introduced to appropriate material & media considerations to create a safe creative environment and to explore fears & worries.

About Domestic ViolenceAbout Domestic Violence

Domestic violence (also called interpersonal or intimate partner violence) is a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to

gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. ~National Domestic Violence Hotline | www.thehotline.org

Domestic abuse is when a partner uses a pattern of coercive and assaultive behaviors to obtain power and control;

Coercion is defined as “to force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or intimidation or to compel; to dominate, restrain, or control forcibly; and to bring about by force or threat.”;

What makes a relationship abusive is the repeated and patterned behavior by a partner that attempts to control aspects of the other person’s life through manipulation, fear, bullying, and multiple other coercive tactics.

Ohio Domestic Violence Network: www.odvn.org

Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolencePhysical, sexual,

emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats.

Behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound.

Linked to increased medical, psychological, and social problems.

Battered women suffer more health disorders vs. non-victims: i.e. PTSD, substance abuse, anxiety, depression

Domestic Violence & SafetyDomestic Violence & SafetyIncrease risk when a victim leavesPersonalized (Emotional) Safety PlanningProtection Orders, CourtFleeing to a Shelter / Safe Housing

Adaptive coping- women & childrenNormalize trauma reactions & triggersSafety is fluid and can change quickly

Safety Planning in a Trauma Informed Manner- ODVN Best Practices and Protocols for Ohio’s Domestic Violence Programs (2011)

Creating SafetyCreating SafetyThe Experience Matters:The Experience Matters:

•Honoring & validating trauma experience•Normalize trauma reactions•Early Intervention•Relational enrichment•Safe opportunities to share ones story

Physical ImpactPhysical ImpactHormone coritosal is released by the

brain to respond to impending threatCauses increase in adrenalin, heart

rate, blood pressure, muscle tensionSleep disturbances Heightened state of arousalHyper vigilance / Startle response

Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry's Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children from Violent Homes: http://tinyurl.com/6mlqqtv

Themes:•Safety & protection: inclusion of alarms, cameras, computer surveillance, videos

•Fear of fire, someone breaking in

•Image and verbalizations suggest anxiety, heightened watchfulness, title projects fear of explosiveness, violence in the home

BehavioralBehavioral

AggressionRegressionNightmares Separation

AnxietyOppositional Repetitive play

Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry's Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children from Violent Homes: http://tinyurl.com/6mlqqtv

DepressionIrritability Anger FearfulnessAnxietyLack of affect

EmotionalEmotional

CognitiveCognitiveDecrease in attention spanDifficulty concentrating Memory ImpairmentPersistent intrusive

thoughts & imagesConfusion around traumatic

eventPoor self image and self

esteem

Miller, G. (2008). Bruce Perry's Impact: Considerations for Art Therapy & Children from Violent Homes: http://tinyurl.com/6mlqqtv

Art making is a safe way to distance painful and frightening experiences from self and the environment

Art safely externalizes internal experiences

Art can help reduce, contain, or provide insight into states of fear, anxiety, and worry

Creating Safety through ArtCreating Safety through Art

BENEFITSBENEFITS

Creative expression through art can be less threatening to explore and share feelings or memories, as well as provide the flexibility to experiment, and take risks in a therapeutic environment;

Exploration through art can help the survivor begin to manage trauma and make meaning.

Art expression facilitates an immediate hands-on outlet for survivors to feel safe, explore steps for change, reduce stress, decrease tension;

Creativity and imagination restores a sense of possibility, identity, and reconnection within the self;

Malchiodi & Miller, 2012. Domestic Violence and Art Therapy. In Malchiodi, C. (Ed.),

The Handbook of Art Therapy (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press. pp. 335-349.

Art can find and create a voice that was silenced in the violence and abuse;

Art offers a safe place to tell a survivor’s story and experiences with dignity & courage

Malchiodi & Miller, 2012

ObjectivesObjectives

•Art experiences that make one feel safe•Environment of predictability & consistency•Sensory based intervention•Promotes expression•Restores a sense of safety & stabilization•Fosters resiliency•Supports adaptive coping

Restoring SafetyRestoring Safety

“Loss of safety is at the core of trauma”Dr. William Steele, Helping Children Feel Safe

Help provide containment at a sensory level experience for restoring safety through:

BoxesBook makingMandalas3-D and 2-D Symbols of Safe Places

Material & Media Material & Media ConsiderationsConsiderations

Safe Places & Safe Houses

3-D Paper House Making

•Repetitive, here & now focus through the paper folding process

•Containment ofemotions connected to worry, fear, uncertainty

•Opportunity forsymbolic storytelling

(Miller, (2011). Paper house making with youth exposed to domestic violence PDF: http://tinyurl.com/7nalsau.

Papier-Mâché Safety House Box

Safety Book

Portable Safe Place | Artist Trading Card

Using collage with printed paper, tissue paper, and

magazine photo collage & words on a 2 ½ x 3 ½ space-

create an image of a safe place or scene that can

travel, become mobile, or easily be carried as a visual reminder and grounding tool for wellbeing, comfort, and

emotional safety.

Safe Place Mandalas

Emotional Expression:Emotional Expression:Worries & FearWorries & Fear

Fighting & HurtingPhysical or Emotional Safety & WellbeingCourt, Legal, Social Services ProceedingsShelter AdjustmentSeparation & DivorceCustody & Visitation ArrangementsSomething “bad” happening again

Creating a box to safely hold

worries

Worry about Court and Fears about Testifying

Worry about Pets left behind or separated from

Emotional X-Ray Drawings: Scared & Frightened

Outside/Inside Masks | OutsideWhat feelings do you feel safe showing to others?

Outside/Inside Masks | InsideWhat feelings do you not feel safe showing to others?

Fostering ResilienceFostering Resilience

What is Resilience?What is Resilience?

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines resilience as “the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even

significant sources of stress”.

“Resilience is important because it is the human capacity to face, overcome and be

strengthened by or even transformed by the adversities of life”.

Pizzolongo, P.J. & Hunter, A. (2011). I am safe and secure. Promoting resiliency in young children. Young Children, 66(2): 67-69.

Dennis S. Charney, M.D (2004) Psychobiological Mechanisms of Resilience and Vulnerability: Implications for Successful Adaptation to Extreme Stress

Strength Bowls

Strength Boxes for Coping

Stones of Strength

Word of strength, positive affirmation in

permanent marker

Feeling to let go & have less power in chalk

Create a special container or fabric

pouch to hold stones

Courage Stick

About Post Traumatic Growth (PTG)About Post Traumatic Growth (PTG)Positive psychological change experienced as a result of the

struggle with highly challenging life circumstances

Martin P. Seligman, Ph.D., MD, leading researcher, author and professor in positive psychology notes:

Often Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) occurs much more than the onset of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Individuals who experienced one awful event had more intense strengths (and therefore higher well-being) than individuals who had none.

Traumatic events could lead to transformation and growth.

Creating a Creative Creating a Creative Safe SpaceSafe Space

Make sure there is enough physical/table space to create comfortably.

Select and create a safe space that communicates permission to freely create without worry about messiness and can be cleaned up easily.

Material Planning & PrepMaterial Planning & Prep

When planning to incorporate art making be mindful that different art materials and media can have different emotional effects

Consider how materials that are being introduced and their properties may impact the client internally

On the continuum of art material properties, drawing media offer the most control, while media such as paint and water-based clay can quickly stimulate expression and regression

Material Planning & PrepMaterial Planning & Prep

Create a balance and experience of material offerings that empowers choice, decision making, and control without over stimulating;

Pre-structuring materials can help decrease feelings of being overwhelmed easily and create containment.

Additional ConsiderationsAdditional Considerations

Art materials do not have to be of "fine art" quality or expensive, but also should work well and more importantly, not add frustration the art making experience.

Art materials should be treated and offered to the group with respect by the therapist, as this reflects additional meaning and importance connected to the experience.

Provide an environment that allows the client to freely create without judgment

Show your interest in the client's art through inviting him/her to share

Prompt invitations to share with: "Tell me about your picture...“

Actively listen to what the client has to say about his/her art expression

Creating a Safe Environment Creating a Safe Environment for Art Expressionfor Art Expression

Schirrmacher, J. (1986).

Make observations about the client's art without interpretations or assumptions

Create opportunities to encourage storytelling about the art expression

Focus on the art expression's design qualities: color, placement, line, shape, form, texture, energy

Thank the client for sharing, whether this is talking about his/her art and/or showing what they have created

Compliments about the client's art or the expectation that their art should be pleasing and "look good"

Comments about the art product that are judgmental or interpreting in nature

Valuing the product over the process

Direct questions that make the creator feel they did something wrong (i.e. "What is that?", "Why did you draw that?")

Telling an individual the "right" way to make or create something. This inhibits sincere expression.

What to Avoid:What to Avoid:

Schirrmacher, J. (1986).

ReferencesReferencesCharney, D.S. (2004). Psychobiological Mechanisms of Resilience and

Vulnerability: Implications for Successful Adaptation to Extreme Stress.

Malchiodi, C. & Miller, G. (2012). Domestic Violence and Art Therapy. In Malchiodi, C. (Ed.), The Handbook of Art Therapy (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press. pp. 335-349.

Pizzolongo, P.J. & Hunter, A. (2011). I am safe and secure. Promoting resiliency in young children. Young Children, 66(2): 67-69.

Schirrmacher, J. (1986). Talking with young children about their art. Young Children, 41(5): 3-7..

Steele, W., Malchiodi, C., & Klein, N. (2002). Helping Children Feel Safe. National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children.

Domestic Violence & the Arts ResourcesDomestic Violence & the Arts Resources

A Window Between Worlds- www.awbw.org Dedicated to using art to help end domestic violence. 

SpeakArtLoud- www.speakartloud.org Innovative social-profit organization that uses the arts to empower women and improve communities.

Be a Voice Arts- www.beavoicearts.com Using the arts to speak up about abuse.

Domestic Violence Resources

Courage Network www.couragenetwork.org A resource, community, and inspiration

for victims, advocates, families, friends and those dealing with domestic violence in their personal lives. 

Ohio Domestic Violence Network- www.odvn.org Trauma Informed Care DV Best Practices & Protocol: www.odvn.org/images/stories/FinalTICManual.pdf

National DV Hotline- www.thehotline.org

Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC, CTC-SRegistered Board Certified Art Therapist

Certified Trauma Consultant

gretchenmiller@cox.net www.gretchen-miller.com