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THE SOUL OF ASPERGERS

Dhani Toney-Sullivan

Marylhurst University

June 6th, 2012

This paper was prepared for WR323AAcademic Writing: The Research Paper


Watzke and Howard

Can SoulCollage® support the challenges of persons with Asperger’s Syndrome?

“Making art stands to give form and meaning to this world in ways that no words can

describe.” Henley, D., (2001) American Journal of Art Therapy (p120).

The Swiss psychoanalyst C.G. Jung worked extensively with archetypes in his

psychotherapy practice. He noted that by first taking something apart, getting to know each part

intimately, and allowing the parts to come back together that change occurred. He called this

process ‘individuation’. This is essentially SoulCollage®. Using SoulCollage® as developed by

Seena B. Frost in 1987; a person creates a deck of collaged cards from found images such as old

magazines, photographs and personal art. Cards containing the images you select or the images

that select you come straight through your unconscious mind or soul, intuitively bypassing your

conscious mind. The process is a highly adaptable, creative, and inclusive tool.

Simply put, gather several images that speak to you in some way, whether positively or

negatively. Sit with these images until your unconscious mind arranges them into a collage to

form a new image (surprisingly, this happens organically every time!), cut and glue them onto a

precut mat board card sized 5’ x 8’. A card can contain one to several images; usually one to four

will suffice. The meanings of the images are transformed by their context. You then read from

the new image on the card: “I am the one who…” and will be amazed at what transpires.

It is that simple. As the process progresses, you will build a deck that consists of:

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Committee: (The psychological dimension) Representations of our separate personalities;

the critic, the hurt child, the jealous one, the organizer, the teacher, the joyful child, the loyal

friend, the lover, the poet…etc.

Community: (The communal dimension) Representations of real people and pets in your

community that offer you love and wisdom and also present you with demands and challenges;

Father, mother, pets, teachers, spiritual guides, children, friends, lovers, grandparents,

neighbors…etc.

Companion: (The energetic dimension) Represented in your belief system as chakra allies

or spirit animals. Animal companions are found through guided imagery and meditation.

Council: (The spiritual dimension) Represented by archetypes. C.J. Jung first spoke of

archetypes as indefinable. Then he went on to define them as; “The concept of the archetype…

indicates the existence of definite forms in the psyche which seem to be present always and

everywhere…a collective unconscious.” Examples; The Creator, death, the fool, the hero, the

healer.

You will also create a Source card, a representation designed by you of how you

symbolize the all-encompassing oneness beyond dimension or higher power.

“The cards are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-

acceptance. The emphasis is on creating an environment that supports creativity and is safe for

each person to explore and express his or her unique soul in its lightness and its shadow.” (Frost,

2003).

SoulCollage® uses expression other than words; it can help us articulate things that are

not yet clear, such as our fears, hopes and dreams, as well as strong emotions and frustrations in

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a safe and contained medium. In working with imagery you can discover thoughts and feelings

that are often hidden from the conscious mind. Working with imagery helps people access their

unconscious mind and release pent-up emotions. It has been found to be very useful in treating

those suffering from stress and stress-related ailments. People recovering from trauma or serious

injury often find SoulCollage® particularly beneficial.

In his blog, “Drawn to the table” Regensburg, (2010) states, “… to treat the spirit, soul

and mind of a child on the spectrum we must have a treatment pathway that embraces and

integrates all of the above, and it must be practical. The treatment must have the ability to be

applied in a way that does not threaten the child’s autonomy.” The greatest part of

SoulCollage® is that it is clear-cut and uncomplicated. It is a fun and engaging practice for all.

Anyone can do it if they can use scissors and a glue stick…and it's clean and green, using

recycled magazine images and non-toxic glue.

Research shows that physiological functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and

respiration, slow when people are deeply involved in an activity they enjoy. In addition, making

art also provides an opportunity for you to improve eye-hand coordination, and stimulate

neurological pathways from the brain to the hands.

What is Asperger’s?

Asperger’s Syndrome was discovered and named in 1944 by Hans Asperger, although it

has only been deeply explored since the late 1980’s. Judith Martinovich (2006) writes in her

book, Creative Expressive Activities and Asperger’s Syndrome “The complexities of the

syndrome are still emerging and there are mixed theories but no conclusion about its cause.

Sometimes Asperger’s is easily identified: Obsessive behavior, literal speech, or intolerance of

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some sensory stimulation typically signpost the Asperger’s Syndrome pattern. Sometimes

however, behaviors are not strong enough to be diagnosed as part of the Asperger pattern and are

seen as simply quirky or eccentric personality traits” (p.48).

Many persons with Asperger’s have gone undiagnosed and untreated their entire lives

and suffered in their isolation being thought of as odd, creepy, unsocial, difficult and weird,

when they are actually very sensitive, highly intelligent and talented persons. They are unable to

process ‘normal’ social cues or understand colorful language, tending to comprehend words and

expressions in the literal sense only. Anxiety and confusion are the key struggles that a person

with Asperger’s experiences when facial expressions, slang or atypical speech are misunderstood

or go unrecognized completely. Asperger’s are known to have relationship troubles erupt from

simple misunderstandings because of unknown and unrecognized diagnosis, leaving their

partners, friends or family members to often experience the confusion and heartbreak of being

misunderstood. Asperger’s are in a class of their own.

“Interestingly, Art Therapists themselves are “differently-abled” as they have spent and

will spend the majority of their natural lives responding through their sensorial oriented

consciousness, always working to “make sense” out of a primarily intellectually oriented world,

in terms of structures and their meaning. It is this natural phenomenon that bonds the art therapist

with the person/child with Autism/Asperger’s, and so trust is immediately being built upon

introduction to each other, albeit on an unconscious level at first.” (Regensburg, 2010).

How can SoulCollage® be utilized for Persons with Asperger’s Syndrome?

In Judith Martinovich’s (2006) Creative expressive activities and Asperger’s Syndrome:

Social and emotional skills and positive life goals for adolescents and young adults, she declares

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the advantages of art therapy as compatible with the thought patterns of persons with Asperger’s

Syndrome; as persons with AS are known for “seeing” images in their heads as a model of

understanding over pure thought process. Martinovich explains the difficulties Asperger’s have

with social interconnectedness and the advantages the process of collage in art therapy has made

in helping Asperger’s make progress in understanding social situations. The therapeutic form of

SoulCollage® offers great ideas on how to implement the method as a useful art therapy tool for

all aspects of its work, though for the purposes of this paper, in particular, for persons with

Asperger’s Syndrome.

Art therapy can be a highly effective instrument in teaching persons with Asperger’s how

to recognize their verbal confusion and perhaps integrate a style of learning language and social

cues through artistic representation and experience. In respect to art therapy application for

persons with Asperger’s, SoulCollage® is an ideal process in which one can simply transform

anxiety into healing, promote communication with others and understanding of one’s self. The

relaxed practice is meditative and does not require strenuous thought. When you experience the

“I am the one who…” exercise, it comes from deep within yourself with ease. Connecting with

your unconscious in a practical, yet magical way, the images transform into answers with little

effort.

Dr. Elkis-Abuhoff (2008) points out the complexities of Asperger adolescents

who struggle to self-regulate their impulsivity and emotional reactions to everyday situations.

The AS child/adolescent has challenges controlling social reactions due to their lack of ability to

read expressive facial intimations or understand non literal language and have a tendency toward

impulsive behaviors triggered by the fight or flight response in the hippocampus section of the

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brain. Dr. Elkis-Abuhoff mentions that “Individuals with AS process information and learn in a

non-conventional manner. Many diagnosed with AS tend to be more receptive to information

that is experienced visually.” (p263). She also adds that no medication has been found to be

successful for persons with Asperger’s Syndrome. What has been proven to work is using

nonverbal approaches that mirror the Asperger way of thinking; through images. This supports

my theory that SoulCollage® is a perfect tool to support those with Asperger’s.

Dr. Elkis-Abuhoff goes on to account her study of a teenage girl with Asperger’s named

Emma, who was about to embark on her senior year of high school. Over seven months of art

therapy, that included four collages, Emma showed significant improvement in her social skills,

and communication; helping her to lower her anxiety, feel understood and improving her self-

esteem. I believe this supports my thesis and shows through example how powerful

SoulCollage® will be in relating Asperger’s to a common ground of communication and

understanding they can assimilate.

David Henley (2001) explores the fear and anxiety of children with autism spectrum

disorders, with special attention to Asperger’s who have extreme fantasies of obliteration, and

how these thoughts of terror are their defense mechanisms to everyday anxieties they face in the

real world. “Giving these fears the release into an applied art form helps the child, parent and

counselor to understand the workings of the child’s apprehensive internal world. “ (p113).

Henley discusses the scientific and medical concepts of the Asperger’s brain chemistry

whereby; an “Aspie” cannot “effectively decode” information or the intensions of others. This is

called “mind-blindness” by those in the Asperger’s world. Henley states “The etiology is based

on research on neurological dysfunction, which suggests the brains of certain individuals cannot

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regulate the production of certain enzymes, thus preventing neurotransmitters from regulating

fight or flight responses.” (p114.)

In her blog, Perry-Smith, (2008) Art therapy creates new hues in Autism Awareness

Month, reports about Chicago’s Project Onward which provides studio space, support and

exhibition opportunities for 30 artists with developmental diseases and mental illness, about half

of whom are on the autistic spectrum, encouraging artists with autism to develop their artistic

skills.

“There is a lot of research going on right now on how the autistic brain is different from a

typical brain and the conclusions are inconclusive…until conclusions are reached; art is one of

the best ways to understand people with autism. To understand what’s going on [inside the

autistic mind] we can look to their artwork. We’ve found it helpful to bring in art therapy

[methods],” said Rob Lentz, director of Project Onward. “Without adequate verbal

communication between those who have the condition and those who don’t, glimpses of an

autistic perspective are difficult to obtain. There’s a lot of interest in autism in the culture of art

right now.” Lentz said.

Donohue (2011) describes “Decentering” as “The process of play in which one does not

focus on the issues at hand, but instead uses imaginative processes to explore in an unfocused

manner.” (p497). This perfectly describes the process of SoulCollage®, based in C.G. Jung’s

expressive arts therapy, as in free association. Play based therapies, in particular offer the

observable fact that images have the power to imply personal meaning to the individual viewing

them, thus revealing the inner thought process and meaning to the client and therapist. Donohue

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explains how to connect through art to individuals with Asperger’s, particularly children, who do

not have the language or ability to reveal their internal process. SoulCollage® is evacuating the

internal process with ease through relating images, in particular, the collective imagery created

by the client in their own perception.

In her chapter, Art Therapy: Connecting and Communicating, Cathy Goucher (2012)

discusses her client Adam, who has Asperger’s and is plagued with dark images in his mind of

being a ‘fugitive’, with debilitating anxiety derived from unstable school environments and his

desire for a predictable environment. Through art therapy Adam was able to learn how to express

his thoughts of being a victim and eventually shift to a more optimistic reflection of his

circumstances and helped to create his own solutions to the social challenges he was facing. He

grew up to be an artist and “…has shown the ability to discern creative content that might serve

to connect him with others versus art that is of a personal nature and might better be used as a

tool for emotional regulation.”(p306).

“Art can provide a way to express what is more complicated,” said Nicole Martin, an art

therapist who received her training in Chicago. She said she hopes Autism Awareness Month

will inform families that there are resources for children with autism, and art therapy could be

the right fit for their child. Art tends to play to their natural strengths and interests,” notes

Martin. “They are very visual-spatial and sensory oriented.” Early intervention of art therapy

into a child with autism’s life is one helpful way to release stress and get to know who they are.

“If you don’t intervene sensory-wise then you may miss opportunities to alleviate anxiety,”

Martin confirms. (Perry-Smith, 2008).

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It has been abundantly clear to me since I began practicing SoulCollage® five years ago,

that with its simplicity and complex depth it is a master tool for anyone. All walks of life can

take something away from this straightforward therapeutic art form. “…from mental health

issues to developmental disabilities to physical disease, there has always been and continues to

be a transcendent, spiritual dimension to the experience of expressing images. With children (and

anyone) on the spectrum, at times, this phenomena becomes the primary focus of the

“treatment.” (Regensburg, 2010).

I have seen the anxiety and confusion first hand that a person with Asperger’s

experiences when social cues and colorful communication expressions are misunderstood, or go

unrecognized completely. I have personal understanding of the relationship troubles that erupt

from simple miscommunications because of the unknown and unrecognized diagnosis of adults

with Asperger’s and their partner’s confusion and the heartbreak of being misunderstood.

Asperger’s are so often socially rejected and find themselves feeling lost and isolated.

SoulCollage® is art therapy at its most elementary form. It is as easily taught as it is easily

learned. I believe SoulCollage® can bridge understanding and communication for persons with

Asperger’s Syndrome in a way nothing else can with simplicity, artistic expression, and

connection to one’s inner psyche and an austere form of insight.

I hope with my own work as a facilitator of SoulCollage® and in the future when

I have my own art therapy practice, I will be able to share this amazing tool with all who seek an

intervention with themselves. SoulCollage® is already in use in many fields of therapy from

Addictions & Substance Abuse Treatment to Spiritual Direction/Pastoral Counseling. I will go

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on to promote its effectiveness and bring forward its useful application to those in the Asperger’s

community.

.Citations

Donohue, K.T. (2011). Expressive arts therapy. Encyclopedia of Creativity, 2nd edition,

(vol. A-1. pp 497-501). Hempstead, NY: Elsevier Inc.

Elkis-Abuhoff, D.L. (2008). Art therapy applied to an adolescent with Asperger’s

Syndrome. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 35, 262-270.

Frost, S.B. (2001). SoulCollage: An intuitive collage process for individuals and groups,

Santa Cruz, CA, Hanford Mead Publishers.

Frost, S.B. (2012). SoulCollage®, FAQ

http://www.soulcollage.com/about-soulcollage/soulcollage-faq

Goucher, C. (2012). Gallo-Lopez, L. and Rubin, L.C. (Eds.) Play based interventions for

children and adolescents with Autism spectrum disorders, Chapter15

(p305-313). New York, Routledge; Taylor & Francis Group.

Henley, D., (2001). Annihilation anxiety and fantasy in the art of children with

Asperger’s syndrome and others on the autistic spectrum, American

Journal of Art Therapy, 39, (pp113-122).

Hancock, P. (2010) Neuroscience and art.

http://www.telluridearttherapy.com/neuroscience.htm

Read more: http://www.arttherapyblog.com/autism/aspergers-art-psychotherapy-

children-spectrum/#ixzz1w1IlNamd May 25, 201011

http://www.soulcollage.com/about-soulcollage/soulcollage-faq


Martinovich, J. (2006). Creative expressive activities and Asperger’s Syndrome: Social

and emotional skills and positive life goals for adolescents and young

adults.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Perry-Smith, E. (2008) Art therapy creates new hues in Autism awareness month

Read more: http://www.arttherapyblog.com/autism/art-therapy-autism-creating-

new-hues/#ixzz1w1JGtGc8

Regensburg, E. (2010). Why children on the spectrum need psychotherapy as a required

service, Drawn to the table,

http://www.arttherapyblog.com/autism/aspergers- art-psychotherapy-children-

spectrum/#.T8Fd-IFdCnA 5/25/2012 @3:58pm

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http://www.arttherapyblog.com/autism/aspergers-


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