101698: Integrating Art Therapy in the Treatment of Trauma and Eating Disorders

About the Course:

Audio presentation from the 2009 International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Symposium.
Note: For this course there is a small additional fee to obtain the audio presentation. Please see the “Get Course Materials” link in the right sidebar for details.

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially physicians, psychologists, therapists, dietitians, nurses, and counselors who seek to update their research knowledge and competency in treating patients with eating disorders, increase and acquire new skills, learn new intervention strategies, and obtain continuing education credits. It is appropriate for professionals at all levels of knowledge.

Content Outline:
I. Introduction
II. View video- “The Box”
An animated film created by an eating disorder patient depicting the function of the eating disorder- beautifully illustrates the power of the metaphor and imagery to communicate when words are inadequate.
III. Art Therapy in Treatment
a. The Value of Art/ Engaging in New Experiences Impact the Brain
b. Coping and Containment/Issues of Safety
c. Building Connection to Self, the Illness, and Others
d. Identification of Emotions
e. Developing the Symbolic Language
IV. Experiential Exercise/Discussion
V. Case Study: Slide Show of Artwork- an anorexic college student; repeated treatments; raped prior to onset of illness. Presenters will discuss parallels between verbal psychotherapy and the art therapy process and ways therapists integrated both modalities.
a. Themes of Self Development
b. Externalization of Traumatic Imagery
c. Distorted Beliefs/Safety
d. Connection Between Trauma and Eating Disorder
e. Greater Sense of Empowerment and Movement reflected in Artwork
VI. Experiential Exercise/Discussion
VII. Considerations for Therapists
a. Pacing/Structure
b. Media Choices
c. Working through Resistance and Rigidity
d. Directing Progress and Movement through Art
VIII. Questions and Answers

Authors

Trish O'Donnell, MA, ATR-BC., LPC (presenter); Laura Peroutka, MA, ATR, pending Milieu and Art Therapist (presenter)

About the Authors:

Ms. O’Donnell has been practicing art therapy for over 20 years and is currently the program director of the Eating Disorder Center of Denver. Her experience includes providing art therapy services for several psychiatric hospitals and serving as the director expressive therapies at a national program for the treatment of trauma and dissociation for adults, adolescents and children. She has written articles and conducted workshops and presented papers both nationally and internationally. She holds a BA in art and psychology from Mt. Holyoke College and an MA in therapy from The George Washington University.

Ms. Peroutka has experience working with women and families who have suffered from domestic violence, adult and child abuse, women with eating disorders and adjudicated youth. She has served as a preschool art therapist and taught art to groups of children and adolescents. She holds a BA in sociology and art history from Bradley University and an MA in art therapy counseling from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. She is a member of the American Art Therapy Association, Colorado Art Therapy Association and the Missouri Art Therapy Association.

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially psychologists, therapists, and counselors who seek to update their research knowledge and competency in treating patients with eating disorders, increase and acquire new skills, learn new intervention strategies, and obtain continuing education credits. It is appropriate for professionals at all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

1. Following this presentation, participants will be able to list three qualities inherent in art making that facilitate progress in eating disorder treatment.

2. During this presentation, participants will learn specific approaches to the treatment of trauma utilizing the art process.

3. Following this presentation, participants will be able to identify two ways to integrate art therapy in the treatment of trauma and eating disorders.