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streams is important in understanding visual expressions in art therapy because
it separates information about form or “what is it?” from information about
spatial location or “where is it?” Both visual streams have direct reciprocal
connections with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and both connect in the principal
sulcus of frontal lobe (Carlson, 2001).
The Affective (A) component of the P/A level is characterized by increasing
involvement with emotion, its expression, and the affective modification of
forms. The presence, differentiation, and transformation of affect are indicated
by increases and/or variations in the use of hues and their values. The A
component appears to primarily reflect the processing of emotions in the
amygdala, located in the subcortical limbic system, and its influence on the visual
stream (Christian, 2008; Lusebrink, 2004). Input from the amygdala is modified
by the hippocampus and two cortical structures: the cingulate cortex and the
orbitofrontal cortex. The amygdala connects directly to the PFC and indirectly
to the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) through the thalamus (Fuster, 2003; Hass-
Cohen & Loya, 2008). The interplay between the P and A components in visual
expression involves transition from feature-based information processing at the
P polarity on the left side of the ETC schema to the amygdala-based information
processing at the A polarity on the right side. The interchange between these
two ETC components is critical in trauma work as exposure to trauma elicits
affect and structured perceptual work contains it.
features of this drawing include geometric shapes, two chimneys, and a dearth
of color. The drawing indicated that this boy was tentative, thought- or fantasy-
oriented, an internalizer of emotion, and possibly experiencing guilt, self-blame,
and depression. He preferred working on the C/Sy level of the ETC, and his
graphic representations were developmentally appropriate for his age.
These two different client presentations naturally required different thera-
peutic approaches but the same ultimate goals for weekly art therapy: the
expression of trauma-related thoughts and feelings, including expression and
integration of the nonverbal traumatic memories encoded as sensations, the
organization of a trauma narrative, and psychological growth allowing the free-
dom to choose appropriate coping skills based on a positive sense of self-esteem
(Crenshaw, 2006; Ford, Nader & Fletcher, 2103; Hass-Cohen et al., 2014). One
brother presented with tremendous energy and kinesthetic involvement. He had
to discharge a great deal of energy before he could express emotion appropriately
and, later, coherently relate his trauma narrative. The second brother was
comfortable using cognitive strategies to keep emotions under control. It was
important to meet him at the C/Sy level where his strategies could be respected
and reinforced before eliciting emotional and K/S learning.
The Expressive Therapies Continuum 53
A Bottom-Up Approach to Trauma Therapy: Art Therapy with Ed
Ed began art therapy choosing to work with clay. In the first two sessions he did
not shape the clay; he pounded, pushed, pinched, rolled, and tossed it. Sarid and
Huss (2010) state that resistive media, those that require energetic manipulation,
can help manage the sensory excitation of traumatic memories and allow for a
sense of personal control. In addition, Ed achieved a release of energy evidenced
in his calm facial expression as he left the sessions. Although these meetings
were dominated by action, Ed drew pictures as well. Interestingly, Figure 3.4
demonstrates pent-up energy awaiting discharge in one of the early art therapy
sessions. As work continued and he was able to release energy in a controlled,
acceptable fashion, Ed’s drawings indicated decreased energy and increased
sensory involvement, as seen in the rhythmic horizontal strokes and yellow color
of Figure 3.5. In the next phase of art therapy, Ed was educated about the natural
presence and purposes of emotions. Psychoeducation combined with art
expression allowed Ed to understand that emotions are signals that require
appropriate expression. To learn about the range of personal emotions, Ed
created collages of facial expressions such as the one depicted in Figure 3.6. Each
emotion was examined individually with respect to the event(s) that might have
caused it and to what appropriate action might be taken in response to the
emotion. Ed, creating paintings of emotions that he personally experienced, also
began to separate and discriminate what he previously felt as the undiffer-
entiated, swirling storm. In addition, P/A work involved using art as a method
for responding to or soothing emotions.