ART AS
YOUR VOICE
safe pLACE & SAFE ANIMAL
MATERIALS
YOGA PRETZELS (OPTIONAL)
COLORING UTENSILS (PENCIL, CRAYONS, COLORED PENCILS)
DRAWING PAPER
SCISSORS
MODELE MAGIC
MARKERS
GOALS
relieve anxiety
create a safe place for children in trauma
empowerment
self-awareness
self-esteem
I adapted the art therapy directive, "Draw a safe place" by using guided imagery, breathing exercises, and making the safe place be mobile in order for children to interact with it.
GUIDED IMAGERY:
Yoga Pretzel, Read the card "Animal Friend".
Ask children to put head down and close eyes if feel comfortable.
Begin with deep breathing exercises.
DRAWING:
Ask them what kind of animal did they imagine protecting them?
Was it a big and strong lion or a small chirpy bird?
Ask them what kind of safe place did they imagine ?
Was the safe place a jungle full of trees and flowers, or was the safe place a cozy couch in a small house?
Now, direct them to draw the animal and the safe place. Also, ask them to draw themselves with the animal in the safe place.
After they finished drawing, allow them to gain a sense of mastery and encourage them share what they drew and ask them how they were feeling before and after the the guided imagery.
Ask them to describe the animal they picked to protect them.
Describe why they picked that animal and why they picked the place.
POP UP CARD VIDEO-BETTER DIRECTIONS!
MODEL MAGIC:
After the children completed their drawings, now they can make a 3d representation of their animal and their safe place.
Give each children the same amount of model magic. Children can also use washable markers to change the color of the clay. I help the children break up the body parts of the animal in shapes. (For example if you are making a lion: Head-circle, body-oval, legs and feet-small ovals, ears-triangles, etc.)
3D POP UP CARD:
Next to create a 3d safe place I create a pop up card
Fold a paper in half
cut two slit in the middle
Push the slits up
Use any coloring materials to design the card and crate a safe place.
Ideas: Felt, stickers, fake leaves, tissue paper..etc.
What I love about this project is children can create a tangible safe place, where many children suffering from trauma do not have an actual safe place. They can feel safe while creating this place and they can identify things or learn about things/ people that can help them feel safe. They gain a sense of mastery while creating their safe place and the young children can actually interact with their safe place as a play toy!
Even though I target children with this directive, I feel this directive can be used for adolescents, adults and even geriatrics.