Can Art Therapy Help People Process Psychological Trauma?

What you need to know

• Researchers are testing a 10-week trauma-focused art therapy program to help people process psychological trauma
• The study will measure if art therapy improves self-expression, reduces trauma symptoms, and enhances mental health
• Results could expand treatment options for trauma, especially for those who struggle with talk therapy

A Creative Approach to Trauma Treatment

For people who have experienced psychological trauma, talking about the traumatic events can be extremely difficult. While effective talk therapies exist, some patients struggle to engage with or benefit from these approaches. Researchers in the Netherlands are exploring whether art therapy could offer an alternative way for trauma survivors to process their experiences and reduce symptoms.

A new study will test the effectiveness of a short-term, trauma-focused art therapy program. The researchers hope this creative, non-verbal approach may help patients who have trouble expressing themselves verbally or who haven’t responded well to traditional talk therapies.

What is Trauma-Focused Art Therapy?

Trauma-focused art therapy (TFAT) is a structured 10-week program that uses various artistic materials and techniques to help patients explore traumatic memories and their associated thoughts and feelings.

The therapy consists of three phases:

1. Stabilization and symptom reduction (4 sessions): The therapist and patient get acquainted, work on stabilization techniques, and start exploring both traumatic and positive memories. Patients may create artwork depicting their life timeline or a “safe place.”

2. Expressing and exploring memories (5 sessions): Patients choose specific memories to depict through artwork using materials like pencils, chalk, paint, or clay. The therapist guides patients through imagery exercises or works with photos/objects related to the memories.

3. Integration and meaning-making (1 session): In the final session, patients arrange all their completed artworks together (e.g. in a book or collage). They reflect on their experience with the therapy and consider how they now view the memories from their current perspective.

Throughout the process, the therapist tailors activities to each patient’s needs and capabilities. If a patient becomes overwhelmed, the therapist can guide them back to their “safe place” artwork or revisit a positive memory.

Why Art Therapy for Trauma?

The researchers explain that art therapy may be particularly well-suited for trauma treatment for several reasons:

• The visual, hands-on nature of art therapy reflects the often wordless, sensory nature of traumatic memories
• Creating art can help patients access and express emotions related to trauma
• The artwork provides a tangible way to explore memories step-by-step in a safe, controlled manner
• Having a physical artwork allows patients to gain some distance from the associated emotions
• The creative process may help counter feelings of powerlessness and increase patients’ sense of control

While art therapy is already used for trauma in some clinical settings, there is a lack of rigorous research on its effectiveness. This study aims to provide much-needed evidence on whether TFAT can reduce trauma symptoms and improve overall mental health.

How the Study Will Work

The researchers will recruit 25-30 adult participants who are dealing with trauma-related symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, depression, or sleep problems. Participants will be randomly assigned to start the 10-week TFAT program after a 3-5 week baseline period.

Throughout the study, participants will complete weekly questionnaires measuring factors like:

• Self-expression and emotion regulation during art therapy
• Trauma symptoms
• Depression symptoms
• Mental well-being
• Self-esteem
• Resilience

The researchers will analyze whether participants show improvements on these measures during the TFAT intervention compared to their baseline period. They’ll also conduct interviews with participants, therapists, and referring clinicians to gather more in-depth feedback on the therapy experience.

Potential Impact

If found effective, trauma-focused art therapy could expand treatment options for trauma survivors, especially those who struggle with verbally-focused therapies. The researchers note it may be particularly helpful for patients with:

• Severe or complex trauma
• Poor verbal memory
• Difficulty talking about traumatic experiences

TFAT could potentially be offered as a standalone treatment or as a precursor to other trauma therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy or EMDR. The goal is to make trauma treatment more accessible and effective for a wider range of patients.

What’s Next

This study is currently underway and expected to conclude in September 2024. If the results are promising, the next steps would likely include:

• Further refining the TFAT protocol based on study feedback
• Conducting larger randomized controlled trials to confirm effectiveness
• Developing training programs to prepare more art therapists to deliver TFAT
• Working to integrate TFAT into standard trauma treatment guidelines

While more research is still needed, this innovative study highlights the potential for creative, non-verbal therapies to play an important role in trauma recovery. For trauma survivors who feel “stuck” or struggle to benefit from talk therapy, art therapy may offer a new path toward healing and reclaiming their lives.

Conclusions

• Trauma-focused art therapy provides a structured way for patients to process traumatic memories through creative expression
• This study will provide much-needed evidence on whether art therapy can effectively reduce trauma symptoms and improve mental health
• If successful, TFAT could expand treatment options, especially for trauma survivors who struggle with verbally-focused therapies