Instructions: draw or collage your signature strength.
Discussion: Explore the positive trait and ask the question, “How can you use this strength more often in your life?” Ask clients to think about the significance of the attribute and ways in which it makes them special.
My signature strength is my sense of humour. I could use this strength of mine to confront my health problems by making jokes on the subject.
Instructions: create a tower of methods to increase self-worth.
Discussion: Clients share their constructions and specifically what they need to increase their self-esteem. They examine realistic goals and methods to attain them. Questions such as: “What type of environment do you need to feel content?” and “What type of relationships do you need in your life?” may be explored. Discuss the size and shape of the tower as well as the sturdiness or frailty of it. Determine how long the tower has been in existence and the timetable for future growth. Examples of items that may be included as part of the tower: pets, children, smiling faces, people exercising, people helping each other, affirmations, people engaged in sports and games, and families.
Instructions: illustrate one item, thought, feeling or affirmation that helps get you through the day. Examples might include a morning cup of coffee or tea, a phone call from a family member or reciting an affirmation such as “Taking one day at a time.”
Discussion: it focuses on motivation, strengths and attitudes. Goals include expanding clients’ repertoire of coping techniques.
Instructions: Ask clients to draw a mountain and place themselves on top of it. Then ask them to write about a time they reached a goal and/or “felt on top of the world.”
Discussion: Discussion focuses on achievements and high points in one’s life. Goals include increased self-esteem and review of strengths and accomplishments.
This brings to mind some lyrics of a very well-known band from Romania that translated go something like ¨If no one is going to applaud us we are going to applaud ourselves¨. The main goal I had for this year, that of reading so much I could burst has been achieved. I feel proud of myself for having done that and look forward to a new, fruitful year. Oh and the best of all, I tell myself ¨Congrats¨ since people are too busy with their lives to congratulate me.
I'm also happy about bringing this blog to life. This year I have read two books on art therapy and came up with the idea of having a place where to post answers to the artistic tasks given in these books. It has been the most fun I have had in years and a way to put it all out there for people to see. What I like about art therapy is that you don't have to be a trained artist and you don't have to get it perfect every single time. You can express what you need to express without fear of judgement and we all know practice makes one acquire skills. So again kudos to me.
Instructions: draw a tree with branches and leaves. On the leaves write positive thoughts and statements. Decorate the tree.
Instructions: Clients are given pre-drawn outlines of figures or they may choose to draw the figure freehand. Next they are instructed to create a positive environment surrounding the figure. Magazine photos, sketches, colors and shapes, words and phrases may be incorporated into the environment. They may include items such as hearts, flowers, trees, animals, people they adore and so on.
Discussion: Participants share ways in which the figure reflects them and how the environment presented is representative of their life as it is now or how they would like it to be in the future. Clients are encouraged to explore and assess the love and happiness in their life, and to be grateful for what they have and experience on a daily basis.
