Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing, A Sensorimotor Art Therapy Approach to Bilateral Body Mapping, by Cornelia Elbrecht, is an in-depth instructional textbook for the somatic therapeutic approach Guided Drawing. Based on leading edge understandings about trauma healing and the body (sensorimotor psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, etc.), this book is a treasure trove of trauma healing knowledge, insights and clarifications. Guided Drawing effectively weaves together a number of different therapeutic processes creating a multifaceted and holistic trauma therapy. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in somatic therapies, expressive arts therapies and trauma healing modalities, tools and techniques.
In this post, I briefly introduce the importance of "goodness in the process of healing from trauma, and how self-holding has helped me, although still with difficulty, reach more of a sense of goodness in my self and my life.
In Chapter Five of The Power of Your Other Hand, I introduced bilateral drawing. That is defined as drawing done with both hands at the same time. Since the book was first published in 1988, many therapists and art therapists have applied bilateral drawing with clients. One of these is Cornelia Elbrecht, who has written a whole book on the subject entitled, Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing: A Sensorimotor Art Therapy Approach to Bilateral Body Mapping (North Atlantic Books, 2018). I recommend this book for anyone interested in either trauma work or the benefits of bilateral drawing. In this post, you will see some examples of my own bilateral journal drawings and a video by Amanda Joy Wells, a graduate of our Creative Journal Expressive Arts and Visioning® Coach Training programs. Some of these drawings illustrate techniques I introduced in The Power of Your Other Hand and later books. You’ll see these in the video below. Other drawings show new variations on this method from my own journal. I will also discuss benefits of bilateral drawing based on my observations of clients and students for over 40 years. I started the journal session illustrated here by putting some relaxing music on. I suggest using music that you enjoy and that relaxes your mind and body. Music can help to soothe a busy, over-active and chatty left brain and stressed out nervous system. The first drawing shows a single page in my journal (8 ½ X 11 in.) on which I drew with two crayons in 2 different colors. I had been stressed out due to many professional responsibilities I had been carrying at the time. I realized later that the drawing resembled graphs I’ve seen of the human brain. I had not intended this. It just happened. The connecting fibers, the corpus callosum, seem quite clear in this drawing. I was not trying to draw recognizable objects or symbols, but noticed this brain image after the drawing was completed. Somatically (in my body and brain) I felt more relaxed after doing the drawing. That was my goal. This kind of pattern is called mirror symmetry and is the first prompt in Chapter 5 for bilateral drawing. In observing clients and students, I notice that when asked to draw with both hands simultaneously, this is the most common pattern they make. It is spontaneous and apparently very natural. That makes sense because the human brain and body are actually a mirror symmetry design. So is the common symbol for the human heart. Think of making Valentine cards as a kid by folding paper in half and cutting half a heart. When you open it, a full heart appears. That’s how you can tell it is mirror symmetry. The halves mirror each other. We also make paper people cutouts this way. Why? Because humans are constructed in a mirror symmetry design. So are butterflies, another image that often appears spontaneously in bilateral drawings. I decided to continue drawing with both hands at once and expanded onto 2 pages, also known as “a double page spread”. Each hand held a different color crayon and even changed colors from time to time. Each hand was drawing the same pattern, but as a mirror image of its “partner’s” drawing. I felt more and more relaxed with each drawing. On another day, shortly after this, I did a single page drawing, again using both hands, each with it’s own color. Again, this was accompanied by relaxing recorded music. This time I used another prompt from Chapter 5 of The Power of Your Other Hand. In this prompt, you draw with both hands, using 2 colors, and each hand “does it’s own thing.” I found this quite energizing and relaxing at the same time Then I drew a “duet” with both hands, using 2 different colors. In this case, my hands wanted to draw the same spiral pattern collaboratively. I found this spiraling motion very relaxing and could feel a balancing happening inside my brain. Later I shifted to using 2 pages in the journal for more Bilateral Drawing. My hands spontaneously created multi-colored mirror image drawings. These were more textured and involved and I spent more time drawing them. The result was a relaxed state, but I also noticed a decided increase in energy. I hear this a lot from people doing bilateral drawing. Regardless of which particular prompt they are using, drawing with both hands seems to help people slow down, relax, enjoy the moment (mindfulness) and what is happening in the now. The report a feeling of freedom, playfulness and urge to be more creative in many ways. Amanda Joy Wells created this excellent video of bilateral drawing. It demonstrates the benefits and the amazing experience of drawing with both hands at once. Enjoy! Lucia Let us know what you think of this post in the comments below. Follow us and be updated by email when new blog posts are published. www.luciac.com www.visioningcoach.org Order The Power of Your Other Hand (Conari Press 2019) at Amazon.com
Trauma worksheets, trauma response, trauma therapy, narrative therapy, the window of tolerance, trauma and the brain, trauma healing, PTSD tool Trauma therapy specifically focuses on helping someone cope with the emotional trauma response caused by a traumatic event. Trauma therapy focuses on trauma and the brain, body and nervous system. The 85 worksheets in this trauma workbook aim to identify one's trauma triggers, risk factors and trauma response. Narrative therapy is a form of therapy that aims to separate the individual from the problem, allowing the individual to externalize their issues rather than internalize them. The narrative therapy worksheets assist in understanding your trauma to start your healing journey. It relies on the individual's skills and sense of purpose to guide them through difficult times. The window of tolerance worksheets help identify and regulate your emotions. These worksheets will guide you to manage everyday life well, including planning ahead, stress, pressure, and defusing perceived 'threats' to your emotional balance. INCLUDES Trauma & PTSD information Trauma and the brain Trauma and the body Trauma risk factors Trauma triggers Trauma response - fight, flight, freeze & Fawn worksheets Narrative therapy - trauma tree & life story Window of tolerance Radical acceptance Avoidance and defense mechanism Distress tolerance thermometer and appropriate coping skills (DBT Coping skills) Safety Plan questions a printable template Cognitive distortions & unhelpful thinking X1 PDF FULL COLORS 85 trauma workbook SAVE AND PURCHASE ***TRAUMA THERAPY BUNDLE *** https://shorturl.at/dHOU7 🌟PERSONAL USE ONLY 🌟 🌟FOR THERAPY PRACTICES PLEASE PURCHASE THE COMMERCIAL LICENSE Commercial use is not allowed and is not for resale for any reason - Should you wish to distribute this product kindly purchase the commercial license alongside it. Purchase the commercial license for THIS product here: https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/therapywithCT/tools/listings/stats:true/1478472471 Purchase the commercial license for the ENTIRE shop: https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/therapywithCT/tools/listings/stats:true/1544579458 © ALL DESIGNS are copyrighted and property of TherapywithCT. You could face legal action if you reproduce or resell this design.
A case study looking at working with sexual abuse through art therapy, and how it can support with PTSD. All identities remain anonymous.
This case study for a client with anorexia includes an exercise designed to provide your client with insight into the negative outcomes of self-criticism.
A set of downloadable, printable worksheets, each focusing on a different aspect of trauma recovery. Trauma Narratives, Body Mapping, Coping Skills Development, and more, tailored to facilitate your self-reflection and healing. Thoughtfully constructed prompts for journaling, encouraging deep introspection and emotional processing. Easy-to-follow grounding and resilience-building techniques, essential for managing moments of distress and fostering long-term healing. 20 PAGES Trauma OVERVIEW Trauma on the brain info cheat sheet TRAUMA NARRATIVE REFLECTION SENSORY DETAILS REFLECTION BODY MAPPING FOR TRAUMA TRIGGER LISTING ANALYSIS TRAUMA TIMELINE REFLECTION MY FEELINGS WHEEL TRIGGER EXPERIENCE EMOTIONS REFLECTION ON ENDURING QUALITIES COPING SKILLS FOR TRAUMA GROUNDING TECHNIQUES CHEAT SHEET LION'S BREATH BREATHING TRAUMA RELEASING VISUALIZATION SLEEP PROBLEM BREAKDOWN EXAMPLE OF A SAFETY PLAN MY SAFETY PLAN REFLECTIVE JOURNAL PROMPT QUESTIONS TRAUMA RELEASING AFFIRMATIONS SUITABLE FOR PRINTING IN A4 / US LETTER SIZE
You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from art therapy activities. Because art therapy activities are specifically designed so that anyone can do them, regardless of their artistic abilities. A…
Art Therapy can be useful for individuals who have experienced a traumatic event. This case study explores a visual narrative using an art therapy exercise.
Your Psyche Has Many Different Parts Years ago, when I started exploring my psyche through expressive art, I was astounded to discover all the different parts of self that I had inside. As my various personality aspects poured out in my spontaneous art, I discovered unacceptable emotions such as need,...
Highlights A body-focused, trauma-informed art therapy that will appeal to art therapists, somatic experiencing practitioners, bodyworkers, artists, and mental health professionals While art therapy traditionally focuses on therapeutic image-making and the cognitive or symbolic interpretation of these creations, Cornelia Elbrecht instructs readers how to facilitate the body-focused approach of guided drawing. About the Author: CORNELIA ELBRECHT is founder and director of the Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy based in Australia. 344 Pages Psychology, Psychotherapy Description About the Book "A body-focused, trauma-informed art therapy that will appeal to art therapists, somatic experiencing practitioners, bodyworkers, artists, and mental health professionals"-- Book Synopsis A body-focused, trauma-informed art therapy that will appeal to art therapists, somatic experiencing practitioners, bodyworkers, artists, and mental health professionals While art therapy traditionally focuses on therapeutic image-making and the cognitive or symbolic interpretation of these creations, Cornelia Elbrecht instructs readers how to facilitate the body-focused approach of guided drawing. Clients draw with both hands and eyes closed as they focus on their felt sense. Physical pain, tension, and emotions are expressed without words through bilateral scribbles. Clients then, with an almost massage-like approach, find movements that soothe their pain, discharge inner tension and emotions, and repair boundary breaches. Archetypal shapes allow therapists to safely structure the experience in a nonverbal way. Sensorimotor art therapy is a unique and self-empowering application of somatic experiencing--it is both body-focused and trauma-informed in approach--and assists clients who have experienced complex traumatic events to actively respond to overwhelming experiences until they feel less helpless and overwhelmed and are then able to repair their memories of the past. Elbrecht provides readers with the context of body-focused, trauma-informed art therapy and walks them through the thinking behind and process of guided drawing--including 100 full-color images from client sessions that serve as helpful examples of the work. Review Quotes "Cornelia Elbrecht's newest book offers an indispensable guide to help our clients overcome challenges, particularly our younger clients or community members who are hesitant to engage in more traditional 'talk' therapy modalities. This integrative, sensorimotor-based art therapy modality offers collaborative tools to awaken insight and intuition; foster focus, calm, resilience, and connection; and facilitate healing and integrate mind, brain, and body." --Bonnie Goldstein, PhD, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, Boulder, Colorado, and Lifespan Psychological Center, Los Angeles "Cornelia's book is a much welcome and significant contribution to this field.... She generously shares her wealth of experience: theory and descriptions of practical exercises are well integrated and together with case examples make the book lively and engaging." --Val Huet, PhD, chief executive officer of the British Association of Art Therapists "To read this book is to watch a master at work.... Cornelia Elbrecht charts new territory in neurobiologically-informed trauma treatment. Her decades of experience as a sensorimotor art therapist are rooted in the understanding that no psychological process can be experienced separately from the body. Illumined by deeply moving case studies, this handbook is a must-read for expressive therapists, trauma treatment specialists, and holistic practitioners. The author's wisdom, experience and inspiration shine through on every page." --Lucia Capacchione, PhD, ATR, REAT, director of Creative Journal Expressive Arts Certification Training and author of The Power of Your Other Hand and Recovery of Your Inner Child "It is revitalizing to read this contemporary and provocative text that sensitively addresses the complexity of trauma and trauma healing. This pivotal text is an essential must-have as it will most certainly progress the discipline and discourse on trauma healing in profound ways." --Ronald P.M.H. Lay, MA, AThR, ATR-BC, art therapist, supervisor, and MA art therapy program leader, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore "Follow the footprints of a master into the realm of psychological healing. A must-read for anyone interested in practicing art therapy." --Monica Wong, PsyD, faculty, Hong Kong Institute for Counseling Professionals "This wonderfully useful and inspiring book takes as its foundation the idea that guided drawing can be curative.... It is the Somatic Experiencing of the art therapy world...." --Jean Bennett. Deputy Programme Leader of the BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Therapies program and Senior Lecturer in MA Art Therapy at the University of Derby, UK "Cornelia Elbrecht's book draws the reader's attention to an understanding of how line, shape, form, colour and movement in art making can have dynamic impacts on the client who has experienced trauma. This text contributes a unique perspective to the literature on art, healing, and trauma." --Patricia Fenner, PhD, senior lecturer in art therapy masters program, La Trobe University School of Psychology and Public Health, Australia "This accessible and practical book weaves together a wealth of information about ways of working with creative processes and bodily awareness to provide new possibilities of recovery for those affected by trauma and emotional issues. It provides a valuable resource of ideas and theoretical rationale suitable for all levels of experience, from those just embarking on their therapeutic journey, to highly experienced practitioners." --Amanda Levey, BA, MAAT, ATHR, registered psychologist, program leader of arts therapy at the Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, New Zealand "This book is a wonderful merging of depth psychology and contemporary neuroscience theory. The author illustrates the often-neglected truth that the brain is a part of the body. Overall, a significant step forward toward conceptualizing art therapy as work of the body as well as the mind." --Christopher M. Belkofer, PhD, ATR, LPC, director of the graduate art therapy program at Mount Mary University About the Author CORNELIA ELBRECHT is founder and director of the Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy based in Australia. She holds degrees in fine arts and art education in addition to her extensive postgraduate training in various art therapies, Jungian analytical psychology, bioenergetics, Gestalt therapy, bodywork, martial arts, and somatic experiencing. She teaches sensorimotor art therapy throughout Australia and around the world.
In this article, I share 4 more drawings of visions I saw of the healing process during therapy for PTSD.
Embark on a transformative journey towards healing and resilience with this Trauma Mega Bundle, meticulously curated to provide comprehensive support for navigating the complexities of trauma recovery. This bundle equips you with an array of therapeutic resources designed to facilitate healing and empowerment at every step of your journey. 🌈 What's Included in this Trauma Bundle: ✨ Ultimate Trauma Healing Workbook (135 pages): Dive deep into your client's healing journey with this extensive workbook, featuring insightful exercises, reflection prompts, and therapeutic techniques to process and integrate past traumas. ✨ Nervous System Regulation Guide Workbook (150 pages): Explore practical strategies and exercises to regulate your client's nervous system, promoting relaxation, safety, and resilience in the face of triggers and stressors. ✨ Attachment and Abandonment Workbook (103 pages): Navigate the complexities of attachment wounds and abandonment fears with this comprehensive workbook, offering insights, exercises, and tools for cultivating secure connections and healing relational wounds. ✨ Adverse Childhood Experiences Workbook (56 pages): Uncover the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on your client's life and well-being, and kickstart his or her journey of understanding, healing, and resilience. ✨ Cognitive Distortions and Thought Reframing Handout and Worksheets (15 pages): Challenge negative thought patterns and reshape your client's perspective with evidence-based cognitive restructuring techniques to foster healthier thinking habits. ✨ Safety Plan and Fight Flight Freeze Responses Worksheets (65 pages): Develop a personalized safety plan and explore strategies for managing fight-flight-freeze responses, empowering your client to navigate triggers and cultivate a sense of safety and empowerment. ✨ Window of Tolerance (9 Pages): Deepen your understanding of your clients' capacity for emotional regulation and expand his or her window of tolerance with these practical guides. ✨ 72 Anxiety Coping Skill Cards (18 pages): Access a diverse range of coping skills and relaxation techniques to manage anxiety, stress, and overwhelm effectively, empowering your client to cultivate a sense of calm and well-being. Whether your client is beginning his or her healing journey or seeking additional support along the way, this Trauma Mega Bundle offers a wealth of resources to support their growth, resilience, and transformation. 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In this post I describe and give instructions for a self-regulating self-therapy exercise created by Peter Levine that involves placing ones hands on oneself.
Discover and navigate how art therapy transforms PTSD treatment, integrating creative expression with traditional therapies for holistic healing and recovery
Few of us have escaped experiencing trauma in our human life. I define trauma as a difficult life event that was too overwhelming to emotionally process when it happened. When you become emotionally overwhelmed, trauma is stored in your body, waiting for another time in the future to be digested,...
Even as someone who has studied trauma therapy for years, I often find it difficult to describe just how trauma therapy works and what someone can expect from
