Wednesday, October 21, 2009

#3) Art Therapy

I have been uncertain how to word my question for the assigned research paper but after going to the library tutorials, I now know that I would like to discuss art therapy and its relevance to overcoming traumatic events. I chose to write about art therapy because of personal experiences I have had with it.

My young cousin was suffering with an inoperable brain tumor and got to the point where she could no longer speak and had a hard time moving her body. She would draw pictures for her family and friends all day and give them away. I would like to learn more about this art therapy she went through. Also, when I was young I had a near death experience where I was revived after drowning in a swimming pool. Up until about the sixth grade, I lived in fear because of this traumatic event and would cry all of the time. I would constantly paint and draw in my free time. Often I wonder if this use of creativity and expression of emotion helped me in overcoming my traumatic event. Without art therapy, would I have still become the happy person I am today?