ERIC Number: EJ797303
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-1656
EISSN: N/A
Monsters, Monkeys, & Mandalas: Art Therapy with Children Experiencing the Effects of Trauma and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Gerteisen, June
Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, v25 n2 p90-93 2008
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term that describes the range of effects associated with the diagnoses of Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FASD itself is not a diagnosis, but rather encompasses a wide range of symptomatic behaviors that occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. The symptomatic behaviors related to FASD are a lower IQ; an impaired ability in reading, spelling, and arithmetic; and a lower level of adaptive functioning. This paper explores the use of art therapy in a residential treatment center with children experiencing both child abuse trauma and some form of FASD. It further explores how art therapy may be an effective means of treating the symptoms of this population. There is not much written on art therapy with children who have experienced trauma from child abuse or neglect along with a form of FASD. The author writes this viewpoint not only as a way to share her personal experience as a newcomer to the field of art therapy, but also as a way to reach out to other art therapists who have had similar experiences. This paper focuses on Tommy, who participated in the 9-week art therapy group the author has facilitated. (Contains 5 figures.)
Descriptors: Child Abuse, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Pregnancy, Art Therapy, Children, Alcohol Abuse, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Intelligence Quotient, Reading Ability, Adjustment (to Environment), Counseling Techniques, Case Studies
American Art Therapy Association. 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Tel: 888-290-0878; Tel: 703-212-2238; Fax: 847-566-4580; e-mail: info@arttherapy.org; Web site: http://www.arttherapyjournal.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A