Posted on August 09, 2010 by admin

Some parents I work with express a concern that they feel as though their children might feel “broken.” They have been through years of medication changes, different health specialists and emotional ups and downs. So much time has been spent on their deficits that their true creative spirit has been lost or buried under the way they “should act” or the way they “should feel.” 

I have been honored to see so many “broken” spirits come to life again and as a result the children feel more confident and connected again. When we use the art to help children and teens (and adults too!) express themselves something magical happens. They return to their core, what makes them special and unique. Something about using our creativity makes us feel free and renewed, fresh and invigorated. When we learn a new artmaking skill we feel as though we can instead of we can’t. Here are just a few ways we can do this:

1. We check in with one thing that makes them feel proud or happy and write or draw it out on a big piece of poster board every week. Each passing week they begin to see the list of things they are proud about grow larger and larger.
2. We create “Walls of Strength” where the child and I come up with all the things that make them special and unique and write/draw it on the wall we created. The child asks other important people in their lives “What do YOU think makes ME special” and those thoughts are added on their wall as well.
3. We create a (fake) campfire using tissue paper and construction paper and share positive stories or funny family stories around it to get back in touch with some positive shared experiences.

How else can we mend their broken hearts?  Share your thoughts and ideas by leaving a comment below!