Contemporary Creative Approaches: Integrating Art in Trauma Treatment for All Clinicians

Abstract
This workshop focuses on trauma-informed art interventions that can be effectively and ethically utilized in trauma treatment by the “non-art therapist.” Current thinking for the future of trauma treatment models includes integrative approaches such as the expressive therapies (Cloitre, 2021). A founding principle of trauma-focused somatic treatment models (van der Kolk, 2014), highlights the crucial role of nonverbal therapeutic approaches in expressing and processing traumatic experiences. Talk therapy, while invaluable, is limited in addressing the deeply embedded “felt” memories as well as the neurobiological impact of trauma.

Art therapy is considered a best practice approach in working with complex trauma and dissociation. There are significant recent studies investigating the impact of art therapy treatment with complex PTSD (Schnitzer, G. et al., 2021). The process of art-making can bridge implicit and explicit memory, assist in re-organizing chaotic memory, foster cognitive re-structuring, and promote integration of trauma memories (Gantt & Tripp, 2025). Since the expressive arts therapies are not modalities but master’s degree programs following the same rigorous requisites commensurate with other mental health graduate curriculums, they are not easily accessible by the “non” art therapist. However, there is an ethical perspective in providing guidelines on incorporating appropriate therapeutic art experiences into traditional trauma treatment to enhance expressive opportunities for the client silenced by trauma. Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) often results in a continuum of dissociative conditions with symptomology that includes amnesia around traumatic events; Brocha’s Response leading to “voiceless terror” (van der Kolk, 2014); interoception that often is diminished with dissociation; and the emergence of internal entities, or self-states, that have limited abilities for verbal language. Creative Art therapies are embodied processes that provide restorative benefits including a sense of safety, affect regulation, attachment repair, resiliency, and enhancing expressive language in integrative and triphasic trauma treatment (Sigal & Rob, 2021).

Through case presentations demonstrating art prompts and opportunities for participants to engage in art-making, the workshop will open the portal for the non-art therapist to invite creative interventions into their clinical space to benefit the dissociative client. The presenters are well-published art therapists who provide integrative and phased approaches to trauma treatment in their clinical practices. Didactic lecture will briefly review the benefits and ethical use of art in trauma treatment. Structured by Herman’s triphasic model, several art therapy cases with dissociative/DID clients will be presented accompanied by diverse art experientials aligned with safety and stability; remembrance; and reconnection. Further, the opportunity to practice Jungian Active Imagination as a way to dialogue with “parts” through art will be provided. The art directives will include containers, body scans, and ending with a Create, Destroy, and Transform art experiential relating to response art (Stickley & Wolf, 2021).

Art therapy offers myriad opportunities for multicultural inclusion and accessibility with art’s inherent ability to transcend language barriers. Consideration of cultural differences will be made throughout the presentation. Art-making and case presentations can evoke emotional responses.