Many affective experiences and learning processes including attachment patterns from early developmental phases manifest during psychotherapy. The first 15 min in art therapy can potentially reveal clients’ preferred ways of processing information or Expressive Therapies Continuum components, attachment patterns in the material handling process, and emotion regulation strategies during art making. This article discusses how, through clients’ choice of materials and manner of interaction with those materials, information about attachment patterns and preferred emotion regulation is available in art therapy. Paying close attention to the first image and material interaction provides crucial information that will guide the goals and course of art therapy. Two case vignettes demonstrate that within the first 15 min of art therapy information is readily gathered about attachment styles, Expressive Therapies Continuum components, emotion regulation, and the course of art therapy.
Polyvagal theory advocates for working with the body, becoming aware of the body and connecting with the senses. Similarly, paying attention to and influencing one’s physical and sensory experience is a core aspect of the creative arts and psychomotor therapies. Polyvagal theory offers opportunities for strengthening resilience by treating emotion-regulation problems, stress, and trauma, as well as restoring regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Paying attention to and influencing physical and sensory experiences are core aspects of creative arts and psychomotor therapies. This theoretical paper explores how polyvagal theory can serve as a foundational theory and support the creative arts and psychomotor therapies for emotion regulation in stress and trauma.
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This special theme issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, edited by Dr. Suzanne Haeyen and Dr. Giancarlo Dimaggio, is devoted to arts and psychomotor therapies in patients with personality disorders (PD). The issue starts with an introduction and concludes with a commentary by the guest editors. The content of the special issue consists of seven papers, each based on a clinical case coming from different modalities, countries and continents. The papers focus on therapeutic working methods from the arts, dance movement, drama, music therapies and body based/psychomotor therapy with the aim of personal development, finding an appropriate therapeutic entrance, coping with grief, post traumatic nightmares, personal integration, interpersonal functioning and making meaning of one’s own life story in words and images. The case studies cover people diagnosed with various PDs such as narcissistic, dependent and borderline PD, in mental health care and forensic settings. With these case descriptions, we offer a multicolored palette of possibilities, knowing that there is so much more to know and explore.
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