Posted on by Liz

Trauma Healing and the Arts

Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA hosted a conference last weekend entitled Trauma, Healing and the Arts. The keynote speaker was Linda Gantt PhD, ATR-BC, who also presented a half day workshop on The Graphic Narrative, an art therapy technique for processing trauma.

I attended both Linda Gantt’s workshop and Linda Chapman’s workshop entitled “The Right Hemisphere: Trauma and Art Therapy” (the Bay Area Linda Chapman, not the Toronto based one ;). Both workshops were informative and enlightening in their own way.

Gantt’s Graphic Narrative essentially breaks down the body’s natural trauma response, and uses art therapy to explore not only the step by step external happenings of the traumatic event, but the internal/non-verbal aspects as well.

Chapman discussed the Right Hemisphere of the brain and its role in childhood development, non-verbal experiences and how trauma is stored in the brain. Her work is mainly an integration of cutting edge neuroscience and art therapy theory, helping to demonstrate the role of art therapy and its usefulness in processing traumatic memories. She is in the process of writing a journal article for one of the art therapy journals…so be on the lookout for it, because it’s not only interesting – its groundbreaking work.

One of the best parts of the conference for me, was completely unplanned. Chapman blasted through her presentation, and had about 40 minutes to kill. After a thorough question and answer period, and still having time left over, an audience member asked her to talk about her experience with Vicarious Traumatization. Several other presenters talked about this topic, but since I chose other workshops to attend, this was the first I heard anyone speak of this subject in a public forum. Linda’s story was both touching and shocking. She discussed how after 10 years of working in a highly traumatic work environment (hospital setting), she herself developed PTSD symptoms: nightmares, difficulty sleeping, hyper vigilance, isolation, etc… In her experience, even after leaving her job 8 years ago and living a much more balanced life, she continues to experience symptoms. She made a very strong case for self care, knowing your limits and participating in 1:1 therapy (even if it’s on an as needed basis) to process everything that one maybe carrying around from the workplace.

Here is a link on Vicarious Traumatization or Secondary Traumatization that explains what it is and how to help prevent it.

14 Replies to “Trauma Healing and the Arts”

  1. Hello Elizabeth,
    Someone forwarded me the link to your site, and I wanted to thank you for writing about my talk at NDNU. I appreciate your comments. I also want to let you and others who attended know I have prepared an Evidence Based Art Therapy PP presentation with most of the info as it relates to Art Therapy. I will send to those who would like the info to share with employers, etc. I have added info about my efficacy study as well. I hope this will help those required to show an effort toward Evidence Based Art Therapy.
    Again, thank you.
    Linda Chapman

  3. Hi Linda,

    I fixed the repeated msgs…no worries.

    I would love to get my hands on the Power Point presentation as well as info on your study. I was planning to present much of what you spoke about to the clinical team where I work. I find the neuroscience behind artx fascinating! My email address is liz@lizbeck.net

    Thanks!
    – Liz

  5. I have been a long-time fan of the work of both Lindas. THanks for posting and I intend to get in touch with LC per her comment invitation!

  6. I am an Art Therapist working in the UK with people who have experienced trauma. I would love to see Linda Chapman’s Evidence Based Art Therapy Powerpoint presentation if that would be possible. I am beginning my own research into the effectiveness of art therapy in assessing and treating trauma so it would be most helpful. Thanks a lot.
    JJ

  7. Hi JJ,

    I will send you Linda’s email address as I would not want to send her presentation without her permission.

    Thank you for getting in touch and goodluck in your research!
    – Liz

  9. Hi Linda,
    I would love to have a copy of your PP presentation on Evidence Based Art Therapy. I work with traumatized clients of all ages in my practice. Here in Oregon we had to go to the legislature in Feb. 2008 to protect our right to use the words “therapist” or “counselor” in our advertising. Your information would have been of great help then, and still may be needed again in the future to support the efficacy of art therapy when under attack by psychologists’ lobbyists who want to limit the field of therapies available to the public. I still vividly remember your workshop at Marylhurst on trauma back in the early 1990s!

    Thanks,
    Cheri

  10. Hi Linda,
    I would love to have a copy of your PP presentation on Evidence Based Art Therapy, if possible. I am a parent educator and work mainly with foster parents. I would love to bring this awareness to social workers and foster parents in our area.
    Thank you,
    Judy

  11. Dear Linda

    I am looking for evidence base for art therapy. Could you share your PP presentation on Evidence Based Art Therapy with me?

    Thanks
    Suman

  12. Hi Suman,

    I’m sorry but I dont have a PP presentation prepared on Evidence Based Art Therapy. I do have presentations on digital art therapy and social networking, though. Maybe you’re mixing me up with someone else?

    Thanks for stopping by!
    – Liz

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