By Mary Gomez | Program Officer 3- Psychosocial Support Hub
Working with small children who have attempted suicide is incredibly challenging, but the triumphs make it all worthwhile. Stepping Stones International Counsellors once worked with a young girl who had made several attempts to end her life by ingesting household chemicals. Her world had been turned upside down by her parent's impending divorce.
During her initial intake session, she refused to speak. Every time the Counsellors mentioned the word "divorce," she would break down in hysterical sobs. Traditional speech therapy proved ineffective, so the Counsellor tried something different: art therapy.
She was asked to draw pictures of her feelings, and she took to it immediately. From that moment on, the sessions revolved around her artwork. The pictures she created in just her third session were profoundly expressive. Art became her voice, a safe outlet for her overwhelming emotions.
The transformation was remarkable. Art therapy unlocked her ability to communicate, helping the Counsellors navigate through her deep-seated pain and confusion. SSI is incredibly grateful we had a supply of paper and a variety of coloring tools to offer her. What might seem like simple, everyday items became her lifeline.
Art and drama therapy are important in Stepping Stones International counseling sessions due to their unique ability to facilitate emotional expression, promote healing, and enhance communication. Art and drama therapy also provides a non-verbal medium for clients to express complex emotions and experiences that they might find difficult to articulate with words. These therapies help clients process traumatic events by externalizing their feelings and experiences, which can lead to deeper understanding and healing. Engaging in creative activities can serve as an emotional release, reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Incorporating art and drama therapy into counseling sessions can significantly enhance the therapeutic process, offering unique and powerful ways to support clients in their journey toward healing and personal growth.SSI is sharing this to rally global support for mindset motivation initiatives. For privacy reasons, the child's name and photograph have been withheld.
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