April 2023 - Drawing Conclusions Therapeutic Art Making Game and Intervention

This month’s intervention can easily be done in person or via telehealth. I like to utilize this intervention/game to illustrate to clients how quickly we can jump to conclusions and what can happen when we do so. It is presented in a fun, lighthearted way but still gets the point across!

Please note, If you do take any photos of client’s art work, make sure you have a consent form signed for this. I have a Consent to Photograph Artwork Created in Therapy Sessions Form in my products if you need one for your practice. Even with therapeutic art making, it is ethically necessary to have this consent form signed. Also make sure to remove any identifying information from any art work before photographing it, such as names or signatures.

I offer personalized intervention ideas in the clinical consultation and supervision I provide as well! When I work one on one with clinicians, I love being able to create specific interventions tailored to each client and their presenting concerns. Feel free to reach out with any questions to see if creative supervision and consultation would be a good fit for you and your practice!

Process Video:

Age range: 8+

Diagnosis: Any. This works well with individuals, couples, and families!

Supplies Needed:

• Paper

• Sharpie, pen, pencil, etc

Uses: This is a great intervention/game to illustrate to clients how quickly we can jump to conclusions and what can happen when we do so. It is presented in a fun, lighthearted way but still gets the point across!

Artistic skills needed: None!

Instructions:

1. I usually draw first to show clients how this intervention goes, and then do a few rounds changing who is drawing and who is guessing

2. Pick an object to draw. I like to use simple and easy to convey images, but also like to let clients be creative and (within reason) give them space to choose their own words

   • I often pull up Pictionary lists of words to easily pick some ideas. Here is one that I use that has easy, medium, and hard options

3. Start by drawing the image one line or shape at a time

4. After each line, ask your client(s) to make a guess, even after the first line, to make it silly and fun

5. Add each line of the image until someone guesses it correctly

6. You can choose to have the person who guessed correctly draw next, or leave it open

7. Before, during, and after the intervention I like to connect this activity to how easy it is for us to draw a conclusion or jump to an assumption about what we think someone means or is doing. Often times we might be wrong or off, which can have varying consequences. I find that visually illustrating this point can really help it “click” in a client’s brain

   • I even like to do this with adult clients or couples. We can talk about a concept over and over again but sometimes seeing it play out can really help it click and stick for a client

8. I also like to ask clients what they thought of the activity, and if they felt like it did help them realize or learn anything as a wrap up

Intervention Example

*A note about examples: Please be careful about sharing an example of the intervention with your client. When a client sees a full example, it can unintentionally influence what they are making and may skew what they are presenting in their art making.