May 2023 - Transitional Objects for Termination Therapeutic Art Making Intervention
This month’s intervention is more geared towards in person work, but could potentially be adapted for telehealth with advanced planning. Terminating with clients can be heavy and difficult, but also a celebration of the work that has been done! I personally love to use transitional objects so that the client can take something with them to remind them of all the work they have done in therapy when they need a reminder.
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
Supplies Needed:
Rocks
Depending on which version you choose to do:
Sharpie
Paint
Yarn
Toothpick or a yarn needle (they aren’t sharp!)
Glue
Uses: This is a great intervention for terminating with clients
Artistic skills needed: None!
Instructions:
I wanted to make a few versions of this intervention so that you could adapt it for clients, ages, and creativity levels! I will break down each of the ways that are shown in the video. For all of these, you start with a rock. If you are able to take a walk with a client so they can find a rock, I love to do that. If that is not possible, I recommend having an assortment of rocks for the client to choose from. It has been discussed that a client can feel more attached to an object they pick versus one they are given. I like to have as many shapes, sizes, and colors as possible in a bucket/bin/jar/etc. Depending on where you live, if you can find round-ish stones, those work best for the wrapping and weaving.
Another thing to consider with transitional objects is based on how you practice. Personally, whenever I make a transitional object with a client, I always make one as well. I give the client the choice if they want to swap and they take the one I made and I keep the one they made, or if they want to keep their own. I like to, and don’t mind this personally, but again use your own style and discretion with this piece. If a client does want to swap, I tell them that I will keep theirs in my office and that a piece of them will always be here! I keep these in a decorated box specifically.
For the drawn on rocks, this is the simplest of the three!
Start by having your client pick a rock, I usually tell them to hold them and find the one that feels right.
Next, I tell them that they can write a word, they can make shapes, a pattern, or they can create a doodle or mandala.
If they want to make a mandala, I encourage them to start with any shape in the middle, and let each shape inspire the next. I encourage them not to think about perfection but just have fun with it
While the client is drawing on their rock, I like to connect talking about their therapy journey with the creative process
For the wrapped rocks, this is easy to medium-ish difficulty:
Start by having your client pick a rock, I usually tell them to hold them and find the one that feels right
Next, have them pick what yarn they want to use to wrap their rock. I like to, when possible, have an assortment of different textured and sized yarn. In the video I show a fluffy multi-textured yarn, as well as a thinner yarn as well
Have them start wrapping, but leave enough of a tail out so they can tie it to the other end when they are done wrapping.
If it is a younger client I will help if needed to keep the yarn from slipping off
Having rocks that are different shapes here is great! It works on smooth rocks, but it can be a bit easier to snag the yarn on a rock that has different shapes and angles, too
One they are happy with the wrapping, tie together the two ends tightly and trim off the excess yarn
While the client is wrapping their rock, I like to connect talking about their therapy journey with the creative process. I also like to use the wrapping as a meditative or soothing element as well, and it can even incorporate a breathing activity where they breathe in and out with each wrap around the rock
I like using this technique because it can also be a sensory object or grounding object, as well as a transitional object. I tell clients that if they need grounding they can pay attention to the roughness of the rock against the softness of the yarn, etc
For the woven rocks, this is more involved and requires patience! Once you get the hang of it, it’s great but if you feel up to this one I would recommend trying it out yourself once before doing it with clients. I promise it isn’t as intimidating as it looks!! There are also more in-depth Youtube tutorials you can watch on rock weaving if mine is too brief, here are two that are informative but basic and brief(ish) as well! Here and here.
Start by having your client pick a rock, I usually tell them to hold them and find the one that feels right
To do the weaving I show in the video, first wrap once around your rock horizontally, and then bring the yarn back over the rock on the opposite side vertically (see the video to see how I do this if the written instructions aren’t clear!) Make sure to leave a tail of yarn at the beginning so you can tie it to the other end!
Do as many vertical strings as you want, I would keep it between 3 and 7
After you have all the vertical strings you want, tie it to the beginning tail of yarn on the back of your rock. This has created your loom of sorts!
You could always do a few rocks with this step to have clients choose from if you want to just have the client do the weaving, or you can help the client do this part together
Next, have the client pick if they want to use the same yarn to weave with, or stick with the same color
You will need something to thread with, and you can use a yarn needle (the ends aren’t sharp and they are very affordable, this one is under two dollars on Amazon) or you could use a toothpick!
If you do use a toothpick, I recommend gluing the yarn to it because if you just tie it, it is likely to slip off when you are weaving. You can cut off the toothpick when you’re done if you do glue it!
Start weaving in the vertical strings by alternating going over and under each string
When you get to the horizontal string, go either over or under it depending on what your last weave was before it
Move down to the other side of the vertical strings and do the same over and under alternating weaving, making sure to do the opposite of what you just did on the horizontal string
Keep doing this around and around as many times until you and your client are satisfied with the weaving!
When you get to your second row of weaving, double check to make sure that the new row you are creating is the opposite of the first row you did. For example, if you went under the first vertical string on your first row, you should now be going over the first vertical strong on your second row
When you are done, bring the strong around to the back and tie it to the yarn tail you left at the beginning and trim off the extra!
This does take patience, and should be used thoughtfully with clients. I tend to use this with more teens and adults than younger clients. I usually am doing my own and guiding them through the process, showing them how to do each part and they follow. If needed I will pause and help the client if they need it as well!
While the client is weaving their rock, I like to connect talking about their therapy journey with the creative process. I also like to use the weaving as a meditative or soothing element as well, and it can even incorporate a breathing activity where they breathe in and out with each wrap around the rock
I like using this technique because it can also be a sensory object or grounding object, as well as a transitional object. I tell clients that if they need grounding they can pay attention to the roughness of the rock against the softness of the yarn, etc
