November 2022 - The Season of Change Leaf Prints Therapeutic Art Making Intervention

Finding creative therapy interventions can be so difficult! That is why I have created a library of creative interventions so that any therapist can easily find interventions to do with their clients. Please keep in mind the importance of the terminology you are using with these interventions! Art Therapy interventions are done by a trained and registered Art Therapist. Luckily, all of these interventions are appropriate for any clinician to use as Therapeutic Art Making interventions! All of the interventions found in my Creative Intervention Library are art activities perfect for therapy sessions. Most of the interventions also have a telehealth modification for those of us who are still seeing clients virtually. Every month, I post a new creative intervention for you to use. Looking for more? For the price of a cup of coffee per month, you can get access to a second creative intervention as well as access to the entire library catalog of previous months.

I am posting this intervention in November for the change into Autumn, but it can be adapted for any time of the year! Utilizing Autumn as a metaphor for change, growth, rebirth, and more can be powerful in our work with clients.

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: 5+

Diagnosis: Any

Supplies Needed:

• Leaves

  • These can be fallen leaves, dried leaves, or even fresh leaves if you are doing this outside of Autumn or if you live in an area where the leaves don’t fully change/fall

  • Ideally, if you are able to, going outside with your client to pick leaves is a great way to get some fresh air and movement, but this is not possible in all situations. If you are not able to do this, having leaves you picked yourself works just as well! If possible, I do like to have a variety of leaves for the clients to choose from in shape and size

• Plain paper

• Washable/acrylic paint and/or colored pencils

• Paint brush

• Surface covering if you do not want any paint to get on the surface you are using

Uses: I am posting this intervention in November for the change into Autumn, but it can be adapted for any time of the year! Utilizing Autumn as a metaphor for change, growth, rebirth, and more can be powerful in our work with clients.

Artistic skills needed: None!

Instructions:

1. There are a few ways that this intervention can be done with clients. You can choose one method, or you can do a variety as I do in my process video.

2. The first method is using paint to make a print of the leaves. Have your client start with one leaf and flip it over to the underside where the veining of the leaf is more prominent.

3. Have them brush on a layer of paint and cover the surface of the leaf

   • I have clients do this on a separate piece of paper as paint will get on the outside of the leaf and can be a little messy

4. Next, have them flip it over and push the leaf paint side down onto the main piece of paper. Make sure that they push every part of the leaf to transfer as much of the paint as possible

   • If this is a younger client, I will help either by holding the leaf or by helping them push the leaf down to make sure it prints

5. Have the client repeat this with as many leaves and colors as they would like to fill the page

   • The same leaf could be used with another layer of paint, but a variety of leaves and sizes is ideal

6. A second variation of this activity would be to have the client place the leaf directly on to the main piece of paper

7. Holding the leaf down (either themselves or with your assistance), have the client paint all around the edges of the leaf

8. This will create a reverse print of sorts and leave the actual leaf space itself blank, and the paint will show the outline

9. The client can leave it as is, or they could paint or draw in the negative space left behind

10. This variation can be useful with younger clients and is a little bit easier than the first way. It can also be added in addition to the leaf prints to create a different look on the page

11. The third variation of this intervention is the tidiest version!

12. Have your client take a leaf and put it underneath the main piece of paper

    • For the best print, ensure that the underside of the leaf with the veins showing us facing 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.