June 2022 - Color Emotions Mandala 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.

This intervention is a great activity that is about both the process and product, and can help clients verbalize and conceptualize how they are feeling.

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: 6+

Diagnosis: Any

Supplies Needed:

• Plain paper

• Paper with circle outline (optional)

• Colored paper OR paint chip samples from a hardware store

  • In the paint department of Lowe’s or Home Depot they have the walls full of paint chip color samples. These are free to take as many as you want and are one of my favorite free supplies to use. I go in with a bag and fill it up!! You might gt some curious looks, but they are there to bee taken and used.

• Scissors

• Glue (optional)

Uses: An activity that is about both the process and product, and can help clients verbalize and conceptualize how they are feeling. This activity can also give the client a sense of control of their emotions.

Artistic skills needed: None!

Instructions:

1. Start with either a blank piece of paper or an outline of a circle, whichever the client prefers

2. Using either the colored paper or the paint chips have your client choose a few colors that represent their emotions for either how they feel right now, or from the past

   • Always make sure to have the client explain what colors match each emotion and why. If we assume we know what emotion goes with a color, this can cause a misunderstanding. Many associate the color red with anger, but for the client whose favorite color is red it might mean happiness.

3. Have your client next cut out small shapes from the colored papers that they chose to match their emotions. This can be simple or complex, but shapes such as triangles or circles are the easiest to work with.

   • I recommend giving loose examples of shapes and encourage them to use any shape they want as to not cause any unintentional impact on what the client creates. I have had clients use thin strips of color, blobs of color, etc and you want to make sure that what they choose is coming from their imagination and not just your suggestions

4. Next, have them arrange the shapes in a way that represents how they are feeling

   • The shapes can overlap and do not have to create a symmetrical or visually balanced design. Emotions can overlap and be complicated, and they can be arranged to show that visually. You are welcome to share that they can create a mandala design if they want to, or they can arrange them just free form however they want (and thus choose using blank paper or the paper with the circle outline)

5. Give the client the option to either glue the shapes down, or they can have them stay loose on the page and let go of them at the end of the session

   • Follow up discussion points/talking points/questions:

     • How did it feel picking colors for to represent your emotions?

     • Why did you pick those colors specifically and what do they mean?

     • Did you feel like cutting up the colors and making new shapes out of them feel like we could change and transform our emotions?

     • Did rearranging your colors and shapes feel like we have some control over our emotions?

     • When we are feeling like our emotions are out of control, this can be a reminder that we can transform our emotions and we can change how they look!

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.