Recoveriing addicts can often find it difficult to express what it was that made them become addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling or sex. Often the cause is a trauma in earlier life that has been blocked out or has not been conciously remembered. Understanding a client's subconious thought processes can be a very important part of a counsellor's job: both for building a relationship with the client and for treating them.
Since the surrealists developed automatic writing as a method of expression, art has explored the subconscious and the ways in which we can express it. Just as they struggled to express their thoughts and ideas in media other than words, it can be difficult for someone going through addiction recovery to put their experiences into words.
Life Works Community are offering art therapy workshops to their rehabilitation clients, allowing them to explore their conscious and subconscious thought processes. This treatment method allows clients to work with different art materials and techniques, either one-one-one or in small groups. Art therapy gives those in recovery the unique opportunity to understand and discuss not only their history and its manifestations in art but also their peers. This can provide an invaluable form of communication, especially for those who find it difficult to write down or say what they truly mean.
Life Works offer art therapy as a treatment method each week to their clients, also offering others in addiction recovery the chance to participate in workshops at The Grange this year. Sessions complement the daily counselling sessions and use these sessions to provide a theme for the workshop.