Goals: 1. To grieve the loss of a parent or loved one within a supportive emotional environment.
2. Begin healthy grieving process around the loss.
3. To let client work through the letting go process and resolve feelings of guilt, depression, or anger associated with loss.
Objectives:
1. Help client understand the process of grief which is unique for each individual and understand the process of grieving and letting go.
2. Say goodbye to lost loved one and let client verbalize positive memories of past and hope for future.
Materials: Paper that was created either through traditional papermaking or with blender, paper, and pulp. Markers, paint, color pencils, and pens.
Procedure/Directives:
1. Participants are encouraged to bring meaningful materials surrounding a child’s lost parent or death of a parent. The fibers that the participants bring is where the process starts.
2. After the papermaking process, using the meaningful material, and the paper is complete and dry, the participants will then use the paper to create a goodbye letter.
3. This time will be for the participants to think about the loss, the growth, and letting go. Some specific questions to spark conversation would be; What is something you feel you have grown in, what is somethings you want to work on, and how can you show this through art? Specifically, for grief, questions can include how does this loss affect you, what are some memories you have, and how can we honor those memories?
4. The participant can use the paper to create a written letter, painting, or drawing to represent their process in grief and saying goodbye.
5. They can create multiple letters, using separate papers or one. Therapist should teach clients the stages of grief and help them understand where the participants are.
6. Client will then take time at the end of group to say goodbye or have the therapist help through whatever stage they are in. The goal is to have them open up and share to create more community support and limit loneliness.
7. This process may be slow and hard, some clients need space but also support. If they want to share and describe their art at the end of group, they can.
8. Try and get each client to share what they took away from this activity.
Variations & Adaptions: In this example the materials are simplified to pens, paints, and markers but any participant can explore and work through their process in whatever way they need with other materials such as oil pastels or cutting or molding the paper. Depending on the participants abilities and levels, some may struggle with this objective so this can be adapted to what the client needs and can achieve to make the process successful.
Supply information/Resources: Supplies for papermaking may be difficult to have and can be expensive. Creating paper with pulp and a blender specifically for papermaking is a cheaper alternative. Other art making material can be found at any art stores. Examples of poems and meaningful words can be pre-collected by therapist to inspire and help participants.
Contraindications/Safety Considerations: When using paints, be aware of what you use. When painting with children, be sure to use non-toxic art supplies. Use water-based products to avoid potential hazards from solvents. Make sure containers are closed when not in use and be aware of flammability. Also, when using acrylic paint be careful of respiratory irritation or allergies of individuals.
Population: This could be used in group or individual setting with children, adolescent, or even adults how have lost a parent or separated from parent. The project can help clients with growth and coping with loss of a loved one.
Cultural Considerations: The art therapist should be aware of grief across cultures for those participants from cultures other than her own. The art therapist also should be aware of cultural difference of what growth might mean across different cultures.
Setting: School settings or outpatients counseling centers. In grief groups or individually. Papermaking sessions may need longer session but allotted time of 2-hour session.
ETC level: Cognitive/Symbolic Level
Resources: When working with children and grief you may use The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers, Something Very Sad Happened by Bonnie Zucker, or The Memory Box: A book about Grief by Joanna Rowland. Another book for teens is The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends by Helen Fitzgerald. Other book are available on grief for many age groups that can be helpful for clients and families.
References
Jongsma, A. E., Peterson, L. M., McInnis, W. P., & Bruce, T. J. (2014). The adolescent psychotherapy treatment planner. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
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