This was one intervention I focused on loss/grieving specifically thinking about interventions for adolescents. I think this could be used in a clinical setting of a self-care to work through loss/grief.
Goals: To help express feelings and begin a healthy grieving process around a loss and to work through the grieving and letting-go process and reach the point of emotionally reinvesting in life.
Materials: Poetry, pre-cut strips of paper, plain paper, book pages, scrapbooking paper, watercolor paper, glue, markers, scissors, and sharpies.
Procedures/Directions:
1. Have pre-cut strips of paper from book pages, watercolored pages, scrapbooking pages, and plain paper. You may also have full pieces of paper for clients to cut on strips of paper.
2. Using poetry books or printed poems online, (client can bring in inspiration already found) look through poetry and find words that speak to you.
3. Find poems that can show there mourning or grief, but also poems that show healing and growth.
4. Use markers or sharpies to write poetry on strips of paper.
5. After a good number of strips are completed (6 for each way), lay out the pieces of paper and start preparing to intertwine.
6. Place strips of papers in and out to create the weaving effect.
7. Glue ends so weaving is stable and moveable.
8. Talk or think about the piece and the process of adding the poetry altogether.
9. It is hard to discuss grief for some, processing it through the artwork can be helpful.
10. Clean up the workspace.
Variations: This could be used for other topics and would work well with the adolescent and adult population. Other topics could be for anger management or for those interesting in poetry. You can create your own poems and poetry and use them in the weaved artwork.
Adaptions: The strips created were small but for those who need to work on a larger scale, strips can be wider and larger or thinner. Markers or sharpies may need to be monitored and crayons or colored pencils can be substituted.
Supply information/Resources: Supplies can all be purchased at a local craft store or Walmart craft section. This project requires different types of paper that would be collected by the therapist. Most paper is scrap paper saved by the therapist. Marker and sharpies can be found in assertive colors at Walmart for less than $10. Overall this project can cost about $10.
Contraindications/Safety Considerations: This project is for adolescents so sharpies and markers may be used as inhalants and need to be monitored. Nontoxic materials should be used, and if scissors are used, they will need to be monitored.
Population: This project is for adolescents ages as young as 13 up to adults This can be implemented for those struggling with grief and loss.
Cultural Considerations: Cultural differences may be present with ways of dealing with grief and loss and the therapist must be aware of any possible cultural or individual differences.
Setting: This project can be implemented afterschool, school settings, or outpatients’ centers. This would be best in individual settings. The session would take about an hour or more.
Structure: Low Medium High
Complexity: Low Medium High
ETC level: Cognitive/Symbolic level
Resources: May use books with poetry, some may be Poetry Speaks: who I am by Elise Paschen or any poetry client wants to bring in or create themselves. I also found a picture on Pinterest that inspired me. Here is a link to watercolor weaving :
https://beckykgibbs.wordpress.com/gallery/art-portfolio/
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