APPLICATION OF THE METHOD OF ART THERAPY IN CRISES AND MENTAL TRAUMA

Abstract

The article discusses the work of a psychologist with personality’s crises. Among them are personal crises, professional crises, and family crises. The author emphasizes that there are different crises. For example, a developmental crisis is a change that is a normal part of a person’s life and can be successfully experienced only when a person learns to cope with his or her situation. At the same time, a situational crisis is the result of an unexpected trauma. Sometimes these developmental crises or situational crises can occur simultaneously, and when this happens, the crisis is usually more devastating for the individual. The understanding of psychological trauma is also revealed and its peculiarities are indicated. It is determined that the consequences of trauma may include: changes in sleep patterns, panic attacks, withdrawal, obsessive thoughts, rather easy personality scaring, increased vigilance, etc. Some of the ways in which trauma can manifest itself in the body include: chronic illness or pain, sleep problems, frequent headaches or chest pain, etc. The author suggests ways of psychological assistance in case of crises and mental trauma, with an emphasis on the work of a psychologist in the method of art therapy, a form of psychological assistance based on safe and natural for a person fine arts, fairy tale therapy, phototherapy, sand therapy etc. It is emphasized that due to the creative process, art therapy can be a valuable therapeutic approach in dealing with trauma and personal crises. It is substantiated that the use of art to express emotions opens up access to both visual memory and bodily memory, as it not only allows people to create images. The use of art materials such as clay and paint can reconnect with physical sensations that may be cut off from their bodily sensations. Since researchers suggest that touch and sight are directly linked to the fear center in the human brain, art therapy is suitable for working with traumatic memory.