Art Therapy Program

Art therapy explores feelings and emotions
Imagine walking into a room where there is soft light, relaxing music and only friendly faces -- a place where the only rule is to not self-judge. All worries are left at the door. Welcome to the Coborn Cancer Center Art Therapy Program -- a place for cancer survivors (patients, caregivers and family members) to relax, heal and rediscover themselves through art.

View a schedule of class dates and times (PDF)

The art you create, using color and lines, shows feelings. The goal is for you to become aware of what your subconscious is feeling and to help you be mindful in the moment. Art therapy can demonstrate healing and change, much like a “visual” journal.

Benefits:

• Have tangible proof of how we feel
• Gain self awareness
• Find joy and peace
• Can tap into our implicit memory -- the part of our brain where there is no language.

Learn how the emotional effects of art can heal.
A master’s level art therapist will give you information about art therapy and a chance to experience the therapeutic effects of art through fun projects. At the end of the session, the art therapist will guide a discussion to help you realize what your project says about you and your approach to your life.

If you’ve ever joined us for art therapy, you know that we set the mood by dimming the lights and playing calm music, You leave fast pace, busy thinking at the door. This is a relaxing, “in the moment” time -- just for you. You explore your feelings and self awareness using colors and art projects like these described below.

Mandala
Each class starts with drawing mandalas (word for circle or circumference) which is done to calm the brain and get ready for art. One mandala is done with the right hand and one with the left hand. The right hand, controlled by the left side of your brain, is very linear and controls the upfront thinking. It is your conscious and is what you are showing or expressing to others on a daily basis. The left hand, controlled by the right side of the brain, that taps into the creative, intuitive feelings part of your brain. This activity helps patients assess and get centered. The only rule during art therapy sessions is never self-judge.

	Dominant hand	Non-dominant hand

	Non-dominant hand	Dominant hand

Collage
In this project: Participants use pages out of a magazine and glue to create a collage.

Illustrative Timeline
In this project: The participant is asked to draw a period of time in their life using color and lines. Commonly done using oil pastels, watercolor or using glitter.   

	Observations: This artwork is from the time of cancer diagnosis to the present. The flower theme starts very dark with red and black, the most intense colors commonly associated with darkness and pain, which signifies a traumatic period of time. Eventually, it shows growth, overcoming adversity and surviving changes, symbolized by the flower in the present.

Mosaic
In this project: Participants are given various supplies and asked to create a mosaic. It is an abstract concept to how you approach a project, your day or your life.

Observations: In the beginning, the tiles are very bright and creative, joyful and playful. As it progresses, it turns very organized and then dark, eventually building up a wall and ending with a dark circle backed into the corner. The mosaic was done by someone who was caring for her elderly mother with cancer. It explains that each day seems bright and promising and holds thoughts for what she wants to do for herself, but then, because of commitments, she falls into the same pattern of responsibilities that overcomes her emotionally and leaves her with not enough time for herself -- a common issue with caregivers. Seeing this come through in her artwork made the participant realize that it often happens to her day, and she would like to take more action to bring herself joy and happiness from day to day.

Mask
In this project: If we could take off the mask we wear, what would be underneath? Who is the person that you don’t readily show the rest of the world? This project will help you in your journey for self discovery and show how cancer has changed the way you look at yourself. The project below is a set of 3 masks, done by the same patient over the course of a year. Each mask is a visual look at the patient’s emotions at a particular part in their journey with cancer.

Mask 1 - Esmerelda

Mask 2 - Saffron

Mask 3 - Matilda

Narrative (written by the patient)

1. Esmerelda – Her days are endless, full of sadness, fear and pain. Everything that she was, hoped for, dreamed, is gone. Her life is coming down her cheeks, dripping on her deformed, hurt breast and arm. Overwhelmed by what is left, her eyes are closed to lock out all distractions. She waits in her beauty, clinging to dignity and inner strength with hope that this will end and a new beginning will start in this world or perhaps the next.
2. Saffron – She has come out of death, born anew. Her joy at being released from her pain is boundless. The life she had is gone, everything is new, beautiful, wonderful, transformed. Her energy, the love, the peace increases with each second that passes. The incredible gift of a second chance is miraculous. The bright light within her is ready to explode on everyone who watches. She is so thankful.
3. Matilda – As a beautiful, young girl, full of hope, dreams and laughter, I had stars in my eyes and romantic notions in my head. Hard work — very hard work, illness, grief, disappointment or perhaps disillusionments have let my dreams face with youth. The beauty on my skin has burned through to my soul, idealism has given way to wisdom. Hopes, dreams and laughter have taught contentment, joy and peace. I like me now.

Painting
In this project: Through the survivorship journey, individuals are commonly struggling to redefine themselves again. Through this activity, participants use a variety of painting techniques, such as watercolor, acrylic, etc., to visually depict how surviving changes them.

Observations: This participant used watercolor to create a candle, which signifies peace, light and love. The positive image, likely reflects the point at which the survivor was in their journey -- after treatment, “cancer-free.”

Visual Goal Setting
In this project: Participants are asked to create a series of images.

1. Where they are at now
2. Where they want to be
3. How they can get to #2
4. What are they willing to let go of to get to #2

	Observations: Shows conflict, there is white on one side, darkness on the other More whole, connected Letting conflict go Old emotions

For more information, please call Melissa at (320) 229-5199, ext. 70659.

View a schedule of class dates and times (PDF)

The Art Therapy Program is funded in part by CentraCare Health Foundation.