Brittney Washington

Tissue paper collages can be used to invite others to share something about themselves in a way that can be perceived as less threatening than talking and less intimidating than drawing.

Zentangles can seem overwhelming, but they are simple to create. For beginners: using a square/rectangle piece of paper, draw one dot in each corner, connect dots (to create a box. Inside the box, draw a random scribble. Fill in the spaces within scribble with line/shapes/colors. This activity can be used to facilitate relaxation and increase focus. Zentangles can also be created within various shapes, such as mandalas (circles), other geometric figures, and organic shapes.

Creating response art to experiences can help with cognitive and emotional processing, as well as allow for reflection and closure.

This mandala was completed by members of my cohort and I as a class assignment. Group mandalas (when completed by members that have a sense of trust or cohesion between them) can help develop communication and problem-solving skills, encourage social interaction, and engender feelings of accomplishment and value.

Art can be a container for strong emotions.

Bridge drawings can be useful for goal making and strategy. This drawing is based on the concept of visualizing the future much like a bridge drawing, but uses trees to illustrate progress.

Masks can be helpful for encouraging emotional identification, understanding social cues, and coping.

Poetry with art can provide another vehicle for reaching and engaging audiences.