The Effectiveness of Trauma Focused Art Therapy

"Individual Trauma Focused Art Therapy (TFAT) consisting of 10 sessions. Each session lasts 60 minutes. Sessions are aimed at trauma recovery using visual art therapy. The sessions cover an introduction, making pieces of artwork, and reflection. Three phases can be distinguished:~Phase 1: 'stabilization and symptom reduction', i.e. exploring traumatic and positive memories, imagining a lifecourse, and expressing a safe haven (4 sessions).~Phase 2:'uttering and expressing memories', i.e. expressing chosen memories by making 5 pieces of artwork. Materials that can be used include clay, paint, graphite pencil or crayons and if needed with support of imagination using relevant photographs or objects (5 sessions).~Phase 3: 'integration and meaning attribution', i.e. ordering and assembling of the 5 pieces of artwork. Patients are asked to appraise the memories in the here-and-now present (c.f. mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) (1 session)."