'Homeless people in the united states lack proper access to places where they can have expressive art therapies. This has been so because other means of intervention to these people do not include expressive art therapy. Most of the mental health interventions which have been implemented to the homeless are the technique of traditional talk therapy'
Expressive Dance Art Therapy on Homeless Population
Homelessness is something which has prevailed to the citizens of the united states ever since the country was conceptualized. There have been measures which the united states government has started such increased funding, care management, a shared housing which has been implemented to eradicate homelessness (Howard, 2017). Many scholars have researched on the issue of homelessness and the most probable ways of facilitating housing to the homeless, but less has been done on the intervention on the spiritual needs or the mental health mental health of the homeless. Therefore, this paper will approach ways in which someone can use alternative expressive art therapy to intervene in the mental or spiritual health of homeless people in the united states.
Homeless people in the united states lack proper access to places where they can have expressive art therapies. This has been so because other means of intervention to these people do not include expressive art therapy. Most of the mental health interventions which have been implemented to the homeless are the technique of traditional talk therapy(De Tord, 2015). However, there are other alternative methods of reaching these people to attain a holistic recovery and overall gaining of self-esteem, love, peace of mind, and mental stability. Such alternative means of self-expression, in this case, are dance therapy, visual art, and writing therapy. This is beneficial to people who are unwilling to express themselves through talking verbally and other conventional means of communication (De Tord, 2015). Homeless people can benefit if they are exposed or given access to creative art therapy such as dancing, writing, drama therapy, music and other creative aspects of therapy.
The most notable way which the government and other medical institutions have used to intervene in the case of homelessness has been the traditional talk therapy. In this case, it is the atypical medium through which the client and therapist attempt to connect and solve a problem one of one (Howard, 2017). However, the talk therapy has been criticized because there is the widespread inability of the method to be assessed on its usage. There is no existing empirical evidence on the existence of the usage and success of talk therapy (Howard, 2017). For those who are ailing form emotional distress, there is have been empirical methods which have been provided with successful results.
These include interpersonal therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which are the modalities used to reach homeless people. These new forms of therapy have been known to alleviate the level of post-traumatic stress, alleviating depression and other psychological ailments, they are unreliable because they are dependent on the client (Howard, 2017). These forms are dependent on the ability of the client to talk verbally and open to the therapist something which can be cumbersome to do to introverted homeless people or those people who are secretive. Talk therapy is also known to be less effective to children and people who are talking and hearing disabilities due to the hampered communication between the client and the therapist (Darewych, 2013). Therefore, having expressive art therapy, it bridges the gap between the client and therapist on people who are not willing to engage verbally.
Background of Expressive Arts Therapy
The international expressive arts therapy was established in 1994 with the intention of promoting the incorporation of the creative arts in therapeutic treatments. Since after, many medical practitioners either in medical institutions or social workers have received training as a way of incorporating their treatment in the handling of patients which mental health issues (Barnes, 2012). Modalities which are used by creative practitioners include music therapy, dance therapy, drama/movement therapy, play therapy and creative writing.
Creative expression is one of how one can give a therapeutic practice to a large population of people at the same time. It serves as a less threatening way in which a therapist can access the conscious and subconscious aspects of the client (Yukari & van Katwyk, 2016). In this case, expressive art therapy is considered appropriate to solve the internal conflicts if a person. It will foster unity within a group of people, mutual understanding, and respect. Some vulnerable groups such as homeless people are very receptive to the expressive therapy, and therefore it is an appropriate way to reach those who have mental health issues due to homelessness. When it is used to those people who are bereaving, it can be successful since people will express themselves using art therapy (Yukari & van Katwyk, 2016). People with disabilities and other physical ailments can find movement or dance therapy to be very useful in their path towards healing both physically and mentally.
Literature Review
Existing Interventions for the Homeless
Homeless people have distinctive characteristics which include culture, marital status, cultural background, mental and physical ability and other distinguishable characteristics (Howard, 2017). These varied characteristics much, therefore,be met by various practitioners and interventions to be able to confront the issue of homelessness properly. There are several challenges which the people of homelessness have to put up with which includes drug and substance abuse, unemployment, disability, isolation, social rejection, physical abuse, criminality, and unmet basic needs (Howard, 2017). It is therefore impossible for single approach modality of intervention to be able to reach these diverse needs of the population.
Majority of the methodologies of addressing the issue of homelessness target only one unmet issue instead of targeting the broader spectrum of the people. These interventions are towards satisfying one unmet need which is the lack of housing, and the interventions have been supportive housing, House First and care- management (Darewych, 2013). In this case, it can be noted that these interventions are only directed towards undressing the need for housing by homeless people while on the other part they do not address the psychological or physical aspects of the affected populations. Therefore, there is the need to have a suitable way in which it can have better ways of addressing the problems of the homeless people.
Housing Interventions
The model of Case Management Housing is an intervention mechanism which gives much of responsibility for intervention to the practitioner instead of the client. It is in this case that the practitioner serves as a medium to link the client to housing and other support services (Darewych, 2013). Medical practitioners in this model are in such a way that they give interventions means such as the case management and supportive mental health counseling. While these aspects support and solve the need of people in housing, they are inadequate in solving the mental health of the homeless population.
Mental Health Interventions
For the homeless, mental health intervention has been largely practiced through therapeutic conversations. In this case, it is based on the fact that handling homeless people go beyond giving of the homeless housing and extends beyond the need for physical needs. Therefore, there is the need to build healthy relationships with the homeless people for their plight to be adequately addressed (Mc Ardle & Byrt, 2001). It was introduced as a means in which the client and the clinician can have conversations which are for emotional and mental interventions.In this case, the premise is that it will change the perspective of the client and enable him or her to remold their ability to conquer the challenge of being homeless. It is a model which regards the therapist and the client as equal partners in the session of therapy (Mc Ardle & Byrt, 2001). There is no need for either the client or the therapist to have an authoritative role as they form a language which both can link up and have a natural healing process.
Expressive Art Therapy
It is not new for humanity to use art as a way of expressing therapeutic aspects in their lives. Throughout history, many of the civilization have indulged in the art as a way of fostering unity, expressing healing and growth. As from the 1800s, many psychologists began to recognize the beneficial effects of art in medical interventions to those people who are medically ill (Barnes, 2012). During the 1930s, psychologists then began to make popular the self-expression which is nonverbal to intervene with the medically ill. This is after they realized that the talk therapy was inadequate in addressing the needs of those who had mental health problems.
In 1979, the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapist Association was established to collaborate with other agencies of art therapy. At 994, there was the formation of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Sessions which was to help medical practitioners and social workers to practice expressive arts therapies. Many other modalities have been developed to include poetry therapy, sand play, and imagery play (Barnes, 2012). In this case, expressive arts therapy is a modality which is being used in different mental health, medical and educational stages which a wider variety of clients.
Theoretical Perspective
The transpersonal theory holds the roots of the expressive arts therapy where it has several interconnected ways of distinct assertions in relations to the nature of the interaction between the client and the practitioner. Huss, Sarid & Cwikel, (2010) argues one of the fundamental concepts which is held by the expressive art therapy is attunement. This is the aspect where the client and the therapist have an alignment in unity, have a connection and a sense of unity in solving an internal problem. It effects form the efforts which the therapist has done to attune with the natural rhythm of the client, artistic expression, experience, and effects. There should be a body and mind integration which is essential for the attunement of client’s creative expressions (Huss, Sarid & Cwikel, 2010). Attunement can be achieved when the therapist makes the client detach themselves from their daily activities and delve into an inner awareness which is essential in attaining a balance in external and self-entities.
The other concept of trans personality psychology is the attachment which is the same as the attachment which a child has with his or her mother. This is a theory which can be recognized due to the failure of the attunement between the therapist and the client (Huss, Sarid & Cwikel, 2010). However, there are ways in which a therapist can exploit the opportunities where the client can have individual growth and reflection. This is by remaining in the present, centered and grounded on the ideals of expressive art therapy to reach the client’s inner being. The Person’s -Centered approach of Rogers espouses on the non-judgmental approach in accepting of clients in all sectors (Huss, Sarid & Cwikel, 2010). Therefore, the transpersonal psychology offers a way in which therapists can reach homeless people and solve a wider array of their problems as opposed to the solving of a single basic need which is housing.
The other theory is the psychosocial theory which was advanced by Erick Eriksen and involved having eight tasks in human life which have to be fulfilled (Munro, Randell & Lawrie, 2016). These are chronological stages which punctuate the life of a person and are critical to the understanding of the specific tasks important in human life. It can be applied in expressive art therapy because people express feelings and thoughts, feeling towards others, and explore new possibilities by the use of art media as mediums of attaining such mental equilibriums (Munro, Randell & Lawrie, 2016). Also, humans can use this to conceptualize problems, weigh in solutions and express their imagination and creativity.
Methodology of application
The most probable modality in application of expressive art therapy to homeless people is the dance therapy. This approach is the best because it has the ability to support the cognitive, emotional, social and physical functioning of people (Darewych, 2013). This is based on the premise that the mind-body has an interrelatedness with the movement/dance, physical functioning, cognition, and behavior. It is essential because it is a valuable therapy to those homeless people who would like to detach themselves from the real world, forget about their problems and resolve their emotional dilemmas and relieve their stress (Huss, Sarid & Cwikel, 2010). For the homeless children, it is essential in promoting growth, social cognition, and emotional development. The application of the dance therapy on individual homeless people can have self-enriching value and a sense of self-expression.
Having a class of homeless people who use dancing as a therapy session can have many benefits because it is from this social dance where they can foster a sense of unity, create a bond, open about their plight and solve their problems. Releasing stress through dance can be a bridge through which homeless people can gain self-love, lead a healthy lifestyle, feel energetic, relieve stress and have a holistic spiritual growth (Huss, Sarid & Cwikel, 2010). A qualitative study conducted by Thomas, Gray, McGinty, and Ebringer in 2001 found out that when homeless people are provided with safe, meaningful and well structured artistic expression, it can lead to them contributing in the community and overcoming hopelessness.
The analysis of the data found out that a weekly dance program established a way in which the participants can have continuity in living within the community. The program gave them a purpose where they felt part of the society and more willing to take part in communal voluntary activities. According to Thomas, Gray & Ebringer, (2011), most of the participants in the research were recorded as saying that they wished the program was made more often than weekly and that the session should be made longer. Most of the participants showed recovery from acts of criminality, drug and substance abuse which was a fundamental step towards self-discovery, love, and self-appreciation. In this case, the participants increased their involuntary self-control, developing respects for themselves and others while gaining acceptance to the public (Thomas, Gray & Ebringer, 2011). The conclusion of the research was that if homeless people are given a non-threatening environment, it can serve as a way in which they can overcome the ills which come with homelessness.
This process of dance therapy can be applied through subscription of voluntary homeless people who can enroll in an expressive art program. This would include children, youth, and adults and incorporate all genders. This is to create an integrative and entertaining dance program where there are learning and entertainment at the same time. Interactions between the old and young can serve as a way in which these homeless people can create bonds, create a social network where they can feel selfless and access their inner beings. In this case, the participants can use their bodies to convey messages and evoke emotions. Twice a week dance program followed by a bonding session would increase the participation of participants and offer them a gateway in which they can express themselves. The program is to be open to other members of the community to avoid the participants feeling discriminated, and aiding them to integrate with the rest of the society.
Benefits of Dance Therapy
Dance therapy is fundamental because it is versatile and can involve people of all ages, racial background, cultural inclinations, disabilities, and gender. According to Mala, Karkou & Meekums, (2012) it is also valuable because it can be done individually, or by a group. One of the benefits of dance therapy is that it promotes the health of the brain. The challenges which homeless people face is that they can suffer from stress, depression, loneliness, self-hate and mental breakdown. A person who has lost his or her home or property can have post-traumatic disorder which can be detrimental to the proper functioning of the brain. Dance stimulates the parts of the brain essential in social interaction and physical movement. This is because the human brain reward center is stimulated by the brain and therefore involves activation of motor and sensory circuits (Mala, Karkou & Meekums, 2012). When these issues are combined, they can serve to treat psychological issues such as anxiety, dementia, and PTSD.
Dancing is one way in which one can escape from the daily routine of life, have fun and bring joy to those participants. Mala, Karkou & Meekums, (2012) recommends that it is a sure way of fighting depression and other ails which come with mental breakdown due to external activities. Someone who is under depression can feel demotivated and have low self-esteem, but dancing would unlock the person and cause one to be active and forget worries in life. Being around people and doing something with others is a way of fighting issues which can lead to depression. Also, dance is part of the exercise and therefore it would have increased the physical health issues. Exercising during dance would lead to other checking on their weight, helping fight diseases and other ailments which can be due to physical inactivity (Mala, Karkou & Meekums, 2012). There is a sense in which people can connect during group dance session, build a social network and find ways in which they can integrate into the society.
Limitations of Using Dance Therapy to Homeless People
One of the major limitations for dance therapy in art expression is getting homeless people to take part in the activity. It can be understood that many are homeless due to the dire monetary crisis in their lives, physical abuse from parents or guardians, immigrants or drug and substance abusers (Huss, Sarid & Cwikel, 2010). Getting people to enroll in such programs and would wish to spend their time working or looking for money. Making a group of homeless people to come together and do a specific task can have minimal turn out since many would consider it economically unviable. Their sole problem being the lack of housing which can only be solved by having a home. Therefore, homeless people would live in denial, have low self-esteem and suffer from moodless which can hamper their contribution to their problems (Huss, Sarid & Cwikel, 2010). Also, having dancing as a therapy will not include verbal communication which will limit the access a therapist to the client.
Conclusion
Homeless people have a variety of issues which they have to grapple with in their daily lives. The current interventions are only made for them to have a housing which solves only one part of the problem. Therefore, the homeless population needs to have intervention which caters for their mental health as well and that which does not rely only on the traditional talk therapy. Non-Traditional methods of intervention such as dance therapy can be useful in the mental health of the homeless population. Dance therapy is essential because it caters for a higher spectrum of the homeless population and it can cater for a large group of people in the same practice.
References
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Darewych, O. (2013). Building bridges with institutionalized orphans in Ukraine: An art therapy pilot study. The Arts In Psychotherapy, 40(1), 85-93.
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Huss, E., Sarid, O., & Cwikel, J. (2010). Using Art as a Self-Regulating Tool in a War Situation: A Model for Social Workers. Health And Social Work, 35(3), 201-209.
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Mala, A., Karkou, v., & Meekums, B. (2012). Dance/Movement Therapy (D/MT) for depression: A scoping review. The Arts In Psychotherapy, 39(4), 287-295.
Munro, C., Randell, L., & Lawrie, S. (2016). An Integrative Bio-Psycho-Social Theory of Anorexia Nervosa. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 24(1), 1-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2047
Thomas, Y., Gray, M., & Ebringer, S. (2011). Homeless Adult Engagement in Art: First Step Towards Identity, Healing, and Social Inclination. Australian Therapy Journal, 58, 429-436.
Yukari, S., & van Katwyk, T. (2016). Embodied interpretation: Assessing the knowledge produced through a dance-based inquiry. AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND SOCIAL WORK, 40(4), 54-66.
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