Inside Art Therapy

Residents Creating Christmas Decorations

Ms. Tyanna Knight is one of Turning Point’s newest team members. In her role as Psychology Intern & Assistant to the Executive Director, Ms. Knight also leads Art Therapy Sessions.

In Art Therapy at Turning Point, either fun activities are paired with meaningful discussion topics or quiet introspection is required when residents work to produce art based on their emotions or art that showcases what is important to them in their sobriety journey. Some of the topics that resonated most with residents have been:

·      Triggers, what they are and ways to avoid them

·      Healthy habits that aid in avoiding relapse

·      The importance of prayer, spirituality and family support

·      The effect of specific substances on their physical and mental health

·      The effect of art on mental health

·      The benefits of positive thinking

·      Anger and how to cope with and express it

·      Getting into romantic relationships upon completion of the program

·      Stress management

Once a week, residents also enjoy a relaxed session where instead of a group discussion, they carry out their art projects while listening to music that has been screened to exclude profanity and negative messaging. 

Art Therapy activities have included drawing, coloring, completing puzzles, playing games, and other forms of art. They have also included writing poetry and an introduction to music theory which then transitioned to piano classes and even the occasional karaoke session. “I’m proud to share that a few residents caught on very quickly and can now read and play the piano at a beginner level!” shared Ms. Knight.

During the holidays, residents made Christmas trees and created a Christmas display as a group.

“I try to make art therapy fun for our residents but sometimes it is challenging, having to be totally honest about where they are in their sobriety journey. I think the most meaningful step we take in art therapy, is asking residents to write out their thoughts and feelings individually after discussing a sensitive topic in the group session and then working on those issues more comprehensively during one-on-one therapy sessions” stated Ms. Knight.

Learn more about Ms. Knight’s background here [Link to: https://www.tpfsxm.com/our-team]