Art by JAL

Group Art Therapy Interventions

Anger Management

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Anger Monster | Create & Destroy | Crush Color

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Anger management art therapy uses art as a way to express and explore anger in a safe and healthy way. It can be helpful for people who struggle to manage their anger, and can lead to improved coping skills, communication, and self-awareness.

Here are some of the benefits of anger management art therapy:

  • Provides a safe outlet for anger: Art can be a non-threatening way to express strong emotions like anger. This can be helpful for people who have difficulty talking about their anger or who are afraid of expressing it in other ways.
  • Helps to identify triggers and patterns: The process of creating art can help people to become more aware of the thoughts, feelings, and situations that trigger their anger. This can be helpful for developing coping mechanisms and avoiding anger triggers in the future.
  • Improves communication skills: Art can be a way to communicate feelings and experiences that are difficult to put into words. This can be helpful for people who struggle to communicate effectively with others, especially when they are angry.
  • Boosts self-awareness: The process of creating art can help people to connect with their inner thoughts and feelings. This can lead to a greater understanding of oneself and one’s anger.
  • Reduces stress and anxiety: Art therapy can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. This can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can often contribute to anger.

Anger Monsters

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Materials
Handout *see below*
Paper
Drawing/Painting supplies
Opt. pom-poms, googly eyes, etc...
Intro
We will read a relevant parable.

Then we will create and capture our anger monsters.

Name & check in…what are you warning signs that you are getting overwhelmingly angry?
Pre-Conversation
I want us to read this parable that is near and dear to my heart. I grew up with this story, and you might of heard of it before. Can someone read the first paragraph?

*continue to till the end*

So…what are your thoughts?
Intervention
Imagen your anger is a wild beast or monster. Does it have fangs because it says biting words? Does it have claw because it lashes out? Is it sneaky until it strikes? Draw it in the center of the page.

*after some time*

Now, using the rest of the page, draw a trap, cage or containment for the monster. Think about what bait do you use to get it in there? What is in there to help keep it calm? How do you keep it in there to prevent it from wreaking havoc?
Post-Conversation
Who wants to tell us about their monster?

How does it represent your anger?

What of their trap/cage?

What was your thought process while working on your monster?
Handout
art therapy emotional regulation
emotional regulation art therapy

Create & Destroy

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anger management art interventions
anger management art therapy interventions
Materials
Air dry clay
Intro
Today we will be talking about…the purpose of anger.

Then we will let some of our anger out with clay.

Check in Question: on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 meaning you are completely calm and 10 meaning you are furious) how angry are you feeling right now? *Ask this again at the end of group*
Pre-Conversation
Every emotion has a purpose. Fear helps keep us safe. Happiness encourages certain behaviors. Sadness helps us heal. Anger, on the other hand, has gotten a bad rap! While out-of-control anger can be bad, that doesn’t mean the emotion itself has no purpose.

*Use handout to facilitate conversation*

Can anyone think of a time when their anger was a positive thing? (if no one answers use an example)
Intervention
I was thinking that we could use art to release some of our frustrations. To start, we are going to use this clay to give our “bad anger” shape. Think about what you are frustrated at, or what that frustration feels like.

Does everyone have a shape? Good…now that those emotions are outside of us, let us SMASH them! Creation is good, but sometimes so is destruction.

Alright, let us spend the rest of the group creating something new from our model magic. Perhaps something useful?
Post-Conversation
What form did you give your frustrations? Why?

What was your thinking when giving your frustrations a shape?

How did it feel to smash it?

What did you end up making in the end? Why did you choose to make this?

What was it like to repurpose the smashed clay?

What were you taught about anger as a child that you don’t believe in today? (that anger is always a negative emotion)

On a scale of 0 to 10, how angry are you feeling right now?
Handout

Crush Color

Personal Rating (0 stars means not used yet) 

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Materials
Paper

Drawing materials (Colored pencils, markers, paint, pastels, etc…)
Intro
Talking about the philosophy regarding anger.

Then we will make some spontaneous art.

Check in Question: on a scale of 0-10, how angry would you say you are right now? *ask again at the end of group*
Pre-Conversation
I want to share a quote with you from famous philosopher Plato, “There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.”

What does this mean to you?

What is an example of what you can help?

What is an example of what you cannot?

Do you agree with this quote, why or why not?
Intervention
First we are going to take this piece of paper and crush into a tight ball

Next, open the crumpled paper up and flatten it on the table

Now we are going to color in the shapes made by the folds in the paper. Feel free to also draw patterns in the shapes. Consider the colors you're using.
Post-Conversation
What were you thinking/feeling while working on this piece? Why?

What is something you can do to cope with anger?

What is a trigger for your anger?

*End on this!* On a scale of 0-10, how angry would you say you are right now?

anger management