59-05-032 Proceeding

340 Proceedings of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Congress The potential for creative learning can be better observed as the child manifests social skill in dealing with his environment and the people who nurture and care for him. Then such child must come into terms in being able to know him/herself, understands oneself and be able to deal with the stress or condition that enter into his life. Content 1. Art Making Helps Abused Children Grow in Self-esteem As art therapy sessions are conducted among sexually abused children either by incest, homosexual or paedophilic activity, it is important that therapist and teachers are able to review the victims’ progress over time. Identification of existing strengths and capabilities will help the victims recognize their capacity to take risks toward the unfamiliar. Portrayal of what was to be left behind and purging out of unwanted areas in one’s life will make a sort of catharsis in order to draw new-found strength. A sample of a young girl named Esther (not her real name) was asked to draw human figures of both male and female. Anyone could observe that in her drawings were sketches of persons without hands. During the close door interview with the girl, it was found out that she had been a victim of incestuous assault from her father from which experience she found herself helpless and defenceless as seen by handless figures. (Wadeson, Harriet, Durkin, Jean., Perach, Dorine (1989), The Children’s Art A common clement that ran through the artwork and counselling sessions was incognizance to the reasons of abuse. Manymothers were not aware of the impact of environment abuse upon their children.They would frequently continue to endure personal abuse in an attempt to provide the children with a father and sense of family. The children’s art images and issues of concern regarding monsters, weapons, and identification with the aggressor or the victim were valuable tools in helping the women to understand this impact of abuse on the children. Several cases of incest were revealed through the trust relationship established in art therapy. Once the incest was revealed, family art therapy sessions were started tomake the entire family openly aware of the problem and to build on family strengths. Older teens, especially girls, utilized family art therapy to help in gaining an awareness and understanding of how victimization occurred and how it affected their present and future lives. (Serrano, J. 1989) As revealed in the literature, abused children need to let go of the fantasy of being able to change or control the abusive behaviour, mourn the loss of their hopes and dreams for a wonderful family life, and experience the freedom from an abusive situation and have the opportunity to explore new personal strengths. The making of art and the processing of that art address these areas. First, art making helped children get in touchwith the reality of their situations. Abuser and victim traits are oftentimes explored by creating meaningful symbols for themselves as they begin a confrontationwith the reality of the true personalities of both victimand abuser. Indulging