Every therapist knows the benefits of assisting their clients in identifying and accepting their authentic emotions. When students arrive at Greenbrier Academy (WV), many are in the beginning stages of this personal skill development. Getting in touch with their emotions can be scary or painful and it takes trust in the therapeutic relationship to begin to understand self and to develop more options for how to approach relationships and life.
As one of the first steps in their therapeutic journey at Greenbrier Academy, many students complete an art therapy activity called 'the emotion map'. The emotion map is designed to start the conversation about emotions and assist students in identifying their emotional self. Drawing and expressing emotions on paper with pastels allows the child to explore emotions outside of their inner experience, which for many, feels safer, more grounded, and manageable. This builds confidence in emotional management and acceptance and starts to breakdown maladaptive beliefs about emotions being wrong, bad, scary, or unacceptable. It’s amazing to see how, after completing this simple exercise, students automatically have a better understanding of their emotions and can make connections that are helpful in navigating their relationships in a healthier way.