Art Therapy and Children with Autism: Gaining Access to Their World through Creativity

Pamela Ullmann, MS, ATR-BC, LCAT, CCLS

Art making can be a particularly effective

therapy for people with autism. Because they tend
to have difficulty processing sensory input and are
often non-verbal, autistics respond well to visual,
concrete, hands-on therapies. Many people who
work with this population know this, and, whether
or not they have art therapy training, include art
making in their clients' activities. There are
limitations to our knowledge of why and how
therapeutic art making actually works for autistics.
These limitations of understanding result from the
difficulty of standardized assessment, the near
impossibility of quantifying the experience of
making art, and the small number of art therapists
publishing on the topic. Nonetheless, the abundant
amount of research literature explicates that art
making is an effective, clinically-sound treatment
option for autism when supplemented with studies
from the fields of art, art education, psychology,
and other creative arts therapies. (Martin, 2009).

have extensive experience with other populations;

and so it is important that the therapist recognize
this at the beginning of treatment of an autistic
child. One must also keep in mind that children
with autism do not shut out others intentionally,
but in order to help them make sense of their world
and regulate their over- or under-stimulated
sensory channels. Therapists need to respect this
plain fact, and resist any impulse to try and
change the process. In my experience, the autistic
child will eventually allow for joint interactions as
the therapeutic relationship continues.

When working with groups, it is just as

important to always remain flexible and to adapt to
the different levels of functioning displayed by
each child. Sometimes providing a theme to the art
making helps give the children a focus while still
allowing for changes and flexibility. Here is an
example of a group art therapy directive with that
incorporates all three key treatment areas
With regards to autistic children, art
(communication, socialization, and imagination).
therapy can help to increase communication and
This format can be adapted to other art activities.
social skills, develop a sense of individuality, build The session is structured to have a beginning,
of relationships, and facilitate sensory integration
middle and end, with clear boundaries. This
(Betts, 2005). Children on the autism spectrum
structure is especially effective for children with
struggle with these challenges to varying degrees, autism because it serves as a comforting routine.
but communication in general is probably the most Aides or volunteers are used in a ratio appropriate
difficult challenge of all. To understand how art
for the level of functioning and the individual needs
therapy assists communication, we need to
of each group member.
understand precisely what communication
means for the autistic child. It does not just mean
language, but rather the totality of the
communicative framework that appears from
infancy onward (Evans & Dubowski, 2007). The
expressive aspects of art therapy thus help autistic
children communicate by providing an additional
method for interpersonal interaction.
Determining the appropriate therapeutic
interventions for any given autistic child relies on
accurately assessing the childs developmental
level. Within the broader developmental context,
art therapy can be used to engage an autistic
childs relationships to communication,
socialization, and imagination. Of course, art
therapy can also tap into emotional issues;
however, the client will probably need to work in
the above three domains first, before being able to
successfully access deeper emotions. This can be
somewhat counter-intuitive for art therapists who
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 Theme: Friendship

Bear in mind that working with this population

can be very challenging. What works for one
Directive: Create images related to friendship,
session or child may not for another. It is important
friends, and children. Group project (mural) will
to remain open-minded and aware of each childs
be included.
status in each moment; in essence, we are
constantly assessing, adapting, and co-creating
Beginning of session: Have children sit at table our sessions with the children with whom we work.
and introduce theme/project. Show pictures
related to friendship and see verbal and nonverbal reactions to photos. Ask children to
References
design their own friend (using multicultural
outlines of gingerbread style figures). Offer a
Autism Speaks (2011). What is Autism? Retrieved
variety of pre-cut papers, fun googly-eyes and
from http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/
drawing materials as well. Encourage sharing of index.php
materials, and recognizing each others work.
Betts, D. J. (2005). The art of art therapy: Drawing
Middle of session: Invite children to help
individuals out in creative ways. Advocate:
decorate a group friendship poster/mural by
Magazine of the Autism Society of America, 26-27.
adding their friend to the paper and continue to
fill in the environment where the friends can play. Evans, K., & Dubowski, J. (2001). Art Therapy with
Offer starters (such as some outlines of trees
children on the Autistic Spectrum: Beyond Words.
or grass) and direct aides to help children.
London, UK: Jessica Kingley.
Assess how children are working together
whether they are staying contained in work area Martin, N. (2009). Art Therapy and Autism:
or are becoming over-stimulated. Allow children Overview and recommendations. Art
to take short breaks with their aides if needed.
Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy
Association, 26 (4), 187-190.
Closure: Offer children some free time to play
creatively with sensory materials such as model
magic or some drawing with crayons or markers.
Then, if the group is still focused (and there are
Pamela Ullmann is an art therapist working with
verbally-expressive children participating),
children and families in New Jersey and the New
conduct a sharing circle where they will be
encouraged to describe their friend to the group York Metropolitan area. She has a private practice/
consulting agency called Colors of Play and has
or ask about another group members work.
recently founded the non-profit, Healing Arts
Family Connection. Links to Pamelas blogs are:
Goals and Outcomes:
http://colorsofplay.blogspot.com and http://
1.
Children will learn about working together. creativefamilies.wordpress.com. She is also a
regular contributor to Our Journey Through
2. Children will learn social skills and group
Autism. Email comments or questions to:
awareness by sharing materials and
Pamela@colorsofplay.com
comments.
3.

4.

Children will experience the sensory

aspects of collage, texture, and art
materials.
Children will have choices and be able to
express creatively.

Editors Note: Pamela is also moderator of The Art

Therapy Alliances subgroup Art Therapy & Autism
on LinkedIn for community members who are
interested in discussing and learning more autism.

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