Bilateral Art: Integrating Art Therapy, Family Therapy, and Neuroscience

Abstract

This paper describes the systemic use of a neurologically-based art therapy modality-bilateral art-that engages both dominant and non-dominant hands in the process of creating images in response to opposing cognitions or feelings. It describes both neuroscience and family therapy perspectives that argue for the use of bilateral art. A specific protocol for bilateral art therapy is provided along with a case study demonstrating integration of the protocol into the systemic treatment of a young family.KEY WORDS: family therapy; art therapy; neuroscience; bilateral art.Bilateral art is a neurologically-based art therapy modality that engages both the left and right hands in the process of creating drawings in response to opposing or conflicting elements of experience. These conflicting elements often present during the process of therapy with individuals or families dealing with relationship issues. Once identified, these elements are the focus of drawings, one using the right hand and the other using the left hand. These left and right hand drawings then become the focus of tactile exploration: the drawing of the left hand is explored tactilely by the right hand and the drawing of the right hand is explored tactilely by the left hand, thus engaging

Using mobile brain/body imaging to advance research in arts, health, and related therapeutics

“…Neuroscience-informed protocols have been applied when working with traumatized patients and have demonstrated that art therapy: (a) facilitates the organization and integration of traumatic memories; (b) reactivates positive emotions and serves as a vehicle for exposure and externalization of difficult content; (c) reduces heightened arousal responses; (d) enhances emotional self-efficacy and maintains a space for the exploration of self-perception and psychic integration; and (e) enhances the development of identity (Chapman et al, 2001;Hass-Cohen & Carr, 2008;King, 2016;Malchiodi, 2020;McNamee, 2005McNamee, , 2006Tripp, 2007). However, the lack of scientific evidence to buttress these claims, perhaps stemming from a lack of clear research strategies, remains a challenge (Kubovy, 2019;Orkibi & Feniger-Schaal, 2019).…”

PROJECTA: An Art-Based Tool in Trauma Treatment

“…Due to the importance of integrating the experience or experiences lived in the treatment of trauma, the perception of images and sensory elements (smell, sound, and body sensations) take on special importance since they allow the integration of the functions of the left and right hemisphere of the brain that have been disarticulated and fragmented in the traumatic process (McNamee, 2003(McNamee, , 2005. As Talwar (2007) states, in trauma treatment it is not the verbal account of the event that is important, but the non-verbal memory of the fragmented sensory and emotional elements of the traumatic experience (Van der Kolk, 2003).…”