An Art Therapy Intervention for the 5th Season- Late Summer

An Art Therapy Intervention for the Fifth Season, late summer- The Bridge Drawing

I recently learned from a friend, who is an acupuncturist, that in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five seasons.  The fifth season is happening right now and it's called late summer.  This transitional period is associated with the Earth element and is a time of grounding and nourishment.  This is when the heat is subsiding (not yet in Los Angeles 🙂), but the air is feeling cooler at night and it's getting dark just a little bit earlier each night.  I can feel it on my daily walks with my pup.  

On a recent walk with my dog, Bowser, I started thinking about what kind of art activity can honor this time period & I thought about A Bridge Drawing & how this would work.  Historically, in some art therapy settings, bridge drawings have been used as an art based projective assessment.  I’ll share a little more about that but more importantly, I‘ll explain how I have used this art therapy directive in a group setting.  It can easily be used in 1:1 session too but in this post I’ll focus on using it in an art therapy group.  

A little bit of history of The Bridge Drawing

The Bridge Drawing assessment protocol was developed by Ronald Hays and Sheri Lyons.  In 1981, they published an article in The Arts in Psychotherapy journal titled The bridge drawing: A projective technique for assessment in art therapy. (Full reference & link is below).  According to their protocol, clients would be handed a piece of paper and asked to “draw a bridge going from some place to some place.”  It was believed that this single drawing could provide insight into an individual's perception of their past, present and future life, as well as an insight into personal themes of conflict, barriers, and transitions (Hays & Lyons, 1981). But as an assessment tool, The Bridge drawing has not been proven to be valid or reliable.  And since it only asks for one picture it does not provide enough information to make an accurate evaluation of how a person is functioning or what struggles they are experiencing so I have never used it as an assessment tool and I don’t know of any art therapists who do use it for assessment.

Using A Bridge Drawing in an Art Therapy Group- Showing the Past, the Present and Future all at Once

Instead of using it as an assessment, I use the Bridge Drawing as a way to increase self awareness.  In a group setting, I set the stage by explaining the directive and asking group members to brainstorm the importance of a bridge.  We might talk about what makes a bridge solid.  Or explore how the bridge can visually show one’s past and one’s desired future at the same time. (Side note- An image's ability to convey a lot of info at once is a big advantage of art therapy!) 

When brainstorming about bridges at the start of a group, we can explore how the bridge can show one’s past.  A bridge can be used to show what one is walking away from.  For example, for clients in early recovery, one often feels like they are walking away from their old life and walking into a new way of being.  A bridge drawing can show this change and can allow one to explore how one can stay the course, maintain resilience and courage and build a supportive community as they walk a new path.  At the same time, a bridge drawing can be a tool to show and honor many complex feelings all at once.   For example, one can use the drawing to show what they are grieving too- what they are giving up or losing as they move forward.  

A bridge can also show where one is at right now and also what one wants in their future.  What is on the other side?  And what is needed to help stabilize or support the bridge.  

Additional Considerations

Also, at the start of a group, I make it clear that my style is to suggest some themes or an art therapy directive but the group members always get to choose what is best for themselves.  So they don’t have to do a bridge drawing; they can do something entirely different. I really believe clients know what is best for themselves and they know what they need to do in an art therapy group in order to best meet their therapeutic goals.  I love giving that permission.  Some clients have never been told they know what it is best for themselves, so that in itself can be healing.  Same for when I am working 1:1 with clients too.

Materials

I usually have a wide variety of materials available for my clients and group members.  Most clients are comfortable working on regular printing paper size (8.5 by 11) but I also try to have 11 by 17 paper available too plus markers, pencils and colored pencils.  I also try to bring magazines for collage.  If a client is uncomfortable drawing a picture they are usually open to cutting out images from a magazine and creating a collage.  

Creating the Art

After introducing the topic and getting everyone involved in the discussion, we move on to creating our art.  During this time, I encourage everyone to work quietly and to stay focused on their artwork.  As an art therapist, I enjoy watching and walking around.  I pay close attention to who is quick to get started and who may need my support and encouragement.  I also pay attention to what happens if someone gets “stuck”.  We all get stuck, at different times, when being creative.  And that’s OK, what I am trying to notice is what does one do when stuck?  Do they ask for help?  Avoid the situation?  Take out their phone to distract themselves?  Take out their phone to google a solution? Start talking to their neighbor?  Leave the group?  And does their response in the group match how they handle frustrations in real life?  All info to pay attention to.  

Sharing Artwork

After a set time to create artwork, we then move on to sharing and processing artwork.  I never make anyone share who doesn’t want to.  But for those that want to share, I always ask if they want follow up questions from me and peers or not?  Either way is OK, I just want them to identify what they need in the moment and I want us in the group to respect that need.  

Possible Discussion and Reflection Questions 

Often when one shares their artwork, the discussion will just flow.  Others in the group will relate or ask follow up questions, if the group member is open to that.  But I always have a few questions in mind, and for A Bridge Drawing, here are a few that might ask.

- How would you describe the bridge's starting place? How about the destination on the other side? Be as specific as you can here. How does each side feel? How would you summarize each sides' major energy or themes?

- What is the bridge crossing? (ie. a body of water, a ravine, a cliff, a road, an idea, a belief, etc.). Once again, how does it feel? 

- What is under the bridge? Is it calm water, a turbulent river, or something else entirely? 

- What is on the other side? Is it a place of sunshine and trees, or a deserted landscape?

-What is the surrounding environment like? Does it reflect your current mood? 

- Is the bridge accessible? Or is it cut off, with barriers on either or both sides?

- Where do you stand on the bridge? 

- Is anyone else on the bridge?  If not, do you wish someone else was with you on the bridge?

- How does it feel to be on this bridge? 

- What do you need in order to cross it?

- How did you feel at the start of the group vs the end?  Did being creative shift anyone’s feelings or thoughts?  

- Has anyone learned anything new about themselves during this group?

Closing 

I always stick around after the group to clean up and to just be available in case a group member wants to show me their artwork privately or ask  a question or make a comment.  I also encourage clients to keep their artwork as a way to honor this moment in their life but totally understand if they want to throw their work away too; sometimes just creating it and reflecting on it is enough.  

Please reach out if you have any questions about this blog post or if you live in CA and would like to explore working together. I provide art therapy, talk therapy and EMDR to clients in CA- either in person on the westside of Los Angeles or via telehealth. Thanks so much, Kim (Kim@kimberlygibsoncounselinhg.com)

Hays, R. E., & Lyons, S. J. (1981). The bridge drawing: A projective technique for assessment in art therapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 8(3-4), 207–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/0197-4556(81)90033-2