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Zine

Media Process: Zine making

Population: Adolescents

Disorder: Mood related disorders (i.e. Bipolar, PMDD)

 

I had never heard of or used the concept of zines before this quarter. The process and idea are both so full of opportunities it was hard to narrow down what population and disorder to consider. Using our own class insight and work I realized making zines could be a great way to express emotions in a contained space. With such a simple concept that can be a wide range of themes, I chose adolescents as my population. I visualized this being a great intervention to use in group art therapy working in an inpatient or outpatient setting. When crafting or creating in groups, oftentimes relaxed conversation and storytelling occur (Leone, 2020). This would be the perfect opportunity for adolescents to connect with their peers and exchange feelings, experiences and thoughts to build relationships, gain trust in one another and feel supported in a safe space to safely express their emotions. This experience would help establish a model of community care rather than individual care. Another beneficial thing about making zines is that they can be as surface level or deep as each individual cares to express themselves. The process itself also requires some simple planning and cognitive processing while developing the folds and how the book itself will function, it also requires attention to detail when creating each panel to ensure each page is in its proper place. Oftentimes with mood-related disorders, there are states of mania brought on by triggers, having bodily awareness and using mindfulness techniques can help clients observe when they occur and what the triggers are, I can see using zines as a way to explore triggers and even discussing mindfulness while creating folds as to not get too agitated or disheveled if it becomes confusing or if directions were given too quickly. Overall I'm excited to explore the possibilities of creating zines with clients and exploring their therapeutic capabilities.


References:


Leone, L. (Ed.). (2020). Craft in Art Therapy: Diverse Approaches to the Transformative Power of Craft Materials and Methods. Routledge.

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