Journal 1
Material: Paper-making
Population: Adults
Diagnosis: Substance Use Disorder
The process of making paper has always been enjoyable to me. I often operate on the sensory/kinesthetic level of the ETC, often simultaneously including the symbolic level. In creating paper, I used materials that were symbolic. I attempted to break down fabric which became very difficult and frustrating but when pairing it with paper scraps I was able to create pulp that was mostly paper with some fabric that had symbolic meaning. I used two different processes. I dipped the frame and I also used the Nepali paper making technique of pouring. I lived in Nepal for six months doing volunteer work with children, so I felt very connected to this process.
I have chosen to examine this process with adults suffering from Substance Use Disorder. I also see the process of making paper a metaphor for the process of recovery of addiction. Matott and Miller describe one of the therapeutic elements of paper making as, “strengthening resilience through a tangible manifestation of change and the value of breaking something down in order to create something new,” (p.313). From my perspective, substance use is usually comorbid with other disorders such as bipolar, anxiety, depression, and many others. It would be important to include this when thinking about the process of making paper with this population. Addiction recovery often ebbs and flows, correlating with life stressors and hardship. The idea of past, present and future would be a central focus when working with this population which aligns with Matott and Miller’s concept of breaking down to then reform. A “concrete” breakdown of the past by using an article of clothing or an old letter, receipts, etc. and then forming it to create something in the now to then bring into the future. Moving between both the kinesthetic/sensory through to the cognitive and symbolic is a goal I would have to help gain safe connection to the path of the addiction in the individual. Lusebrink discusses how the movement between the levels of the ETC corresponds to movement between different areas of the brain in a “back to front” or “bottom-up” path (p.173). The benefit to moving between levels allows regulation and connections between the limbic and prefrontal cortex of the brain (Lusebrink p.173). Based on the comorbid disorder, the use of the perceptual and affective level could be used to create emotional grounding and/or boundaries to support an individual who may either be numbing to avoid painful feelings or flooded by emotionality and need more structure and containment.
I personally found this experience grounding and soothing as I naturally operate on both the symbolic component and kinesthetic/sensory level. Looking at this population and thinking ab out the disorder I can imagine that it could create some flooding for people. I believe the tangible item that can be destroyed and then transformed allows for connection to releasing shame and guilt that many people with addiction struggle with and helping them transform materials that represent their addiction into hope for the future.
References
Lusebrink, V. B. (2010). Assessment and Therapeutic Application of the Expressive Therapies Continuum: Implications for Brain Structures and Functions. Art Therapy, 27(4), 168-177.
Mattot, D. L., & Miller, G. M. (2020). The Routledge companion to health humanities (pp. 311-316) (1110175039 839278354 P. Crawford, 1110175040 839278354 B. J. Brown, & 1110175041 839278354 A. Charise, Authors). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Nemo enjoyed the paper very much. "If I fits I sits."
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