Episode 20 : Arts Based Therapy - In Conversation with Anjali Bapat

Anjali is a Special educator, an Art Based Therapist and I am also a trainer for Heartfulness meditation. She also coordinates many programs with schools for teachers and for students.

Art based therapy or ABT as it's commonly known, uses visual art, music and drama to meet therapy goals for the individual or groups who are participating in this therapy. Visual art it can be any kind of media. It can be crayons or paints and sometimes you can just use materials that you find around and use it like craft or clay. So many things that are used as part of visual art we use it for therapy to meet the therapy goals. In music we use various percussion instruments. I use djembes a lot because I think it is a vibrant medium of creating an instant connect and so much work can be done through djembes. There is maracas, there are so many different kind of instruments we can use in music part of it. Of course, your own voice, creating songs, rhythms is also a part of using music for therapy. In drama we can use various methods such as puppets, we can use a small family of dolls or something to create a situation. You can have various props such as hats, coats and scarfs just to add the fun element and really get into the character. So these are the various methods or tools that we use for ABT.

Anjali specifically trained to work with children with special needs but it's not necessary that you be neurodiverse to avail of this therapy. Neurotypical people going through a difficult situation can benefit tremendously throughout at based therapy. Her peers also work with rehabilitation of trafficked women, runaway children, in cancer wards and even deaddiction centers. There is no age, sex, gender bar to receive this therapy. It can be individual or in a group.

Drum Circle is a great away of including everyone. You create something together. It is a great group activity. It is good for team building for adults as well as for groups of children. There are set goals and techniques to be followed.

Benefits of ABT range from improvement in attention, concentration, expressive language and communication skills. She shares personal experiences with students. One with a global learning difficulty and her experience with sharing big feelings like being left out in class and not feeling like she belonged. How ABT worked was her is also shared. another story of a child with Cerebral Palsy and how ABT was used to help he accept her disability and come to terms with it.

Listen to Anjali in the next episode discuss in detail about what is Zen Painting, its benefit and uses.