Art Therapy Worksheet

What is a Personal Coat of Arms Art Therapy Worksheet?

A coat of arms was an invention back in medieval Europe. They come in the form of a crest and are used to represent certain individuals, families, or even groups. These crests typically have an image in the middle (usually an object or an animal). They are  also sometimes divided into four sections, with each section depicting an object or an animal representing an aspect of the individual, family, or group. These symbols are emblazoned on garments, shields, and armor, and they are often taken into battle, so others know who they are up against.

One of the goals of Art Therapy is to get to know how clients see themselves. By having patients engage in creating art, therapists can note down recurring themes/motifs from the works they produce, especially when they involve symbols. The Personal Coat of Arms Art Therapy Worksheet is something that clients can work on to draw or paint what they believe best represents themselves in the context of a prompt. What they depict in their coat of arms can be used as points for discussion, especially if what they depict has been recurring in other worksheets.

Check out this video on our Therapy Worksheet to see how these resources are accessed and used:

How to use the Personal Coat of Arms Art Therapy Worksheet

Before providing the Personal Coat of Arms Art Therapy Worksheet to your client, there are two approaches they can take to engage with it.

Free-form

The first approach is free-form, where you instruct your clients to draw or paint a coat of arms and incorporate symbols that they believe best represent their self-perception. There are no restrictions on what they choose to include. Emphasize that the banner at the bottom of the crest should contain a word summarizing all the depicted images for each section. This word can be a quote or slogan, as long as it aligns with what is depicted.

This method is highly effective for encouraging clients to express how they view themselves. If you feel there is still more ground to cover, this approach allows your client to reveal their self-perception, enabling you as the therapist to make note of their depictions. You can observe if these depictions recur in later exercises, even if in different forms.

Providing specific prompts

The second approach involves providing specific prompts. This works best when you have knowledge about the client's mental health condition and a sense of its underlying causes. For instance, if work is a significant contributor to their mental health problems, you can prompt them to depict themselves with symbols related to their work identity. Similarly, you can prompt them to portray themselves as a family member or as a member of a particular group, such as their friend circle. Again, the banner should include a word or quote summarizing their self-perception.

When is it best to use the Personal Coat of Arms Art Therapy Worksheet?

There are two appropriate times when the Personal Coat of Arms Art Therapy Worksheet should be used:

During the first sessions of an art therapy program

The initial phase of your art therapy program is an opportune time to introduce the first approach. This is particularly valuable when you are still getting acquainted with your patient. While some individuals may find it effortless to discuss their concerns, others might struggle not because they lack the desire to express themselves, but due to difficulties in articulation. In such cases, worksheets like this one can serve as a helpful tool.

Art therapy provides clients with a means to express themselves through their creative abilities, and in the process, they may intentionally or unintentionally reveal insights about themselves.

While helping clients work through problems

Once the introductory phase of the therapy program is completed, worksheets continue to serve as a valuable tool for problem-solving. Firstly, they provide patients with a means to express themselves, offering an outlet for their emotions. Secondly, these worksheets allow clients to portray themselves or aspects of themselves that require focused attention during the therapeutic process. These depictions can encompass both negative and positive aspects.

Negative depictions can help in identifying the precise sources of distress for the client. By pinpointing these sources, you can then teach them specific skills and offer suggestions on how to effectively address these problems. On the other hand, positive depictions can serve as a goal for the client to strive towards. Together, you can collaborate on outlining actionable steps and charting a course that may lead them closer to achieving their desired outcome.

What are the benefits of using the Personal Coat of Arms Art Therapy Worksheet?

It can help kickstart therapy programs.

A therapy program can’t get anywhere if you can’t make your client feel welcome and safe in your office or clinic. It’s essential to make them feel and know they are in a space where they won’t be judged for who they are, what they have to say, and the problems that they are dealing with. Worksheets, in general, can help break the ice because, in the context of art therapy, they give patients the opportunity to express themselves freely. If they can express themselves freely, then they will feel safe enough in your clinic or office that they might be more willing or motivated to share things about themselves with you.

The worksheet can help identify recurring themes that might be worth noting.

The Personal Coat of Arms Art Therapy Worksheet can help therapists evaluate recurring themes or motifs in their client’s creative works during art therapy programs. These themes or motifs might point to something worth noting, like symbols that convey sadness, scenes showing shattered relationships, images of people experiencing distress, images depicting isolation, etc. The client might even be depicting these unknowingly.

The therapist can actively identify these themes and motifs in order to prompt discussions with the client. By doing so, the therapist aims to uncover the underlying issues the client is grappling with. This process is instrumental in developing a comprehensive plan that will shape the remainder of the therapy program and provide the necessary support for the client to navigate and resolve specific challenges they are facing.

The worksheet can encourage goal setting.

The worksheet can serve as a catalyst for goal setting within the therapy process. By engaging with the prompts and reflecting on their depictions, clients have an opportunity to envision and articulate their aspirations, desires, and the positive changes they hope to achieve. This process allows them to define their goals more clearly and concretely.

Through the act of creating their coat of arms or visual representations, clients can identify symbols and elements that represent their ideal self or desired outcomes. These depictions can serve as inspiration and motivation for the client to work towards those goals during the therapy journey.