Using CancerChatCanada to Host
Art Therapy Groups Online
Psychosocial Oncology Rounds - June 18, 2015
Sara Prins Hankinson, RCAT, Art Therapist
Catherine Dunlop, Ph.D., DVATI, Art Therapist
BC Cancer Agency
With assistance from Kate Collie, MFA, MA, PhD, ATR, RPsych; Cross Cancer Institute
Overview
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Art Therapy
CancerChatCanada
Project History
Method
Expressive Arts Group
Results
Conclusion
Art Therapy
“Art therapy combines the
creative process and
psychotherapy, facilitating
self-exploration and
understanding. Using
imagery, colour, and shape
as part of this creative
therapeutic process,
thoughts and feelings may be
expressed that would
otherwise be difficult to
articulate.”
(Canadian Art Therapy Association)
Benefits of Art Therapy
Art therapy has been shown to provide
these positive effects for cancer patients:
•reduce pain and other symptoms (Nainis et al., 2006)
•reduce distress, anger, confusion, helplessness (Puig et al., 2006)
•enhance self-awareness & emotional connectedness (Puig et al., 2006)
•improve mood (Puig et al., 2006)
•vitalization, respite from the cancer storm (Collie, Bottorff & Long, 2006)
•improve coping (Oster et al., 2006)
•boundary strengthening (Oster et al., 2009)
•improve quality of life (Svensk et al., 2009)
•positive distraction
Group Art Therapy in Oncology
Goals of an art therapy group for cancer
patients include:
• support relief of emotional distress
• provide a venue for reflection and expression
• create a space for connections to occur
• enhance self-esteem through discovery of creativity
Using Computers for Art Therapy
• provide feelings of mastery and control (Collie & Čubranić, 1999)
• create possibilities for communication for people with
disabilities (Collie & Čubranić, 1999)
• progress of an image can be easily tracked (Parker-Bell, 1990)
• an endless source of collage material (Parker-Bell, 1990)
• a natural container for imagery and image making (ParkerBell, 1990)
• transferability of images makes it suitable for distance
groups (Collie & Čubranić, 1999)
• images provide missing non-verbal communication in
distance groups (Collie & Čubranić, 1999)
CancerChatCanada
• online support groups for
Canadians affected by cancer
• operated by BC Cancer
Agency
• facilitated by professionals at
cancer centres across Canada
• time-limited closed groups
• text-based communication
• includes chat room and
private messaging system
• created in 2008
Project History
1990’s- Kate Collie begins researching computerized and
distance art therapy
2011- Sara begins leading art therapy groups for young
adults at BCCA
2012- Kate and Sara meet, begin experimenting with
trial group of art therapists
2013- Three trial groups on CCC held with professionals
Fall 2013- Expressive Arts Group for Young Adults runs
Spring 2015- Cathie Dunlop becomes facilitator, first
National Expressive Arts Group
Online Art Therapy Trial Group
• experimented with Skype, GoogleHangouts, CancerChatCanada
• used a variety of digital art tools and traditional art mediums
• developed several methods for hosting art therapy sessions online
Kate Collie
Cross Cancer
Institute
Edmonton, AB
Sara Prins
Hankinson
Gretchen Miller
BC Cancer
Agency
Certified Trauma
Consultant,
Private Practice
Vancouver, BC
Cleveland, Ohio
Mady Mooney
Private Practice
Vancouver, BC
Project Goals
• increase accessibility of art therapy
• provide alternative to text-based support
• discover user-friendly art-making tools
• develop guidelines for using technology in art
therapy group
• provide secure place for creative expression
• enhance participants’ quality of life
Methods Developed
Synchronous
• live chat + use of discussion board
• image making during sessions
Asynchronous
• discussion board used for all conversation and images
• everything done on participants’ own time
Mixed Method (Asynchronous + Synchronous)
• art directive sent or posted
• art completed on participants’ time
• live chat for weekly discussions
Tools Used
• Digital photography
• Polyvore.com
• Pencilmadness.com
• Traditional art
materials
Demo of Session
Expressive Arts Group
Spring 2015
5 participants (+2 enrolled at beginning)
Participants were:
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all female
aged 45 – 60
located four provinces across Canada
mixed diagnoses
in active treatment (3) and post-treatment (2) at start of
group
• gave consent to share art and quotations from group
Approach
Structure:
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Guidelines
10 weeks
90 minutes each week (together in a chat room)
Mixed Method (chat room and individual art work)
Art Directives (vary according to group
needs/interests)
• Co-facilitated
Structure of Group
Weekly Art Activities:
1. Photo of something that represents who you are
2. Graffiti art and leaving your mark
3. Self-portrait as a tree
4. Nature art – creating a resource piece
5. Art for meditation and relaxation
6. Sharing your story
7. Creating a wish doll
8. Imaginary empathy cards
9. Your bucket list (and jar)
10. Irish blessings and virtual potluck
Sample Directive: Mandalas
While coloring, knitting, doodling and other forms of art can all
be relaxing, for this next session we’re going to focus on one
exercise that history has proven to be especially effective for
meditation and relaxation: Mandalas.
When you have a sense for what a mandala is, grab a piece of
paper and a writing utensil (preferably a black ink pen or marker,
but anything will do) and watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g16B64myG-E
Begin to draw without worrying what it will look like.
Remember, we’re in this for the relaxing benefits, not to make a
masterpiece! It’s about the process, not the product.
Group Mandalas
Case Study: “B”
“[I] Struggled a bit with the question [of introducing myself through a
photograph] as there are so many different “me’s” depending on my
role…Like an oyster, hard shell on the outside protecting the soft part inside
and anchored to something permanent….Started getting into photography
a few years ago. Trying to get better.”
B: Graffiti Art
“This is my gang sign. My gang are people fighting cancer. My gang is the
Dragon Warriors…I picture cancer as a dragon, mythical, can't see it but
have to fight it…Dangerous if you don't stay ahead of it. Sometimes you
are tired, but you just have to pick up that sword anyway.”
B: Irish Blessing
B: Irish Blessing
B: There are some things I can't change, like having cancer and
how it will progress, but there are things that are under my
control. Not yielding to dispair, living my life, seeing my
friends.
Saraph: Yes! You have so much power over all those things.
B: I get tempted to stay in more with my lack of hair during
treatment and my weight gain, but I have to fight that and
stay in the moment.
Cathied: And the blossoms are for staying in the moment....
B: Don't want cancer to rob me of the pleasures of life while I am
still here...I will not yield
Case Study: “M”
“I found the computer program hard to control so I switched to stencils
and spray paint… So first the Mona Lisa - sporting her new mastectomy…
So my last image - my biggest struggle has been with migraines.”
M: Self Portrait as a Tree
“This is an ornamental Thunderchild Crabapple tree. It's really a beautiful
tree but had a bad "crotch" in it. The tree had started to die right in the Y
part of the crotch so I had to cut off the whole back side of the tree... I
pruned it a week ago, right before we had some 110 km/hr winds… I was
glad I pruned it, otherwise the back limb might have torn the living tree
trunk right down.”
M: Wish Doll
M: Wish Doll
M: I got kind of carried away! LOL…The sleeves are supposed to
be wings because my wishes all have to do with travel. The
branches are from my yard. Red Osier Dogwood. I started
with the doll and then I kept asking myself questions, What
would a person like that have for a necklace, a purse, jewelry,
hair, etc.
Cathie: The doll has a life of her own
M: yes, that's what happened
Participants Perspectives
• 100% were very satisfied with the online group
• 60% said their overall experience was better than I expected; time
well spent
• 80% said the facilitator(s) in their online group had skills and
knowledge that deepened and focused the discussion
• 60% strongly agreed that because of the group, they feel more
hopeful
• 100% said being a member of this online group has helped them
learn that they are not alone in the cancer experience
• 80% said they feel more confident about their ability to cope with
cancer
• 60% said they gained perspective on what they’re going through
Participants Perspectives
“While art therapy was outside of the box for
me, it was successful in creating an important
connection to other people with cancer. The
discussions generated by the projects helped
to address real fears, frustrations and
questions that were common to all of us. The
resulting moral support was invaluable.”
Quote
“I had seen art therapy workshops [offered] but
thought it was not for me as I am not creative at
all. But I enjoyed the online group, and
discovered that i too could use the art form even digital - to communicate my feelings
and ideas. I felt a sense of relief and also
achievement at my ability to take up the
weekly assignments.”
Quote
“I am by nature very shy in a face to face group.
The online chat group allowed me to feel
comfortable to express my feelings. Also,
cancer treatments are very exhausting and I
wouldn't have had the energy to get in my car to
go to a support group. I felt supported and
no longer alone. Good experience!”
Background Research
Collie K, Bottorff JL, Long BC. A narrative view of art therapy and art making by women with breast cancer. J Health Psychol. 2006;11(5):761-775
Collie, K., Čubranić, D. & Booth, K. (1998). Participatory design of a system for computer-supported distance art therapy. In Proceedings of the Participatory
Design Conference 1998, (pp. 29-36). Seattle, WA: Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility.
Collie, K. & Čubranić, D. (1999). An art therapy solution to a telehealth problem. Art Therapy: The Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 16(4),
186-193.
Collie, K., Čubranić, D. & Long, B. (2002). Audiographic communication for distance counseling: A feasibility study. British Journal of Guidance & Counseling,
30(3), 269-284.
Collie, K., & Čubranić, D. (2002). Computer-supported distance art therapy: A focus on traumatic illness. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 20(1),
155-171.
Collie, K., Bottorff, J. L., Long, B. C., & Conati, C. (2006). Distance art groups for women with breast cancer: Guidelines and recommendations. Journal of
Supportive Care in Cancer, 14(8), 849-858.
Nainis, N., Paice, J. A., Ratner, J., Wirth, J. H., Lai, J., & Shott, S. (2006). Relieving symptoms in cancer: Innovative use of art therapy. Journal of Pain and
Symptom Management, 31(2), 162-169.
Oster I, Svensk AC, Magnusson E, et al. Art therapy improves coping resources: A randomized, controlled study among women with breast cancer. Palliative
Support Care. 2006;4(1):57-64.
Oster, I., Astrom, S., Lindh, J., & Magnusson, E. (2009). Women with breast cancer and gendered limits and boundaries: Art therapy as a 'safe space' for
enacting alternative subject positions. The Arts in Psychotherapy, (36), 29-38.
Parker-Bell, B. (1999). Embracing a future with computers and art therapy. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 16(4), 180-185.
Puig A, Lee SM, Goodwin L, Sherrard PAD. The efficacy of creative arts therapies to enhance emotional expression, spirituality, and psychological well-being
of newly diagnosed stage I and stage II breast cancer patients: A preliminary study. The Arts in Psychotherapy. 2006;33:218-228.
Svensk, A. C., Oster, I., Thyme, K. E., Magnusson, E., Sjodin, M., Eisemann, M., et al. (2009). Art therapy improves experienced quality of life among women
undergoing treatment for breast cancer: A randomized controlled study. European Journal of Cancer Care (Engl), 18(1), 69-77.
Conclusion
• Cancer patients have unique needs and may have
difficulty accessing support services
• Art therapy is an effective form of support for people
with cancer
• Using CancerChatCanada is an innovative way to
provide art therapy services to cancer patients across
the country
Questions?