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Art therapist Armineh Arakelian opens lines of communication through the language of art

The International Child Development Center in Yerevan embraces individualized therapy to help enhance the lives of children with autism

by Nyree Abrahamian

Published: Friday March 27, 2009

Paintings done by autistic children in Armenia.

Yerevan - If you've ever sketched a picture, written a poem or improvised a melody, and felt better as a result, you know that creating art in any form can be extremely therapeutic. Though art therapy is only recently becoming popular as a form of alternative treatment, the truth is that as long as there has been art, there has been art therapy. The concept is very simple - when we create art, we express our emotions in a non-verbal way and in doing so, release pent up emotional energy. But an in-depth study of the intricate processes that take place both inwardly and outwardly during this very natural act of expression reveals that there is so much more to art than meets the eye.

And nobody knows this better than Armineh Arakelian, an art therapist who works at the International Child Development Center (ICDC) in Yerevan. A painter and ceramicist, she has been working with children for 20 years, and focusing specifically on children with special needs for the past nine years.

ICDC is a state-of-the-art center for children with autism and other developmental disorders. It was founded in 2006 by Dr. Ira Heilveil, upon the urging of Armenian parents of children with autism who had met him in the United States. ICDC operates a therapeutic classroom based on the principles of applied behavioral analysis (ABA), which promotes a highly individualized educational experience, in which the functions of behaviors are examined and specific methods are chosen to address the needs of each child.

Currently, they have 13 children between the ages of 4 and 12, 14 behavioral therapists, an art therapist, a music therapist, an ergo-therapist and four caregivers. The ICDC also offers home service, and there are currently three children enrolled in this program.

When it first opened, ICDC had no funding and required a tuition fee from those parents who could afford it. But today, thanks to the generous support of Children First and VivaCell-MTS, it is completely free of charge - pretty amazing for a one-to-one child-therapist ratio.

Autism is a developmental disability characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. Despite research, there is still much about the disability that is unknown. While some seek a cure, others believing that autism is a condition rather than a disorder. This is the approach taken by ICDC. Rather than trying to cure an illness through medication, they treat a condition through various types of therapy.

"Art therapy is unique because it comes from the child," says Ms. Arakelian. "It's not forced. It's an alternative form of active therapy. Nowadays, people are becoming so reliant on medications to solve every problem, every headache, but music, painting, dancing... these are all ways to make you feel better in a more natural way. You just have to listen to your body."

Art therapy is especially effective in the treatment of children with autism. "It's a method of non-verbal communication," says Ms. Arakelian. "Drawing is more natural, more instinctive than speaking, so it's an outlet for children with autism, who have problems communicating and socializing in the traditional methods dictated by our society. Every line drawn, every stroke, is a language of communication and in a way, I read that language. I try to translate, to create ties between their world and the external world."

"Some kids instinctively like brighter colors," she explains, "Others go for paints and watery substances, others like contact. They go for textures, like clay. Some kids like to mix different substances. Some like to paint horizontal strokes, other prefer vertical strokes. In art therapy, these are all methods of communication." The child she is working with at the moment loves to feel clay squish between his fingers. He was frustrated and tense just a few moments ago, but now he is now happily rolling a ball of clay that he has shaped like a hat over his thumb.

"Creative processes are therapeutic and this is not unique to autistic children," says Ms. Arakelian. "Most people feel creative urges, but we're usually content with going to a play or an art gallery. However, when you are actively involved in the process, you give a different kind of energy and you receive a different kind of energy."

The individualized approach at ICDC allows Armineh to really get to know the preferences and tendencies of each child. When children are in their element and working with a medium that they like, they flourish. "Children with autism tend to see the world more emotionally than rationally," she explains, "So a lot is revealed through their artwork. Plus, art helps them focus, understand concepts of time and space, and most importantly, helps with self-confidence and independence."

When she is not at ICDC, Armineh is working with kids and adults of all ages at her private studio. Some have behavioral disorders or disabilities, others simply wish to reap the benefits of art therapy to acquire better self-knowledge and expand their creative abilities.

"Art does not necessarily have to be made for the purpose of display," says the art therapist. "The best effect of art is the effect it has on the artist. We often get too rational in our day-to-day lives and forget about our emotions, and a lot of our physical ailments stem from that imbalance. The easiest, most natural and most satisfying way to counteract that is to create art."

connect:
www.aicdc.am