When I was in graduate school I met a dear friend for the first time. I’ll call her Kiki to protect her identity. I recall sitting with her at meals and watching her occasionally pull a device out of her clothes, push the buttons and then hide it again. Over the course of our developing friendship, she brought me into the world of Type 1 Diabetes. Throughout the 10+ years I have known her check her blood meter/pump (depending which approach she was using at the time)…this was always on the “down-low.” She answered questions if I asked, but only with basic information. I understood that what she was experiencing was a life long disease and admired her approach at managing it. It wasn’t until many years later, after reuniting with another friend, Betty, who I hadn’t seen in a couple of years and learning that her child, Nan, had been recently diagnosed with Type 1 that I realized the depth of the journey Kiki had traveled from the time of her own diagnosis.

When I Grow Old by Beth Ann Short

It suddenly seemed like people with Type 1 were every where in my world. Adults and children, friends and colleagues were suddenly impacted by this disease and struggling to cope with the radical changes the initially faced in their daily living. This is where the therapist side of me kicked into action. That and the subtle prodding of Betty to start a group for kids, that 3 years later is called D-Group and has actually evolved into two groups (one for youth 9 & younger and the other for youth aged 10 & older).

When I began D-Group I was amazed at the strength of the kids I was meeting: their sheer will and drive to manage and function independently. Some kids were in early elementary school and had just being diagnosed, while others were diagnosed at such a young age they did not have a memory of life before Diabetes. My groups have turned into a safe place where these kids can meet up and express feelings of frustration at home, school, or out in the community, without judgment or pity…but with support, understanding and acceptance. Additional struggles addressed in these groups include but are not limited to frustrations with friends and teachers, testing blood, injections and insulin pumps. In these groups I feel honored to be a safe person for these youth. Some youth I have watched grow from one group to the next, developing and heading towards middle school. They still have constant struggles, but enjoy using their creativity to express themselves. In our studio there is a standard rule: “there is no wrong way to do art, as long as you are safe with the materials.” It is usually met with relief and reservation and insecurity is often forgotten as soon as a project has begun.

Our studio also provides a monthly parent support group that is lead by a clinician who happens to be Type 1 since her own youth. For more information on our groups please visit our Group Art Therapy page on our website www.the100thmonkeystudio.com

Here is an example of a past art directive I have used in both groups:
Directive: Me Tree
During our initial process time, after check in we had a conversation about trees. The group identified needs of trees. Additionally as a group we answered questions like: who do trees co-exist with? What things endanger a tree’s life? What do trees give back to the earth? What is in the ground under trees? What is unseen in a tree’s life? Then for the art directive, the youth artists in the group all create their own tree…if you were a tree what would be in YOUR experience. The page is divided in half to show both above and below the earth. After drawing time the group then takes turns looking at each other’s work. This directive could easily last two session of the group to provide the participants each adequate time to describe their environment. In my groups, process time can take as long or sometimes longer then the creation. This should never be rushed.

A super big thanks to Beth Ann for taking the time to give us some insight into what she does to help her local D-community. Check out the website for The 100th Monkey Studio, and if you know anyone in the Portland area who might benefit from art therapy, I hope you’ll pass her info along. Beth Ann also has her own blog, Beth Ann Short MA ATR, where she writes about the various happenings at The 100th Monkey Studio, art therapy, and things creative.

About Beth Ann…

Beth Ann Short, MA, ATR

Beth Ann Short comes from the Great Lakes region, living in both Michigan and Ontario throughout her youth. Short attended Alma College for her undergraduate degrees, double majoring in Art and English. She moved west to Portland, Oregon in the early 90’s. Short has a Masters in Art Therapy from Marylhurst University and is a nationally registered Art Therapist (ATR) with Art Therapy Creditials Board and also a member of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). Short is also an artist and has shown her art nationally since the late 1980’s. Short has worked in community mental health in Portland, OR since 1997. Short has experience in working with groups, families and individuals. Since becoming an art therapist, Short has worked with clients in many settings including medical, outpatient, inpatient, juvenile justice, school-based and with at-risk youth. Short lectures and sits on panels to inform the community about the benefits of creativity and art therapy.