In our last session (last ever? sorry-- I'm just pissed at him), T told me that this week I should draw my feelings. He mentioned something about giving all parts of myself a chance to express the feelings on paper.

I decided that I would go out and buy colored pencils for the current me and the 18 year-old me to draw with, and that I would buy a pack of crayons for the little girl to draw with.

It actually felt so good to buy something for this part of me instead of constantly hating her. For once, I was accepting her existence and giving her a way to express herself that was suitable for her.

Since then, I have done two pictures-- one with the colored pencils and one with the crayons yesterday when I was feeling really 'little.'

It has been an amazing experience to express myself through art. If I wasn't mad at T, I would say I can't wait to bring my pictures in so we can talk about them. Either way, I can't wait to make more.

[MissCharlotte]

Awwwwwwwwww

((((((((LittlePink))))))

Have you tried the new eraseable colored pencils? Then if she colors something she doesn't like she can change it!



Try this for more:

Strawberry shortcake coloring

To match my bedding set from when I was a little girl!!! Is it embarrassing to color??? I still feel so shameful having this part of me.

There is nothing shameful about having an inner child and nurturing that child within yourself. They need to be accepted, loved, and nurtured.

[krazibean]

why are you upset with T

Read my other post from today. The one about the little girl.

[sunrise]

pinksoil, I think it is cool you are drawing your feelings. I like how you bought different materials for the different ages. Can you let us know what sorts of things you and your T discuss about your drawings?

My daughter's T is a certified art therapist and they often draw or paint. Right now they are working on a longterm project, which is building a wooden model house together. (When I heard that, I felt, waaahhh, I wanna build a wooden house with my T!)

My daughter has told me that her T is always trying to read into what she has drawn or painted or ask my daughter what her painting means. My daughter sometimes expresses her frustration with this to me and says "sometimes a painting is just a painting and doesn't have a deep and hidden meaning!"

I see building the house together as a team building exercise they are doing.

I love all the different varieties of therapy...

Great coloring books for grownups and kids.....

http://store.doverpublications.com/b...ing-books.html

Note the whole list to the left.

Campy

[Perna]

I was in my 30's I think when I gave up buying coloring books and going to coloring "school"! I use to pretend I was on scholarship and I'd color each page as if it were a homework assignment or test (all one color, keep within the lines strictly, doesn't matter if in the lines, color/reinforce only the lines, etc.)

Have you ever seen those tiny sets of pencils/watercolor paints? http://guggenheim.stores.yahoo.net/micopeset.html http://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/c...rcolor-set.htm These aren't that "great" as compared with one's my stepmother got me once. Your little girl would love them though as they're her "size"/sweet.

[Izzyparker]

It's absolutely 100% OKAY fine perfectly acceptable to color with any medium you want to express yourself. I'm a mom and older than you and color all the time with my children. Even with crayons. They make great ones now. Some that twist, some with sparkles, some that erase. Coloring is the best.

[RACEKA]

I color all the time. I like to color those velvet posters. I have all kinds of markers. I also decorate them with glitter glue. It helps me to focus and keep my mind away from racing thoughts. I have a problem with disassociation. I'm getting ready to start piano lessons.