Group art therapy in a methadone clinic lobby

A weekly group art therapy workshop, held in the waiting room of the Venice (California) Methadone Clinic of the Los Angeles Institute for Studies of Destructive Behavior, is described. In this workshop, the clients project their imagination onto random lines and shapes made by string and ink on paper, drawing out the images they see and writing titles and sometimes stories about them. The artwork is shared, discussed, and displayed in the lobby. Through this art-centered process, the clients learn to communicate feelings and conflicts with each other. They also develop social skills, gain insight, and improve their self-esteem. Group art therapy, when combined with counseling, is an effective therapeutic modality when working with a nonverbal and resistant population such as drug abusers.