Now that you have learned that color can have positive and negative effects on your client. Let's take a look at actual case studies and the effects of color.
1. Case Study- With Mice:
There were two mice and each one was in a separate cage. In order for each mouse to obtain water they each had to look at and push a lever with their heads: one mouse lever had bright colors and the other mouse had none. After the experiment was completed, the scientists examined the brains of the mice. The mouse that had to look and push the lever with colors had massive dendrite growth in its brain. The mouse that looked at and pushed the lever without the color did not have the same amount of dendrite growth in the brain.
It would appear that the sensory/energy (stimuli) that is generated from exposure to color visually helped to produce massive dendrite growth. This is a good reason why we use color in our therapy sessions: to help the client grow new pathways in the brain.
2. Case Study- Learning Disabled Client
A young woman in her 20's had a severe learning disability resulting from having uncontrollable seizures. Medication, which had been helpful in the past, was no longer able to control them.
After working with her for a couple of sessions, I could see that even the bright color of sky blue was causing her to be over stimulated. When we sat at the art room table and she looked at the colors in front of her, her eyes began to glaze over and rolled backward. The stimuli appeared to be causing seizure activity.
It was obvious that the normal approaches we use in this method would not be beneficial to this client. She needed to be stabilized neurologically first. We did relaxation techniques and worked with very low-level stimuli. In addition, I proceeded to explore why these seizures would become uncontrollable at this point in her life.
I examined her home life (assisted living) with a visit to speak with the staff and professional team members. I explained to the staff that she needed quiet and rest. I also had them change her diet, adding B-Complex via brown rice, which has amino acids and is noted in helping the client to focus and has the added benefit of helping the nervous system to heal. In addition, I asked the staff to include protein, such as fish and chicken, which also has amino acids that can help sustain the brain's cognitive functions. A good balanced diet and monitoring environmental stimuli can really be important components in helping a damaged nervous system to regain its state of homeostasis (balance).
We also want to keep in mind here the effects of so much medication for such long periods of time. When I encountered this young lady, she was medicated at such high doses that it was surely toxic for her physiological systems. Therefore, it made even more sense to recommend good daily vitamins and other known vitamins that would help her system to regain its natural balance.
In weekly sessions with the young woman, I used large soft fluffy balls that were chocolate colored and dark violet. We worked gently and slowly making necklaces. The frequency and severity of her seizures greatly frightened this young woman. Therefore I used neuro-linguistic programming, i.e., the controlled use of low monotones in speaking, to help her relax.
I also incorporated some meditation and talk therapy. The use of neuro-linguistic programming worked well here. It was very soothing and she relaxed a great deal in our sessions, which then carried over into the rest of her life.
Her seizures were under control in about 2 weeks and her doctor was able to reduce her seizure medication. What was revealing about this experience is that the house staff and professional staff could not believe that such simple tools could have such a profound influence upon her. I was told by one Social Worker that the professional team felt she was having the seizures because the client could not express her anger. My belief was that normally medications would control that situation. However, that was not the case here.
In my opinion, her neuro-system responded just as Rudolph Arnheim indicated it would. In his text book "Towards a Psychology of Art" (Berkley Press, 1967), Arnheim discusses the physiological changes that occur as people use the arts. He points to clinical studies of a gestalt nature that demonstrate the bio-electrical and chemical changes that occur when using color. Added to this there are numerous valid studies that were done by the U.S. government in the 60's and 70's. This was the flower-child era for America which caused many to be in tune with how they were being affected by color. The U.S. government also did a practical study. In an effort to help keep prisoners in a federal prison more quietly contained, the government experimented with the colors green and blue, and found that prisoners were quieter and less likely to become agitated. The use of red and orange resulted in inmates becoming more easily agitated and aggressive. There was also a study done by the U.S. Navy, which indicated that when submarine walls were painted blue and green, the personnel were more relaxed than when the walls were painted red or orange.
3. Case Study- A Stroke Survivor
At age 76, this client was six years post a major stroke when her daughter approached me to work with her. On the clock test (from the Mental Status Exam), the women placed all of her numbers on the clock up and down in the center of the clock. This indicated a bi-lateral neglect. She was chronically depressed and she lacked proper sensory input to both the right and left sides of her brain, which prohibited her from being able to read, comprehend her environment or utilize her cognitive functions. If a client has perceptual problems, it is a given that they will have cognitive problems.
After working with the woman for 1 year, both in sessions and having her daughter follow through with home exercises, she can understand and can see both sides of the paper that she works on. Her depression is gone and she is sociable. I referred her to a behavioral optometrist and he provided her with glasses to help her read. Due to her bi-lateral neglect she had not been able to read for six years.
I used music and a cathedral crystal for gentle sensory stimulation. Using a beautiful crystal is a good way to emulate colors. I like using the crystal because the colors are solid and pure. I placed the crystal on a black pyramid shaped box that houses a white light. On top of that white light is a piece of plastic that is purple, blue, emerald green, yellow and white. When I want a color, I simply turn the plastic colors over the light and there is the different color emulated through the crystal. Plus, I have the option of changing the intensity of the color. For example, dark purple to light violet is achieved by adding a piece of colored paper purchased at a specialty store. Using the technique of colored paper (waxed texture), gives the therapist the ability to change the intensities/values by adapting to what the client can tolerate. The selected use of colors works great and the clients love it. If a client can tolerate brighter colors we may use bright colors in our sessions to warm up for a session or cool down after a session. The client should be relaxed and provide you with feedback that the use of the bright color is comfortable for them.
The colors that I use most are violet (medium) for the client with a stroke, or for other clients needing to relax their nervous system. This wonderful woman often comes to our sessions with a headache. We turn the lights in the room off and I turn the crystal light on and she just sits and looks at it for a while. The light stays on during the hour session. I tired using the color indigo blue with her, but she reported to me, "I'm not a blue person. I like the emerald green the best." It is important to recognize an individual's likes and dislikes.
I like to use light classical music with her. She likes the music and it helps to keep her focused and motivated. In our sessions the client often likes the use an 18" by 24" drawing pad. She paints with light colors and enjoys the simple movement of the brush mixing with the colors. This client has partial paralysis so I help her by using a spoon to place paints on her paper. I pour the paints and she paints in rhythm to the music. She has told me that it reminds her of when she young. She liked to dance. Recalling the emotions and memories of her days of dancing was a good experience for her.
Periodically, throughout the session I ask her to report her pain level to me. On a pain scale from 1-10, she reports that her headaches are gone down from a 9 to a 2. Initially, she experienced headaches quite frequently in our sessions. As of today, the headaches do not occur anymore. It took a long time for this to happen, but she feels that it was worth the work. You will read her thoughts on the CD with the Mind of Art Therapy presentation.
As of this point in time, she can now read for up to 1 hour per day and comprehend what she is reading. We still meet weekly but if she misses 5 sessions in a row, her pathways begin to close up. However, when we meet again, her attention is accessed within a few minutes. I have suggested to her caregiver that she use the TTDS (Therapeutic Drawing Series) to help maintain her progress when we cannot meet.
For this client, this therapeutic process has become maintenance to help gain access to her awareness and cognitive functions. It takes her out of the "darkness" that her stroke left her in and gives her back her connection with the world she lives in. The timeframe to accomplish these milestones was 2 years. She continues to come to sessions on her own accord. (Maureen Del Giacco, PhD, LCAT, CDATA Class discussion 2004)
It's True! We all have likes and dislikes. It's important to get feedback from the client.
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Tip Always talk with your clients and see if they like the color with which you are working.
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