Touch Drawing as Restorative Justice Practice

[Durelle L Freeman]

Hello:
As a counselor and "Circle Process" facilitator I lead groups of adolescents who have offended in their community. Many of them are dealing with anger, loss, confusion (particularly with identity). I was wondering if any of you out there have used Touch Drawing with adolescents or, as a restorative justice practice. Thank you and I am looking forward to your responses.

[Amanda Koh]

I haven't personally, but I would highly recommend it. I love Touch Drawing for the channeling it offers for our emotions. I would recommend if you do offer it and the supplies for these kids, that you offer more THICKER paper..... in remembering what it was like for me during my adolescent experience, there may be a lot of hard thrashing that wants to happen........ and I can almost guarantee their work will be more expressive than a "focused" creation of something visual - so the need to see what they are doing probably won't be important most of the time, or for most of the kids anyway....

I've found tearing into materials helpful to move some of that rage in something I have done........... in one instance (not in doing a Touch Drawing session) - I used cardboard as my ground medium, and was tearing into it with something as I applied strokes of something (maybe it was a ballpoint pen?)......... but......... it's a GREAT surface for tearing into........ it offers a lot of resistance, and there is a good sense of moving that energy when you do tear into it..........

That's my feeling anyway........ That "project" wasn't for me, either.... it was for one of my dogs, Roxy - who has a lot of rage she needs to move. I was doing a healing art piece for her. Those are the materials I picked up, and found it to be very therapeutic. After tearing it - I smoothed over it in loving circles with paint to HEAL the wounds............. I just scooped paint into my bare hands, and then rubbed over and over in clockwise circles to fill the "pain" of the past.... The paint just wasn't enough, though......... I would suggest some spackle or something else designed to really FILL holes...... or you will spend a LOT of money on paint!!!

I know that may not be a Touch Drawing process........ but, it's something I felt called to do for Roxy, who has a lot of pain from her past, and it felt good for her, so I suggest it........ Maybe you could have a process where the kids do this with cardboard, tear into it with.... something like a pen, or a fork, as an example..... something not TOO sharp, so the resistance is there......... then fill it in with LOVE and HEALING in clockwise circles....... and when they are done - THAT piece can be the "board" on which they can do their Touch Drawing.......... and they could do that process again and again if they want, each time going a little deeper to get more of the rage out, and more of the healing in............... and yet again, to use that NEW ground as a springboard for the TD to emanate.....

Hopefully the cardboard would be supportive enough for the eventual work......... it's worth a try, anyway........

[Durelle L Freeman]

Thanks so much. This is wonderful "feed-forward". I will keep your suggestions for sure.

[Amanda Koh]

Great! Glad to help! :)