Coloring Books for Adults

I was contacted a few days ago by a writer at CNN doing an article about the popularity of coloring books for adults. The article was posted on the CNN website April 21, 2015. Here is the full text of her questions and my answers.

CNN: What are the general benefits, if any, of coloring as therapy?

Art therapists are specially trained to provide psychotherapy combined with the visual arts. Art therapists assist clients in their use of art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to meet personal goals and needs. Art therapists abide by a professional code of ethics that requires they carefully consider the needs of their clients when determining art projects. People who do not have training and professional credentials cannot ethically refer to themselves as art therapists or their ventures as art therapy.

Art making is a powerful intervention. Neuroscientific research has shown that through the use of art therapy, the human brain can physically change, grow, and rejuvenate. However, offered by unskilled practitioners, art making can make chronic problems worse, or awaken the painful symptoms of traumatic stress.

Most art therapists encourage their clients to create their own original art work rather than color pre-formed designs. However, coloring designs in coloring books is one of many projects a professional art therapist might use. 

 

   For a person who is afraid to draw

               For a person with brain injury who is unable to draw

               For a person who needs help controlling anxious, angry, sad, or lonely feelings between art therapy sessions

               For a person who would benefit from the pleasure of a creative outlet

CNN: Do you utilize coloring books or materials in your therapeutic practice with adults? With children?

I sometimes give clients one of my mandala coloring books for homework between sessions with me. Since the coloring book is created by me, it is a reminder of our therapy work together. Coloring mandalas can empower a client to manage thoughts and feelings on their own with the positive activity of coloring, instead of, for example, overeating or abusing substances.

The mandala coloring books I have created are intended for adults. Each one has a text introduction with color illustrations explaining what mandalas are, and how best to benefit from using the coloring book. Each of my mandala coloring books has a theme. Coloring Mandalas 1 is about the process of growth and transformation. Coloring Mandalas 2 includes mandalas that inspire balance and wellbeing. Coloring Mandalas 3 is focused on symbols and traditions of the divine feminine. Coloring Mandalas 4 is comprised of mandalas that stimulate energy and taking appropriate action.

CNN: Would the coloring projects you assign differ by the age of the client in intricacy or pattern?

Although my mandala coloring books are for adults, people tell me their children enjoy coloring them. Teachers copy designs from my coloring books and give them to students for focus before and relaxation after test taking. Church leaders use coloring mandalas on church retreats with people of all ages, and find sharing mandalas enhances connection between the different age groups. Those sitting at the bedside of a sick loved one in the hospital report welcome relaxation for themselves and the loved one observing them color.

CNN: Do patterns matter? More specifically, do you use abstract patterns to provoke a certain therapeutic outcome versus using representational images to achieve other outcomes?

I include mostly abstract designs in my mandala coloring books. This gives the person coloring more freedom to project personal meanings onto the design. Designs do matter. I rely on the circular form of mandalas in all the designs in my coloring books. The circle conveys a sense of safety, focus, and energy that most people find comforting.  I consider coloring a mandala to be the safest (least likely to re-traumatize) the person coloring. This is because mandalas are familiar: we all created mandalas when we were small. Children’s art from around ages 3 – 5 always includes mandala designs in the form of suns, people, and animals. A symmetrical mandala design with 4, 6, 8, or more even numbers of elements (such as flower petals, star points, circles, etc.) seems to be most soothing. Mandala designs based on a structure of 2, 3, or 5 tend to stir up energy. Different designs pull for varying qualities of emotional energy, so I do give careful thought to the needs of a client when recommending a coloring book.

 

CNN: How does color or hue factor in?

People have free choice of colors for their coloring book projects. The freedom to choose is empowering, especially for those who may feel powerless because of a personal situation, emotional problems, or physical disability. Color meanings are very personal. There are no assigned meanings for colors supported by research. An individual will have associations with colors based on their life experiences, cultural background, and emotional state at the time of coloring. I encourage my clients to choose colors that feel right to them at the moment, and not worry about what the color means. Later, if they choose to, they can go back and look at their completed project, and gain personal insights about their choices of colors. I give guidelines for interpreting colors in one’s own mandalas in my books Creating Mandalas and The Mandala Workbook.

People also have a choice of medium: colored pencils, crayons, water colors, marker pens, pastels, paper collage, glitter. For beginners, I recommend good quality colored pencils. They are easy to use, give bright, colorful results, and can be blended. For those with a weak grip or eyesight problems, markers are a good choice. Water coloring gives beautiful results for those who have skill using the medium. Mixing media is fun. Adding glitter, a tiny cut out of a bird, a dried flower, or even a snippet of a ticket to a memorable event can enliven and personalize a coloring project.

CNN: What are the physical and mental outcomes you look for when employing art therapy such as coloring? For example, are you hoping to achieve: lowering blood pressure, stress relief, or relief of mental illness symptoms?

Outcomes I hope for from a mandala coloring book experience:

               Stress relief

               Better mental focus

               Improved mood

               Reduced anxiety

               Pride in accomplishment

               Sense of personal efficacy

               Courage to try making their own art