Using Interactive Drawing Therapy IDT with Asian Clients

Using Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT) with Asian Clients Who are Affected by Problem Gambling Wenli Zhang Pauline Chan Asian Services of PGFNZ Paper presented in the National Service Providers Forum 2 nd April 2009

Brief Introduction of IDT • IDT was developed by Russell Withers of NZ in early 1990 s • 6000 practitioners in Australia and NZ are using IDT • The IDT method: – Working with Pages – Client-Centered process

Brief Introduction of IDT • Using Metaphors and images • Shift between left brain and right brain • From unconscious to conscious process • Safe way of exploring underlying issues

Different Levels of Work • Presenting issues (current, behavioural, • Associated issues (historical context, • Underlying issues (self-talk, unmet needs – specific, other-focused) developmental references) too much or too little) • Intra-psychic issues (core sense of self)

Problem Gambling Issues from IDT ’s view

The Areas of Using IDT • • Individual work Group work Couple / family work Supervision Psycho-education Cross culture work Self care • Working with teenagers • Depression • Anxiety • Trauma • Personal growth • Gambling

Advantages of Using IDT with Asian Clients • Get in touch with and express gut feelings - Constriction of emotions (polite, moderation, harmony, humbleness) - More value placed on the collective or family experience • Non-threatening approach - Don’t know what is counselling - Pre-contemplation (my gambling is fine)

Advantages of Using IDT with Asian Clients • Save ‘Face’ - Seeking help is seen as weak, the problem should stay within family (shame, disgrace of family name) • Shift focus from illogical thought to image (left brain to right brain) - Emphasis on skills • Shift focus from ‘fixing’ to ‘understanding’

Advantages of Using IDT with Asian Clients • Bring unconscious to conscious - trauma & unfinished business • Overcome language barriers - client’s own words and interpretation • Overcome blocks in counselling - cultural differences between client and counsellor

Case Illustration A Gamblers – – Chinese, male, late 50 s, high social status Had brain injury history Investment immigration Lost all savings, unemployed presenting issues – Uncontrolled gambling behaviours, nightmare, anxiety Intervention - Using IDT to work with dream, release fear and overcome anxiety

Case Illustration A Outcome – – No more nightmare Overcame anxiety and fear Reduce gambling and more in control Employed and later became a team leader

Case Illustration B Significant Others – Chinese, female, early 60 s, retired, elder daughter in the family of origin, husband gambles for over 30 years, 2 adult children Presenting issues – Husband’s uncontrolled gambling behaviour, relationship problem, anger, feeling stuck Intervention - Using IDT to work with the blocks of client, and to gain more insights

Case Illustration B Outcome – Husband’s gambling behaviours reduced and more in control – Improve relationship with husband – Better communication – Client is more in control of her anger

Conclusion • IDT works well with Asian clients. The therapeutic modality can produce tangible results for Asians affected by problem gambling • More practice and research are needed to gain better understanding of IDT’s effectiveness with Asians

Further Training and Reading Materials • Three articles in New Zealand Journal of Counselling, 26 (4): • Withers, R. (2006) Interactive Drawing Therapy: Working with Therapeutic Imagery. p 1 -14. • Everts, H. & Withers, R. (2006) A practitioner survey of Interactive Drawing Therapy as used in New Zealand. p 15 -30. • Stone, C. & Everts, H. (2006) The therapeutic use of metaphor in Interactive Drawing Therapy. p 31 -43. IDT is copyright – training is provided by Interactive Drawing Therapy Limited. www. Interactive. Drawing. Therapy. com