1. PUBH 3331
Stress Management Therapy Technique: Art Therapy
April 13, 2016
Step 1: LessonDemographics
LessonTitle: Paint Your Stress Away Target Audience: Cancer Patients
Health Content Area: Art Therapy Health Theory: Health Belief Model
Step 2: LessonObjectives
Behavior:
 During the lesson, at least 30% of participants will be able to apply painting a
picture to help relieve stress. (Self-Efficacy)
o Through the group lesson
 30 days after the lesson, at least 50% of the participants will report that they have
continued art therapy at least twice to help relieve stress. (Self-Efficacy)
o Through a follow up survey administered at the facility to the participants
Knowledge:
 By the end of the lesson, at least 50% of the participants will be able to identify 2
benefits of art therapy. (Perceived Benefits)
o At the end of the lesson they will say them to the class
 By the end of the lesson, at least 50% of participants will be able to identify 2
stressors they felt coming into the room before attempting art therapy. (Cues to
Action)
o At the end of the lesson they will say them to the class
Step 3: Materials Needed
 Blank Canvas’
 Paint (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Black, Brown)
 Paint Brushes
 Aprons

2.  MasonJars
 Water
 Paper Towels
 CD player
 Soothing music CD
Step 4: Outline sequence of lesson
Introduction of Art Therapy:
 Introduce self and Art Therapy to the class:
o Art Therapy is a form of self-expression
o Used to increase one’s overall well being and to overcome challenges
o Helpful in coming to a sense of realization with oneself
o It is proven to be helpful in ill patients
o Distraction= taking your mind off of what is stressing you
 Introduce the effects of stress:
o Negative Side Effects of Stress
 Headaches
 High blood pressure
 Depression
 Sleeplessness
 Muscle Tension
 Stomach Ache
o Natural physical and mental reaction to both good and bad stress
o Systems in the body affected by stress
 Central Nervous
 Endocrine
 Respiratory
 Cardiovascular
 Digestive
 Muscular
 Immune

3. o Elaborate on Immune System because they are cancer patients
 More susceptible to viral illnesses
 Increase risk of opportunistic diseases
 Prone to infection
 Increases recover Time
 Talk about Art Therapy in relation to Stress in Research:
o Art therapy and health benefits are connected through evidence that show
beneficial results
o Art-based practices are of high benefit to several different aspects of one’s
overall health
o Art Therapy helps relieve symptoms such as depression, fatigue and stress
o The main group of people who are positively affected by art based practices
are people who are going through chronic diseases and mental illnesses
 Talk to Participants about what stresses them:
o Aside from cancer, what other stressors do you have that add to your everyday
life
o Focus on those stressors and think about how they make you feel because
once the lesson starts we are going to throw them all away
Step 5: Stress management technique script
I want everyone to clear their minds of everything that is going on with them whether it be
outside forces or inside forces. Clear your mind of everything that is stressing you at this
moment and take a deep breath. The only thing that matters right now is your canvas, paint, and
your paintbrush.
Now we will begin our lesson of Art Therapy
Look at your blank white canvas
Focus on your canvas
YOU are in charge of YOUR canvas

4. Pick up your paint brush
Dip your paint brush in whichever you would like- YOU are in control
Before you start to paint your canvas I want you to think of a happy memory, somewhere or
someone that makes you happy, somewhere that makes you feel safe, a symbol that represents
your happiness. Once you have your happy person, place, or thing in your mind. Focus on how it
makes you feel and how it cheers you up when you are down or stressed. Don’t let it escape your
mind.
(5 minutes)
Take your paint brush with your paint on it. Whatever it is that you have in your mind, draw it
one your canvas. It doesn’t have to be exact. If it’s the beach, you can draw a starfish or the deep
blue ocean. If it’s your best friend you can draw their favorite sweater or their smile. If it is your
dog, you can draw their paw prints in the sand. Whatever you are thinking of doesn’t have to be
exact. Draw whatever you need to, to help express your happiness onto the canvas. Take your
happiness from your mind and share it onto your canvas
(30 minutes)
Start the timer
While the class is painting…
I will be walking around over the next 30 minutes to look with you at your canvases and talk
about your happiness that you are drawing to help relieve your stress and free your mind.
You may continue to use any of the colors you wish. You can use the same color or all the
colors.
There are mason jars to the left of you to rinse the paint off off of your brush. The paper towels
underneath them are to be used to dab them dry before applying the next color
Everyone continue to paint your canvas and just relax your mind on what you are painting in
front of you. Let all your frustrations go and remember that YOU are your own person and are in
charge of your OWN life.
Once the timer goes off…
Now that we have cleared our minds and shared with our canvas the happiness that we have in
our minds… I want you to put everything down and look at your painting. Look at what you
have drawn and think about how happy it makes you.

5. (2 minutes)
Once you have reflected on your painting, show the other people in the room and talk with them
about why you drew what you drew and ask them about theirs.
Talk to each other about what makes you happy and all your worries to go away.
Resources:
About Us - American Art Therapy Association. (2013, April 4). Retrieved March 24,
2016, from http://arttherapy.org/aata-aboutus/
Bowes, E. (2009, January 14). Art therapy creatively alleviates stress. Retrieved March
24, 2016, from http://health.gmnews.com/news/2009-01-14/health/005.html
Pietrangelo, A. (2014, August 25). The Effects of Stress on the Body. Retrieved April 13, 2016,
from http://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body
Van Lith, T., Schofield, M. J., & Fenner, P. (2013). Identifying the evidence-base for art
based practices and their potential benefit for mental health recovery: A critical
review. Disability & Rehabilitation, 35(16), 1309-1323.