FEAR CORRECTION

Correction of fears with the help of art-therapeutic methods.
Author: Beketova E. S., Serdyuk Yu. A., Shapka L. V.
INTRODUCTION At the heart of fear as a basic human emotion is the instinct of self-preservation. Biologically meaningful (adequate) fear performs protective and adaptive functions in life. However, it should be noted that fears may not have these positive functions, and then they become signals of personal trouble. As such dysfunctional fears, we consider inspired fears, which in turn can lead to the emergence of pathological (neurotic and psychotic) fears.
The emergence of inspired fears is due to personal anxiety in combination with a controlling form of socialization of fears. Instilled fears are accompanied not only by dysfunctional manifestations in the form of chronic emotional dissatisfaction, dejection, general lethargy, irritability, “tunnel perception”, but also by phobias, anxiety, self-aggression, and general socio-psychological maladjustment.
Modern practical psychology offers various solutions to the problem of overcoming fears, while psychotherapy (in a broad sense) is considered as the most adequate and acceptable means. There are various types of therapy that are used in the practical work with fears. Play and art therapy are considered by us as counter-suggestive practices that ensure the release of the child from inspired fears. Countersuggestion is a way of interaction between an adult and a child, which is carried out in the context of receiving socialization and involves the child’s mastering the elements of self-exploration, self-control and self-regulation.
Let us consider in more detail the methods of overcoming fears and anxiety in people using the art-therapeutic method of expressive drawing (the participant’s depiction of a situation of confrontation and struggle with an object that personifies fear, in which this fear is defeated). Expressive drawing, crafts are a safe way to “let off steam” and defuse tension. With the help of visual images, it is easier for the participant to express unconscious internal conflicts and fears than to express them in words. Such work is especially valuable for those who do not speak well enough. With the help of a drawing, application, you can find out the thoughts and feelings that the participant is used to suppressing.
Art-therapeutic exercises with sand also make it possible to activate the fantasy and express the images that arise in this case by means of artistic expression. Non-verbal means allow you to bypass the “censorship of consciousness”, so they are unique for the study of unconscious processes.
Art therapy exercises serve as a means of free self-expression and self-knowledge, they have an “insight-oriented” character; suggest an atmosphere of trust, attention to the inner world of a person. The use of art therapy exercises is indispensable in cases of emotional disorders (fear, anxiety) and communicative incompetence. In case of communication difficulties – isolation, low interest in peers or excessive shyness – art therapy classes allow you to unite people into a group (while maintaining the individual nature of their activities) and facilitate the process of their communication, mediate it by a common creative process and its products.
Purpose: overcoming negative experiences, reducing emotional stress.
Required time: 2 hours 20 minutes.
Required materials: leaflets with printed rhymes; colored pencils or felt-tip pens, A4 paper; colored cardboard, colored paper, plasticine, glue, scissors, threads, ribbons, buttons, rhinestones, sequins, cereals (buckwheat, rice), pasta (different in shape, size), beads, shells.

HEAT-UP
Game “Surdotranslation”.
Purpose: to activate the group.
Time: 10 min.
Materials: leaflets with written text – different simple rhymes.
Procedure. The facilitator invites everyone to split into pairs. The couples take turns performing in front of other participants. Each of the pair acts in turn as announcers and sign language interpreters. While one of the partners is reading the verse, the other is nearby and acts as a sign language interpreter – conveys the content of the text with the help of facial expressions and gestures.

PRIMARY ACTIVITY
Exercise “MAGIC MIRRORS”.
Purpose: the formation of a positive self-concept, increasing self-confidence, reducing anxiety.
Time: 40 min.
Materials: colored pencils or felt-tip pens, A4 paper.
Procedure. Participants are invited to draw themselves in 3 mirrors, but not simple, magical ones:
in the first – small and frightened, in the second – large and cheerful, in the third – fearless and strong.
Questions:
1. Which person looks prettier?
2. Who do you look like now?
3. In which mirror do you most often look in your life?
4. Who would you like to be like?
5. What feelings did you have in the process of drawing 3 drawings?
Exercise “Draw your fear.”
Purpose: overcoming negative experiences, the symbolic destruction of fear, reducing emotional stress.
Time: 40 min.
Materials: colored pencils or felt-tip pens, A4 paper.
Procedure. Participants are invited to draw their fear and give it a name. Participants take turns talking about their drawings. There is a discussion. After that, the participants are offered several options to choose from to get rid of their fear: destroy the drawing (fear); turn scary into funny by drawing a picture; decorate it so that it pleases itself and becomes good; Or come up with your own version.
Questions:
1. What is shown in the picture? Tell me more about him.
2. What feelings did you have while drawing?
3. What method of getting rid of fear did you choose? What is this fear now?
4. What feelings did you have during the “deliverance”?
5. Has your attitude towards this fear changed now?
Exercise “PROTECTIVE AMULET” (designed by compilers).
Purpose: reduction of psycho-emotional stress.
Time: 40 min.
Materials: A4 paper, colored cardboard, colored paper, plasticine, glue, scissors, threads, ribbons, buttons, rhinestones, sequins, cereals (buckwheat, rice), pasta (different in shape, size), beads, shells.
Procedure. It is proposed from the proposed materials to make yourself a personal amulet to protect against fears.
Questions:
1. Present your amulet to others.
2. How does your amulet work?
3. What properties does it have?
4. How will it help you deal with your fear?
5. Why were these materials chosen?
COMPLETION
Questions for the final discussion.
1. Has your attitude towards fear changed after the training? And what is it now?
2. How do you deal with your fears now?
3. What helped you overcome your fear?
4. What influence did the group have on overcoming your fear?
5. What conclusions did you draw for yourself?

SOURCES
1. Andrusenko V.N. Social fear / V.N. Andrusenko.—Sverdlovsk.: Publishing Center “Academy”, 1991.—456 p.
2. Barkan A.I. Practical psychology for parents / A.I. Barkan. – M.: AST – PRESS, 1999. – 270 p.
3. Shcherbatykh Yu. Psychology of fear / Yu. Shcherbatykh