Arte Terapia grupal infanto-juvenil en Centro Comunitario de Salud Mental Familiar / Child/youth Art Therapy Group at a Family Mental Health Community Center

Este articulo da a conocer, analiza y sistematiza los resultados de la implementacion de un dispositivo terapeutico con arte; conformado por un espacio, un tiempo logico y la interaccion con otros. La experiencia fue realizada con poblacion infanto-juvenil de un Centro Comunitario de Salud Mental Familiar (COSAM) de Santiago de Chile. “Mirandonos a traves del arte” surge como respuesta a la pregunta ?Que dispositivo seria pertinente implementar en salud mental publica, que acoja la demanda de escucha, de quienes presentan dificultades de expresion verbal? “Mirandonos a traves del arte” es un dispositivo abierto que lleva dos anos, con sesion semanal de hora y media. Asisten ninos/as y adolescentes entre 6 y 18 anos. La metodologia fue no directiva, favoreciendo un ambiente propio para la creacion. Esta incluye la escritura de intenciones para la sesion, la eleccion de materiales y temas para crear. De la experiencia resulto una practica subjetivadora de pensamiento critico, y autonomia de eleccion. Estos tienen por limites el mismo que imponen materiales y tecnicas, requeridos para un resultado; la intencion, y comentarios criticos sobre si mismo y los otros. Cuando subvierten el limite externo, aparece el sujeto del discurso psiquiatrico, que lo fuerza a renunciar a su identidad, adaptandose a lo exigido desde el contexto de la salud. En el dispositivo, el unico limite es el encontrado y reconocido por el nino, no se impone. Otro resultado es el desarrollo de habilidades sociales en la interaccion con otros. Asimismo, se han creado lazos con instituciones que promueven esta expresion de lo simbolico.  Abstract: This paper introduces, analyzes and systematizes the results of a therapeutic device (mechanism) using art. It is defined by space, logical time, and other interactions. The experience was carried out with children and youth at a Family Mental Health Community Center (COSAM for its acronym in Spanish) in Santiago, Chile. The resulting device, called “Seeing ourselves through art” answers the question: Which would be the appropriate device for a public mental health institution that embraces listening to children and youths that have difficulties with verbal expression? “Seeing ourselves through art” is an open device that has been operating for two years, in one and a half-hour weekly sessions. Youth participating in this program are 6-18 years of age. The methodology used was a non-directive approach, which allows an adequate area for creation. It includes establishing intentions in writing, material selection and choice of themes for creation. From the experience resulted a subjective practice in terms of critical thinking and choice autonomy, only limited by materials and techniques required for certain outcomes, while considering intentions as well as critical comments about themselves and others. When external limits are subverted, the subject of psychiatric discourse arises and forces it to refuse its identity, adapting itself to the health context. Nothing is imposed on the child; the only limitations are his/her own findings and acknowledgements. Another result is the development of social skills due to the interactions generated with others. Likewise, links have been built between institutions that promote this symbolic form of expression.