Stressful Childhood Experiences (ACE), Stress, and Solution-Focused Art Therapy

In the last ten years, about 85% of all adult clients I’ve worked with in art therapy at my studio have been affected by at least one stressful childhood experience (ACE). The main topics that triggered a painting therapy intervention included depression, burnout, PTSD, relationship problems, anxiety, ADHD and neurodivergence. Throughout the therapy process, the current issue often seemed to fade into the background, while stressful childhood experiences were brought to life on paper. Once these experiences could be painted and processed, the original problem was usually no longer perceived as burdensome.

Stressful Childhood Experiences and Adulthood Stress

Dr. Glenn R. Schiraldi explains in his article “Does worry (tied to ACE) keep you up at night?” (2021) why stressful childhood experiences can increase stress levels in adulthood. According to his research, these experiences overload the nervous system and send a constant alarm signal to the brain. The hyperaroused brain then overreacts to current fears and stressors that trigger memories of stressful childhood experiences [3].

ACE and Diseases in Adulthood

Dr. Felitti, in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control, conducted a large-scale study on ACE. The result showed that more than half of the over 13,000 adults surveyed had experienced at least one stressful childhood event. The more of these experiences a person had, the more likely they were to suffer from health problems in adulthood, including depression, cancer, cardiovascular issues, and substance abuse [5] [6].

The Solution through Painting: A Path to Reduced Stress coming from ACE

In Solution-Focused Art Therapy, the stressful childhood experience is decoupled from the feeling of stress. The calm atmosphere and deep breathing associated with the painting process are linked to the memory image. In cases of extremely traumatic images, it also helps to “organize” the remembered image on paper. Incomplete or distorted memories are corrected through this method, and therefore are no longer perceived by the brain as dangerous or alarm-triggering. This creates the foundation for lasting stress reduction and an improvement in the client’s current life situation.

Sources:

[1] The number was estimated excluding the uncorrelated ACEs.

[2] Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). “Different childhood experiences that can have negative and lasting effects on health and well-being.” Definition retrieved on 11/17/23 from: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/209814/Praevalenz-und-Folgen-belastender-Kindheitserlebnisse-in-der-deutschen-Bevoelkerung

[3] Schiraldi, G. R. (2021). The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook: Heal the Hidden Wounds from Childhood Affecting Your Adult Mental and Physical Health. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

[4] Psychology Today blog post, November 8, 2021.

[5] Felitti, V. J., & Anda, R. F. (1998). The Relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences to Adult Health: Turning Point for Public Health. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4).

[6] CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ace/

feeling overwhelmed as a child without a safe adult to approach for help can lead to ACE