Art Therapy

Joshua and I went to a trial session with an art therapist today. We walked into a studio that felt like a warm, sensory bath. Paint and colors were everywhere. The place had an aura of exploration and messy beauty -- perfect for a neuro-different child. Judy, the artist/ therapist was immediately fascinated with Josh. Josh was fascinated with the showerheads and hairdryers that Judy drew for him over and over in a myriad of mediums. He even drew/ painted quite a few of them himself. Each time he admired the image with a sense of wonder and delight.

I don't know what it is about showerheads and hairdryers that my son loves so much. He has been obsessed with them for almost 3 of his 7 years now. I think he loves the visual image of a spiral or concentric circles. I mean, he really, really loves them. He will talk about them in a breathy, whispery tone of wonder usually reserved for prayer or the Grand Canyon or something.

As one of the two people in the world who are the closest to this boy, I feel such frustration that I do not understand how his brain works. What brings delight and pleasure to this autistic mind feels so far away and hard to grasp. Josh has few words so he cannot tell me much at all about what he is thinking. However, sometimes, when he draws something, I get a sense of his inner world and I, too, feel a sense of awe and wonder. I'm not exactly sure how heaven works but, if I make it there someday, I look forward to learning/ seeing more about how Josh sees and experiences the world.