Mujiyono Mujiyono, Eko Haryanto, Adi Kuntoro, Eko Nusantoro

Art Therapy-Based Expression Painting Training to Strengthen the Character of Street Children in Semarang City

Introduction

Art therapy-based expression painting training to strengthen the character of street children in semarang city. Art therapy-based expression painting training strengthens the character of street children in Semarang, reducing psychological burdens and fostering creativity, sensitivity, and courage.

Abstract

Street children are accustomed to living on the streets, in terminals, and in public places, often experiencing emotional stress. Their personalities become harsh, rough, and less sensitive. The solution offered is art therapy -based expression painting training as a way to channel hidden dreams and psychological burdens. The activity targets 15 street children at the Indonesian Gold Foundation Shelter in Semarang. Implementers include lecturers with visual arts expertise and counselors to ensure a more comprehensive and thorough training and mentoring. The program includes material presentations and creative practice in three face-to-face sessions, each lasting 5–6 hours. The expression painting approach uses a cycle-based art therapy that integrates cognitive, psychomotor, and affective aspects. The creative practice in each cycle uses art therapy stages including warm-up, recalling event, emotional expression and issues, restitution, and termination. The training results showed an increase in street children's creativity in painting. The first cycle was marked by hesitation and stiff expressions, while the second cycle demonstrated courage and diverse expressions through color and form. Participants were able to express their emotions in a painting and were able to appreciate it. This evidence confirms that the participants' creativity, sensitivity, and courage increased. The painting training has been able to reduce the psychological burden of trauma they experienced. The outputs include accredited articles, video highlights, local media news, and copyrights.

Review

This abstract presents a timely and socially relevant intervention aimed at supporting street children in Semarang City, a population frequently exposed to emotional stress and challenges in character development. The authors effectively identify the problem of harsh personalities stemming from difficult living conditions and propose art therapy-based expression painting training as a therapeutic solution. The focus on channeling hidden dreams and psychological burdens through creative expression is a promising approach, and the targeting of a specific group of 15 children at a shelter demonstrates a practical, community-oriented initiative. The methodology outlined suggests a thoughtful and structured approach to the intervention. The involvement of lecturers with visual arts expertise alongside counselors ensures a multidisciplinary and comprehensive training and mentoring process. The program's design, comprising three intensive face-to-face sessions each lasting 5-6 hours, indicates a significant commitment to participant engagement. Furthermore, the description of a cycle-based art therapy approach, integrating cognitive, psychomotor, and affective aspects, and utilizing specific stages such as warm-up, recalling events, emotional expression, restitution, and termination, provides a clear framework for the therapeutic process. The reported results are encouraging, suggesting a positive impact on the children's creative expression and emotional well-being. The observed progression from initial hesitation and stiff expressions to demonstrating courage and diverse expressions through art highlights the intervention's immediate effect on participants' confidence and emotional articulation. The abstract claims an increase in creativity, sensitivity, and courage, and a reduction in psychological burden from trauma, which are significant outcomes. While these observations are compelling, a full paper would ideally elaborate on the methods used to measure and "confirm" these increases and reductions. The listed outputs, including accredited articles, video highlights, local media news, and copyrights, underscore a strong commitment to documenting and disseminating the project's findings and impact.

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