Beyond Resistance and Resilience: The Altered Book in Adolescent and Young Adult Complex Trauma Recovery, a Method

The method detailed in this paper was developed to explore the potential positive impacts altered bookmaking could have on adolescents and young adults with complex trauma histories. The paper describes the literature supporting the use of art therapy in trauma treatment and using altered books with adolescents to explore identity and assist in treating depression and anxiety. Trauma is typically not communicated linearly or with words; art therapy is effective in treating individuals with trauma, as the modality allows the client to communicate symbolically. By externalizing the story onto an object, a book, clients create space from their thoughts, memories, and emotions. To expand upon these findings, I created trauma-informed interventions for adolescents and young adults with complex trauma histories to explore the potential value of an altered book art therapy intervention with this population. My observations of the clients’ positive responses have supported the need for future research of providing an altered book intervention to assist in the progression through trauma recovery