Art Therapy, My Philosophy + My Why.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a therapeutic modality that incorporates art-making and psychotherapy within a therapeutic relationship. The collaborative, sensory, and somatic (connecting to the body) nature that informs psychological functioning and well-being, within art therapy processes, can support in neurologically anchoring in positive experiences (I love sharing about the brain science benefits).
Art therapy is an excellent approach for self discovery, to work through challenges that might be difficult to talk about and to build on strengths and resiliency. It allows people to discover creative solutions to emotional, behavioural and cognitive challenges. It also acts as a mindfulness-based healing tool that can assist towards managing stress and contribute to relaxation and self-care.
This is all done through both art making and verbal discussion. There is no artistic ability required to try or benefit from art therapy approaches (there is also not an expectation to make art as part of our therapeutic journey).
My Therapeutic Philosophy.
Expanding on the description above, my philosophy as an art therapist is heart-centred and you-centred; encouraging you to trust what feels right in your process; offering suggestions, wonderings and support in utilizing the appropriate tools to compliment your therapeutic journey.
Art therapy (and therapy in general) is relationship, relationship, relationship! I believe that finding the right fit is critical (and I will support you in this alignment if it isn’t me). Dismantling the expert stance (the therapist knows all) is important to me. I will offer a safe container/frame to support your work and have valuable skills and tools you can try that are backed by education and experience. I believe that you are the expert of yourself. I want to understand your perspective and to support you in realizing your strengths and resources. “I’m here to get it right, not be right” - Brené Brown.
Art Therapy Benefits.
Based on My Therapeutic Philosophy
Being witnessed compassionately by being seen and heard, which is necessary to healing
Discovering more about your identity, purpose and what kind of life you’d like to live
Realizing and anchoring in your enoughness
Working towards agency and empowerment
Grounding mindfully in your body through the sensory system, sinking into your felt sense, intuition and knowing
Expressing, understanding, naming, tolerating and regulating thoughts and emotions
Following the emergent (what creatively emerges - learning to trust what feels right for you)
Not forcing meaning: trusting what needs to come out in the time it takes
PLAY (playing and be playful with art materials and other processes); play is critical to vitality at all ages
Improving on interpersonal skills
Learning creative problem solving
Building on strengths and resiliency
Neurologically benefiting through creative processes that can rewire neural (brain) pathways and shift thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
ART IS MEDICINE (and sometimes medicine is medicine; consulting with your doctor as needed to determine the appropriate medication(s) can additionally support you to begin and/or deepen therapeutic work)
My Why.
Why am I doing this? Why have I chosen this career as an art therapist, counsellor, facilitator and artist? Along with all I mentioned above I believe that individual healing and empowerment leads to global advocacy, healing and connection. I want to support in individual healing and growth and contribute in challenging and dismantling oppressive systems so that individuals can lead rich and meaningful lives and communities can thrive. Tiny task, I know. This all starts with doing our own work (myself included - walking the talk). I’m here to support individuals, families and groups towards healing, empowerment and purpose.
To deepen this why further, some excerpts from Sonya Rene Taylor’s book, The Body is Not an Apology: the Power of Radical Self-Love (a MUST read/listen):
“Our freedom from body terrorism is bound together [what I gather she means by body terrorism is sectional and intersectional cultural oppression]. We have a role in dismantling its systems and structures if we desire a free and spacious road to radical self-love. The first step is to interrupt the ways in which body terrorism resides in us.”
...AND...
“Lila Watson, an Aboriginal Australian artist and activist, along with the activists of 1970s Queensland are credited with saying, ‘if you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together’.”