If we suppress our creativity, it may lead to depression.
Humanity has always found creative ways to communicate how we feel, what we have witnessed, who we are and how we worship. We share an innate creativity and feel compelled to record events and milestones as there is an intrinsic need to satisfy that creative urge to communicate within our own being or with others.
If we suppress that creativity, it may lead to a negative mental or physical response such as depression, anxiety or drug dependency to name but a few. Creativity comes in many different forms such as gardening, cookery, music, dance and play. You don’t need to be wealthy to be creative and yet creativity can bring untold wealth in peace of mind and allow us to become centered and energetically engaged with our bodies.
Positive mental and physical wellbeing is attainable if we allow our creative urges to be satisfied. Sometimes just the act of making an image is enough to be a stress release valve and other times we can just ‘sit’ with it as our subconscious recognises the emotion we are experiencing and the memory from whence it came. This allows us to ‘meet’ that feeling when it is the right time for us and, if we listen to our thoughts that are evoked surrounding the image or form, it in turns becomes a healing force.
Having trained and worked within the private and public healthcare and educational sectors in a medical, advisory and creative capacity for the last 25 years, I now promote healing from a holistic viewpoint. As a Reiki Master, I understand the importance of energetic balance within the body and how deep listening and meditation is key to maintaining a composed existence. Over the decades I used art in a healing capacity and so four years ago found myself studying Art Therapy at CCAD. Having completed my Level 8 I am now in my second year of my Level 9, which is the MA Masters in Art Therapy. I am finding more people are curious to learn about this relatively young therapeutic field, so here are a few of the most commonly asked questions that come my way…
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy occurs when art and psychotherapy come together to provide a therapeutic outcome. The art therapist facilitates the client’s use of art materials to help them to reach an understanding of their feelings, behavioural patterns, self-awareness and management of social skills. Art Therapy is not about the aesthetic qualities of the image but the art making process itself and allows the emotional exploration that process may evoke.
Where does an Art Therapist work?
Art Therapy is a mental health profession. Art Therapists work in a variety of places such as schools, hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, Special Educational and Residential Units. They are involved with children and adults, individuals or groups, private, public and community initiatives. Art Therapists engage with people who have physical or mental disabilities, those who have been traumatised by war, abuse, cyber bullying, natural disasters, and accidents. Art Therapists work with people dealing with the psychological aspects of chronic and serious illnesses.
Why choose Art Therapy over a more established form of Therapy?
Firstly, it is important to recognise there is no ‘one for all’ option in the field of cathartic therapies. Art Therapy can give a voice when there wasn’t one before. Sometimes it is so difficult to articulate how you are feeling. Our subconscious will only allow us to reveal to ourselves what we need to or are capable of dealing with at any time. Through the image making process and facilitation from the therapist the client becomes more self-aware. Sometimes things are too difficult to express verbally and the art therapy provides a safe platform for gently exploring feelings and to help make sense of them.
What goes on in an Art Therapy session?
Art Therapy sessions can either be on a one to one basis or in a group setting. A variety of art materials will be made available for the client to use and if the client presents with a particular issue, the therapist is trained to suggest a specific medium that will facilitate a process that may prove insightful or thought provoking for the client to address.
Sometimes the therapist may use a directive, such as a ‘theme’, to help keep the client focused and other times the client works intuitively and spontaneously. They do NOT have to have any artistic interests, experience or perceived capabilities in order to attend an art therapy session. The materials provided will cater for all capabilities.
Remember, it is not about the end result but the PROCESS that is important.
Would The Therapist ever try and analyse my work?
The therapist is there to facilitate the process not to interpret the client’s work. The therapist is trained to help the client to interpret their OWN work, to begin to recognise what their subconscious is trying to tell them, to enable them to reconnect on that level in order for the healing to begin.
Do I have to be good at art to do Art Therapy?
There is no right or wrong way of creating the image or form and there are no expectations on behalf of the therapist. It is not an art class. There is no critique involved.
Discovering the process of how to process is what is important. With the freedom of knowing you are free to create, comes the freedom of true self-expression.
Can I do Art Therapy at Home?
Earlier I reflected on the importance of allowing an outlet for creativity in your own space. This allows for a person to un-wind, relax, reflect and process. However, you would not be practicing Art Therapy in the complete sense but that of therapeutic art. The input of a therapist is required for it to be true Art Therapy.
Using various artistic means and teaching practices of how to journal, allows people to reflect and process events, enabling them to track experiences in a form that other people cannot scrutinise or decipher. Art journaling allows for reflection and can be revisited and revised at any time. This is a very powerful tool for reclaiming ownership of situations and events and something that is open to all ages, capabilities and financial constraints.
How do I know where to go if I want to see an Art Therapist?
IACAT is the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapies. They will have a list of credited Art Therapists in a chosen geographical area. Their website is iacat.ie and can provide further information.