Why choose Art therapy?
Everything we have learned in our early developmental lives about our place in the world, our worth, how to be in relationships, boundaries , how to survive hard things and our entire autobiographical history is held in the mid and lower parts of the brain which are not sophisticated enough to access language. These parts of the brain speak in metaphor, imagery, sound, colour, texture, movement, poetry, aroma. In other words the arts are the language of the mid and lower brain.
Other ways of knowing
In western society the use of language, writing, reading and even thinking in words is privileged over the many other forms of knowledge human bodies hold. These word activities are the domain of the prefrontal cortex of the brain, this part of our brain is the last to develop as we grow and is sophisticated enough to utilise language.
However it is the mid brain that holds everything we ever learned about relationships, our entire autobiographical history and everything we have learned about how the world works (even if we are not conscious of it). Therefore it also holds often unconscious, and embodied memories of the traumatic events and relational hurts we have lived through. This mid brain area does not speak in words, it speaks in images, colours, sound, aromas, movement, imagination, sensation and tactile experience. By utilising arts expression, specific arts therapy techniques and respectful therapeutic enquiry we are able to access this mid brain knowledge. We can then engage the prefrontal cortex to use language, make meaning and create meaningful life enhancing change.
A variety of methods and mediums
In an arts psychotherapy session we can, if you choose, use many different modes of creative representation to express feelings and experiences including visual art and sculpture, movement, voice and writing. This is done in conjunction with counselling and other forms of trauma therapy including as is appropriate.
The purpose of arts based psychotherapy therapy
There are many different forms of art therapy. I use the MIECAT form of creative arts psychotherapy, the purpose of which is to assist people to learn more about themselves, make meaning of their experiences and to use what they learn to create life enhancing change in their lives.
What happens in a session?
A creative arts therapy session always follows the direction of what holds the most importance or interest for the participant. The arts therapist acts as a companion, present and attentive, offering invitations to use different art therapy procedures, asking skilful questions, making respectful observations and paying attention to what is being said, not said and to the process of what is happening in the session. Because i have training in a number of therapeutic modalities we may decide to include a variety of other techniques and modalities into a session but you will always be well informed and invited to decide what is best for you throughout the process.
No interpretation will be made about your experiences or your representations. The process will bring you to your own awareness, understanding and potential choice for change.
Do I need to be artistic?
No artistic talent or experience is required.
In western society the use of language, writing, reading and even thinking in words is privileged over the many other forms of knowledge human bodies hold. These word activities are the domain of the prefrontal cortex of the brain, this part of our brain is the last to develop as we grow and is sophisticated enough to utilise language.
However it is the mid brain that holds everything we ever learned about relationships, our entire autobiographical history and everything we have learned about how the world works (even if we are not conscious of it). Therefore it also holds often unconscious, and embodied memories of the traumatic events and relational hurts we have lived through. This mid brain area does not speak in words, it speaks in images, colours, sound, aromas, movement, imagination, sensation and tactile experience. By utilising arts expression, specific arts therapy techniques and respectful therapeutic enquiry we are able to access this mid brain knowledge. We can then engage the prefrontal cortex to use language, make meaning and create meaningful life enhancing change.
A variety of methods and mediums
In an arts psychotherapy session we can, if you choose, use many different modes of creative representation to express feelings and experiences including visual art and sculpture, movement, voice and writing. This is done in conjunction with counselling and other forms of trauma therapy including as is appropriate.
The purpose of arts based psychotherapy therapy
There are many different forms of art therapy. I use the MIECAT form of creative arts psychotherapy, the purpose of which is to assist people to learn more about themselves, make meaning of their experiences and to use what they learn to create life enhancing change in their lives.
What happens in a session?
A creative arts therapy session always follows the direction of what holds the most importance or interest for the participant. The arts therapist acts as a companion, present and attentive, offering invitations to use different art therapy procedures, asking skilful questions, making respectful observations and paying attention to what is being said, not said and to the process of what is happening in the session. Because i have training in a number of therapeutic modalities we may decide to include a variety of other techniques and modalities into a session but you will always be well informed and invited to decide what is best for you throughout the process.
No interpretation will be made about your experiences or your representations. The process will bring you to your own awareness, understanding and potential choice for change.
Do I need to be artistic?
No artistic talent or experience is required.