Art Therapy

[Aurora]

Has anyone had any first hand experience with art therapy, particularily in uncovering trauma?

[fritchie]

Not me, but I’ve long noticed the similarity between V. van Gogh’s brightly colored, swirling paintings, and examples frequently published of schizophrenic art. I don’t know that there have been suggestions that he was schizophrenic, I’m just pointing out similarities.

[Aurora]

Well, that is interesting to think about, Fritchie. (I wonder if all art is therapy.)

However, I was hoping to talk to someone who was alive (ha ha)

[jwebb]

It's therapeutic for us all, no doubt. There is of course a whole Field called "Art Therapy". You can get a Master's Degree in it at many Universities, Marylhurst in my area, for one. I've read a bit about it, and it is fascinating. I thought briefly about pursuing it, but I'm afraid there is probably only about one job in the Field per State, at best, and funding for them all is either cut already or threatened. In this country we are rapidly eliminating all treatment for Mental Illness, and instead putting these people out on the street to be preyed upon or shot by the police or hustled into prisons. I know this hardly constitutes the "first hand experience" you've asked for. But it's an interesting subject and I hope you get some good responses.

[anne (bxl)]

I have "tested" art therapy a few years ago, just because I am curious of everything...... The therapist had been a bit destabilized by working with an artist. (like a primary school teacher who is suddenly requested to teach in high school classes)

A professionnal art therapist may be extremely efficient for non-artists discovering a new language to express their unconscious or secret world. and the main benefit of the work done will be therapy, not art.

any other advices?

[Aurora]

Anne

That is where my concern lies. I am a talented and once proficient artist who has spent many years in trauma. For the last 2 years I have been unable to tap into my skill without instilling panic inside.

My counsellor doesn't know much about art therapy but is suggesting some exercises and I am open to anything right now.

I'm wondering if art therapy is for releasing trauma, or for tapping into creativity. Is it meant to voice repressed feelings inside, or is it to train me to be an artist again? Is it meant for non artists to find a new voice, or experienced artists connect with new inspiration.

What is to be expected from it?

Thanks in advance to anyone who has insight

[Araich]

Aurora, first I'm sorry to hear of your woes. Especially the difficulty your having in working.

Over the years I've heard many things about art and it's relationship to emotion and self. Often a case is put that art is a healing thing. But of course a professional artist sees that it is far more complex than this. There are periods in my practice where the work causes as much pain as pleasure.

There is one consistent for me however, and that is the element of play. No matter what state of mind I bring to the workbench, if can relax, and play, I can always work through my problems. Not always solving or even resolving them, but forming a healthy perspective and at the very least, putting time and some emotional distance from them.

The difficulty is leaving your professional expectations at the door. You have part of your identity wrapped up in your art - this can get in the way of play. I don't really know how to put that aside, as for myself it's usually a mixture of pig headedness and desperation that gets me through

But I would humbly suggest trying a media or field of art that you have little experience of. Something light, and maybe even impermanent. Something relatively free of your own expectations. I imagine this is exactly what your counsellor has in mind.

And I would say your hopes should be limited to relaxing, having some fun, and the simple pleasure of using your imagination. An awful lot of good can come of this.

[fritchie]

Aurora - First, please let me apologize for what may have seemed a flippant earlier comment about V. van Gogh. I was perfectly serious in saying that I have not seen any particular diagnosis of his well-known mental malady, other than that it ran in the family, and Ido think his work resembles published images I have seen by schizophrenics.

However, this does not address the question you have now described. My knowledge is by reading or watching media only, but I have the impression that art therapy can take several forms. I believe it can help accomplished people work through “blocks” of the sort you describe. As Araich has said, it also can open a communication channel different from language, for people who have difficulty with words for whatever reason. It probably is the former approach that you want to look into.

I listen to a classical music station quite a bit as I work, and have heard on several occasions that a highly acclaimed early 20th century composer, Rachmaninoff, I believe, was helped through a blank period by therapy, but probably of the standard consultative sort. I agree with Araich in general, that your expectation probably first should be to achieve a regular state of relaxation, or of play, in the presence of art materials. Good luck with whatever method you try.

[Aurora]

Fritchie. You never need to apologize to me for speaking and I see nothing in your earlier post that warrants an apology of any kind.

You and Ariach have given me something to think about (ie playfullness). I have tried other mediums like paint and drawing and that doesn't seem to work, but maybe something less permanent like sand will help. Its hard to explain what goes through me when I get into a creative state of mind, but very quickly I resort to pacing and depression. My best description is sitting infront of a favorite medium, knowing how to move it, but there is fire inbetween my fingers and the pain goes through my nervous system.

Well, I'm up for breaking this block and determined to make it through. With your permission, I would like to share my experience with this therapy (to help me solidify what I come to realize)

Thank you for letting me share

[anne (bxl)]

aurora, what about art you are not familiar with : dance, music, song, theatre, poetry.....?

[fritchie]

Aurora - What is your accustomed medium - clay? or something else? Maybe just talking about what you do will help. By all means, share what you discover with us.

[jwebb]

I rushed in, above, and expressed some personal opinions colored by the painful experience of a dear sister, when clearly there are others way more thoughful. Please forgive. I think your experience and anything you'd care to share about it would be very interesting and valuable.

[Aurora]

Jwebb and all others

I gave an open question and you have said nothng that warrants an apoloy. Sometimes the answer I am looking for is hidden in something I never expected.
It is not lost on me the compassion I feel from my fellow artist and I am touched.
Originally I didn't want to say why I wanted to know, because I wanted uncensored answers, but I realized that if I want the apple of knowlege, I will have to cross the mud to get there. I am in the healing process, safe, and apparantly pretty tough now, so there is no need to worry about hurt feelings.
I am bound and determined to regain my creativity and I'm fortunate to have people of like mind to bounce ideas off of.

From what I've learned about art therapy is there is not much out there for information. I Have experimented a bit this weekend but I have nothing conclusive to share yet.

I will keep you posted and thank you again, my friends.

[Aurora]

Update on Therapy


After some exploring, this is what I can tell you about it.

It can be used for artists and non artists alike. The concept is to get emotions out in a universal language. If you are an artist, it is sometimes easier because it is a more fluid process. However, some mediums are too fluid and can lead to a rush of emotions that you are not ready to accept.

Example. In order to keep the person from feeling too much trauma too fast, the assignments are timed. My assignment was to draw sanctuary so when life becomes overwhelming I can think of this place and find calm. I had half an hour. In that half an hour I wound up drawing 5 pages and some of it was disconcerting, but.....I pulled out by drawing sanctuary again before the time was up.

Had I tried to explore this on my own, I would have spend all day (if not days) lost in the rush of emotions.

Another assignment I had was to do a simplistic non threatening item in clay. I did a pyramid and it took a rediculously long time, but I completed it and mailed it to a friend so I wouldn't destroy it. This is all about baby steps. I beleive that the talent stills lies within me and one day (slowly) it will return.

Thank you for letting me share. I will update you with other epiphanies and I bet we learn more about this process of creativity.

[Araich]

Keep us posted.

[fritchie]

Aurora - Sounds like you found a very good counselor. These two assignments strike me as creative and a good place to start. As RH said, please do keep us up to date. (I'll be creative in an old-fashioned way, and say that talking can help sort things out, also.)

[icreate]

I am so glad to read this thread and hope that you keep it going, and if you feel uncomfortable in sharing, e mail me. I would love to hear your results. I am going to post some things, and I know it will be long. I hope there is no word count in a post. I'll do the best I can and post more later.

I have worked and researched quite a bit on therapy and art, creativity and expression. In fact about 20 years ago, quite by accident I stumbled on a program that I call Express Yourself! It was used in the inner city schools to help children deal with their emotions and express them. We used theater, drawing, sculpting and writing.

Express Yourself! also has been used in the expressive therapy center in Houston.

Most of my discoveries have been by accident through classes, students and study.

Here is something to try and the story that went along with it.

I once had a young student who was trying to learn to draw. She was going through quite a bit of emotional trauma in her personal life, and ended up running out of the class in tears. I gave the class an assignment excused myself and went to talk with her. She said that it was painful and difficult to be in the class, and that she didn't want to make a fish look like a fish. I told her that was the type of class that it was, but delved deeper into what was happening with her. It was also because of some discoveries that I had about myself at the time, that caused me to probe deeper.

I asked her if she loved to create, and she replied yes. I then asked her what would happen if tomorrow she woke up and could create no more. Nothing ever again creativity ended. I knew her answer. I had been struggling with it myself. In fact I had a vision that my existence would be like a cartoon character that swirls up round and round smaller and smaller until, POP!

ALL GONE!

She agreed, reassured that someone else had felt the same way. I'll ask you the same question.

Next item on the agenda....

I then asked her when did she create her best work? I bet it was when she was mad or angry. This is nothing new. It is an emotion that is easily identified with. She agreed, giving me examples of things she would do when she was hurt, mad or angry, some type of pain.

So I asked her...

If you believe that you will cease to exist if you do not create, and you create better when you are in pain, than what will you do to be able to create?

She answered it. She would find pain.

I am sorry to say that many people believe this lie creativity = pain. For those who have been there and want to create, they must spend time creating in joy, love, and good emotions. Do whatever it takes to focus on these during creation. So you can train yourself to feel good while creating.

At the same time I was teaching a class in writing. I teach the principles of Gabriel Lusser Rico. She has two books out "Writing the Natural way" and "Pain and Possibility." I would highly recommend them to you. "Pain and Possibility" teaches you how to write through trauma, and come out the other side. I also found a book on creative visualization. It was one of those interesting finds that I discovered in a medical book store. I read it and tried some of the experiments and then came up with this one on my own.

(please be advised... I don't know what type of trauma you have been through, or how deep it goes, but visualization can be extremely hard and dangerous for some people. You might need to do it in the presence of someone else).

Close your eyes and visualize a large field. You are in the middle of this field, and at the edge, far far away is a forest. Everything is fine you are safe and it is a very pleasant place. Now at the edge of the field I want you to picture your creativity, in whatever form you would like. It is very, very far away, a blurr. Take a moment smell the breeze, feel it on your face. Now welcome your creativity to come a little closer. Take your time and remember that each time it gets closer you can tell yourself that you are safe and o.k. It does not want to hurt you or cause you pain. If anything it wants to help you get rid of things inside.

Keep doing this visualization until it gets very close. Take as much time as you need and if you need to stop and start again another time. That is o.k. Do it at your pace until you feel comfortable.

I was surprised when I did it I could not allow mine to come close. The fear, or uncertainty was overwhelming. I had to work on it several times before I could. I eventually want you to allow it to touch you and then dance like a little girl in the field with your creativity.

sounds corny but try it.

I'll post more later. I have said so much.

I'll be looking forward to your reply.
Bridgette

[obseq]

<<That is where my concern lies. I am a talented and once proficient artist who has spent many years in trauma. For the last 2 years I have been unable to tap into my skill without instilling panic inside. >>

Aurora,

Forgive me if I am wrong but what you describe seems to surround committing (yourself) to a piece and seeing it through to completion. To a lesser extent, I find myself intimidated at the prospect of a large endeavor simply because I know that it will require so much from me--this detail, however, has only become true in the last two years when I was in a bad car accident.

With 3 semesters remaining for my BFA, I was hit by a sorority girl driving her father's expensive car(go figure!!). Needless to say, those final semesters I was to spend completing work for my grad school portfolio became devoted to just completing my degree.

Over two years later, I am left with some permanent injuries and mired in a sort of void because I have not been able to work the same way I used to. As a consequence, the pursuit of my
MFA has been stagnant because of the cirsumstances surrounding my injuries. The only 'thing' I have going for me is my motivation to see my work through.

The panic you described, at least on my behalf, presently stems from the physical committment to a given piece. If not for my injuies, this would not be an issue..!


So Aurora, although I'm sure our circumstances are different, I wish you the very best of luck!

Feel free to vent anytime.

[Aurora]

icreate & obseq

Thank you for taking the time to write and share. Your posts gave me some thoughts to consider and I'm mulling them in my mind because some of it I never considered.

I thought to keep my past trauma quiet because very few people can relate to it and it is wrought with misguided stereotypes and is more complicated than one realizes.

I was married at 18. The first 10 years were fine. When I had two sons, my husband started to change. His insecurity and jealousy and control issues became paramount. He became extremely emotionally abusive. 8 years later I had a breakdown (overworked) and told him I was leaving. Then it got worse. Every day for a year and a half I was stalked, imprisioned, no privacy etc and he was so distraught at me leaving he was ready willing and able to shoot me and/or my children. (any anyone else that would help me). If I ran with the children without physical evidence, he would gain custody. If I got a restraining order, the paper would not stop a bullet.

I managed to escape by telling him we were going for marraige counselling to fix our marraige, but the counsellor could see what was going on and told him she wouldn't help us unless he went on medication. I told my family doctor earlier my plight and he perscribed the right antidepressants to calm my husband down long enough for me to get out safely.

The saga continues, but my children are safe.

In all of this, I would escape to my sculpting and writing to quell the fear and pain I felt everyday. I created beautiful touching work. I know I still have that in me, but now, walking down the corridor to get there sparks pain, loss of hope and skeptisim in the universe. What once saved me, now hurts me and I don't understand fully why. My work depresses me tremendously and I risk smashing it all so I have boxed it all, except a few that have no pain attached.

I am working on a few more art therapy exercises and I will let you know how they have helped or unblocked.

I feel silly for bringing such attention to me, but once, I didn't realize that drugging my husband was an answer and maybe I can get an answer here too.

Thank you

[icreate]

This is a very sensitive area. We can talk here, If you others don't mind. If they do, or you do, we can continue on privately.

First let me say that I u understand all that you are going through. It has been a very difficult thing. You can get through this. In all things PLEASE be safe, it is the greatest priority.

Here is a something to think about ..

If the sculpting and writing became an escape "to quell the fear and pain" Then is indeed it has a negative feeling attached to it, though it gave a positive result. It would make sense that doing it now would spark" loss of hope, pain". The creating was were you were when the pain became " real" to you or you worked through it. The trick will be in detaching the negative stuff from the incredible exciting experience of creating.

What obseq said also has validation. Create, just to create, and don't consider the act always therapeutic.

Another thought… I have not thought about this until just now. But part of my getting out of that was turning my creativity into ways of helping others i.e. The express yourself program, the writing classes, working with the kids in therapy. I was less focused on me and my stuff, and instead h ow it could help others.

All of this is a process.

One of Garbiel lusser Rico's writing tutorial talks about clustering emotions. On a blank sheet of paper draw a small oval and write the word "emotions" or "feelings" in it. Now in a spider web type of effect draw little lines off of the circle and put other circles there with emotions labeled , write down whatever that come up. Write down Every emotion that you can think off, some will lead you to others, so you can draw a line off of one to another. When you are done, let me know and I'll give you step to. Here is something to think about. When I did this years ago, while working through my trauma, many negative emotions came up first. But as years went on and I would do it again, positive things would come up. I'll give you step two in my next post.

Have you done the visualization with your creativity? I'm interested to know how it came up for you.

[chaz-abstracts]

Hiya Aurora,
I just happen to read and article in one my local art magazines
that my be of help I have'nt gone to the site but you might take a
look it is about boosting your creativity it is at.....
www.dARTi.com/creativityboosters the person is Artist Director
Kathleen Kelly Developing Artist Institute it is a list you are able to
print out. Phone is (860) 646-9679 email Kathleen@dARTi.com
and yes keep us posted.
Best Regards,
CHAZ

[obseq]

Aurora,

After mulling over the thread a bit, I forgot to make a suggestion that has worked for me.

Of course, this has only proven true for my specific circumstance.

As I mentioned before a major crux of the problem in my situation is physical execution. This singular point is, of course, compounded by the fact that I am hardly able to sleep, am in constant pain from my injuries, among other daily miscellany such as bills, job, etc.

In essence, when I would have usually been plugging away at a piece I am completely drained--just stagnant.

I simply began removing myself from my familiar environment and aspects of my daily habits. Rather than sitting around in my same space, I got up and drove around until I found a place I liked. I found a wide open desert field that had a perfectly framed view of sunset. The area was panoramic, arid, chromatically diverse and most important of all--the antithesis of how I felt in my daily routine. I'd often bring a skethch book with me or walk around filling my head with designs and all sorts of wonderful ideas. By the time I left I was less agitated and even more inspired; invigorated, rather to jump back into my work.

Bottom line: take yourself somewhere where you know you will feel good and where you can relax physically and mentally.

Best of luck.

[Aurora]

Chaz

Nice site, Very inspirational when one is feeling out of touch

thx

[Aurora]

Bridgette


Thanks for all of your insight. When I tried the meditation I was bombarded by choices (like hundreds of ping pong balls being thrown at me but I couldnt grab anything).

I'm going to resist doing the excersizes you suggest for now. My counsellor has me on a certain path. I am more interested in what art therapy is about in an observer point of view. Have you made observations about its progress?

Thx again

[Aurora]

Obseq

Would it be safe to say your physical accident and my emotional attack resulted in losing access to a significant part of ourselves? I miss my art so much.

Your suggestion about walking away and letting go reminds me of how exhausted I really am and I will do just that when I'm overwhelmed.

When you got hurt....did your mourn the change?