This episode features two service users and an art therapist discussing their experiences and the benefits of art therapy.
- Art therapist at CAMHS in Dunstable working with many different young people for different reasons. Main approach is to support them to develop or come to a better understanding of what's going on for them and the way I do that is by inviting them to use a range of art materials.
- A typical session invites a young person to The room and get to know them. May already know a little bit of information through an assessment. Have a talk about what the problems are And the things they might like to work on our achieve together. I would then open up the room and show them the different art materials and I'm led by them and they are able to make anything they want to using any of the materials and I'm there to help and support with that. Together we will look at the artwork and talk about what's going on and what the outcome might mean for them. I'm really led by the young people. I think that's quite common myth in art therapy that a therapist may ask you to draw feeling sad but actually that's not always helpful. It's helpful to allow the creative process to happen and to see what comes out.
- One of the service uses reminisces using art therapy and agrees that she wasn't told what to do. It was there as a means to motivate her. Used printed pictures of her and her friends, places she wanted to go, things she wanted to do and those materials were brought to her house focusing on creating something with that. This would allow discussion and questions to open up and it wasn't seen by her as a "harsh therapy." Would motivate and remind the service user of why they needed to get better.
- Art therapist agrees that something important is being said because in mental health sometimes negative things are focused on but it's really important to think of the uplifting things. And making images, poems, songs about our future and things to look forward to. Art can really help foster that creativity and enjoyment. Sometimes we forget to play and plates actually a really important part of our development. Play, having fun, and having a shared experience with somebody.
- Another service user thinks that having art is a great way to have a distraction. They make lots of quotes to stick on the wall to keep them safe by doing something and at the end of the session they have something to look at and show that they've created something. They have achieved this. When they were in crisis was mentioned to find the little things that bring pleasure, don't try to achieve happiness because snapping yourself out of this is not possible at this time. People to look back and say "when I made that I was happy "
- Art therapist agrees with the importance of taking a piece of art home
- Service user initially didn't know where to put the piece of work but then realised to put it on the mirror as their problems were eating specific, The artwork was the reminder of why they need to get better. It was such a helpful tool because every time they looked in the mirror to criticise themselves there was then a distraction - A positive distraction.
- Art therapist says that you do not have to be creative to enter art therapy sessions. That's another myth of art therapy. People really benefit when they don't have an interest in art and it can be really beneficial because those defences are down. You don't need to worry about making a good or a bad picture. It's about being expressive and creative in the moment. No prior experience is needed and our therapist is there to help show how to use the clay or the inks. Going back to taking things home in art therapy is really important because it can remind you of the positives. But then the artwork may contain things that you may want to leave behind so it's my job to look after that for the young people. I contain that and hold that until they are ready to take that home with them. The art acts as a really helpful container to all of the worries.
- Of the service user didn't do art therapy specifically but as part of crisis they were encouraged to do it and still has one picture on the wall from when they were really poorly. Although the time was not good for them, they were in such a bad place that they could not talk on move, her mother sat on her bed and made it with her so it holds that special memory to show that there are people around them who care.
- Art therapist job is there for people who may not have that option with somebody else and they can help to encourage that journey instead of a loved one. Throughout time in therapy together they then create this big portfolio of artwork which can be reflected on. Words can be too difficult sometimes, everybody experiences this in therapy, to describe what's going on and it isn't about describing a picture to show exactly how you feel it can be about making a mess or chaos.
- Service user reminisces making a diagram with pen of a town with the psychiatrist to discuss what was happening to them. Every time they struggled they were encouraged to look at the diagram of the town and visualise it.
- Creativity was our first form of communication right back at caveman times, before we were even talking we were making pictures on walls. It predates all of our verbal ways of communicating.
- Service user agrees that when they couldn't even talk to anyone, and there aren't enough words in the world to describe how are you feeling, it is best to draw something instead. So as you get older you get into this frame of mind that you have to be really good at something for it to be your hobby but even if it makes you feel slightly better then you should pursue it.
- Art therapist agrees that this is where you need to feel really safe and trusted with your therapist. Sometimes you have to make things that feel uncomfortable or that may not look aesthetically pleasing but the trust in the safety that you have with your therapist to go to those places is important. There is no pressure to know exactly what's going on. Weeks and months later you can look back on the arts and realise what was happening. When you step out of it and reflect that's a really powerful part of your journey.
- This particular art therapist works from children ageing from 0 to 18 but at therapy can used for people with ages ranging up until their retirement. Art therapy covers a spectrum of being able to work with everybody. It's a really accessible therapy that can be used across the ages. No age prejudice or bias so everyone can engage.
- Within CAMHS Setting we use it to support people with mental health problems but there is art therapists all across the spectrum. There are art therapists for dementia care, palliative care, Learning disabilities so it's a really accessible type of therapy for lots of different people.
Some reflections and observations by listening to this podcast: I became my own art therapist without really realising it as it was really what I needed in some really traumatic moments. I hadn't tell me for around two weeks at that point and it really started to show signs of struggling and signs of being alone how do I cope with this? I've never been alone like this before. Even though it took an extreme event I did begin to start working without prejudice on my outputs and without consciously making a final product. I have no prior skills anymore because of my retinal detachment and was free to do whatever I wanted. Even though I didn't have expertise in the materials I was using as I was using watercolours and acrylic and oil Pastore for the first time since going blind, and didn't have a professional to guide me, I was essentially leading my own art therapy sessions to make sense of how I was thinking and feeling. It's interesting to hear the dynamic between service users and art therapist and why they do certain things and how impactful that has been on their recovery. This will be very important to my research and my dissertation, even to my future practice. I enjoyed the mention of how accessible at therapy can be no matter the age or the ability of somebody it's all inclusive and nonjudgemental. While I'm still in one of the worst times in my life recovering from various traumas, I need that no pressure approach and gentle encouragement to create work on my own terms and for my own mental health benefits and growth. Creating work for any other reason during this time, as someone who is retinas have detached and someone in a class of sighted peers, it is not enjoyable to me and provides so much pressure and comparison holding myself to an impossible standard that I cannot achieve. Creating work through an abstract expressionist and art therapy lens and there was me the freedom to play and have fun and explore my emotions no matter my mood. This can have very exciting results.
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