One of the questions that has arised during this project is whether we can self-guide and self-direct our own healing and become our own art therapist. No one knows our own trauma like we do. I thought I would reach out to the son whose book has been the foundation of this project for her insight and guidance. Here is our conversation:
Kimberley: Hi Dr Amy! I hope you don't mind me messaging you with a few questions for my dissertation on art therapy. I'm starting to feel overwhelmed with my research and could really use some guidance.
• Why do you think art therapy works so well and so successfully, especially in relation to trauma?
• How many art therapy sessions does a client tend to have?
• What misconceptions do you find people have about art therapy?
• Do you think it's possible for someone to feel the benefits of art therapy without seeing a qualified art therapist? For example, if they are doing talk therapy sessions but making art in their own time to address their concerns about their traumatic experiences? I do talk therapy sessions and often discuss what it was like to bear witness to my mum's severe stroke while we were in a shopping mall. I would then do the 'art as therapy' in my studio afterwards to face what happened and start to make sense of it. Is this still valid without an art therapist present?
Amy: Hello! Tell me about your dissertation! What program are you in? Amy
Kimberley: Hi Amy! Thank you so much for getting back to me!
I'm at Leeds Arts University and I'm in the final year of the illustration program. I'm purely an artist and have no psychotherapy or counselling skills, though I've had counselling for a number of years and the area interests me greatly. I have self-directed my own healing this year through one of the modules and Art Therapy is perhaps something I would like to move onto for my MA. I'm deciding between that or Fine Art and developing my practice further, but with a healing lens.
While I'm still in an art institution my dissertation and practice are mostly art-focused for now., My dissertation is called "Art Therapy and Trauma: How Can Art Therapy Be Used to Help Support Trauma and PTSD?" and I'm trying to unpick a few things:
• What creativity is and why it's good for us from a scientific standpoint
• What trauma is by definition and what happens to our brains afterwards
• What art therapy is, what an art therapy session entails and what an art therapist does
• Art as therapy and whether we can achieve the same benefits of art therapy alone in our practice or if we need to have the guidance of an art therapist
The main question I'd like to try and answer is whether we need to have an art therapist with us, or can it be a personal journey that we undertake ourselves?
Amy: So cool! I believe we know art to be healing and people find so much relief in externalizing their inner feelings. An art therapist can facilitate that process for transformation of trauma, moving away from feeling stuck and stop avoidance. I find the art I made growing up and all my life to be healing. A lot of what you are wondering I address in my book, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder & Art Therapy. I think you would also find helpful info in Art as a Way if Knowing by Pat Allen for art without a therapist. Art and Fear is another good book for creativity and how it happens (forgot the author). I hope that helps for resources! Good luck with your project!! Keep me posted! One more-trauma definition can be found in the context of the disorders accrue stress disorder and PTSD. However, traumas can be little or big and are disruptions to development and relationship.
Kimberley: Thank you ever so much, I'm very grateful for your help!
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