i'm wondering if anyone here has ever done art therapy and what you thought of it. i happened to mention to my new t that i ordered a book on art journaling and it has a therapeutic focus to it. here's the book: art journals and creative healing, which of course is taking forever to arrive because i can't wait to get it. t is so cool and suggested i bring it in and we can work with it in session. it wouldn't have even occurred to me to ask for that. my new t is just so responsive - i love it.

i mentioned to her i had always thought about becoming a therapist when i was younger, but since therapy didn't help me in the past and for other reasons i wasn't sure it really was for me. last week i was looking into an art therapy program locally which just happens to be a leading program in the field and the orientation i like (psychodynamic & family systems) just for the heck of it. i don't know if i'll do this but it would combine my lifelong interests in psychology and art! who knows? my new t is a keeper and seems to be giving me hope that maybe i can really achieve some of these things i've always dreamed of doing.

[yogirl]

Originally Posted by reflection

i'm wondering if anyone here has ever done art therapy and what you thought of it. i happened to mention to my new t that i ordered a book on art journaling and it has a therapeutic focus to it. here's the book: art journals and creative healing, which of course is taking forever to arrive because i can't wait to get it. t is so cool and suggested i bring it in and we can work with it in session. it wouldn't have even occurred to me to ask for that. my new t is just so responsive - i love it.

i mentioned to her i had always thought about becoming a therapist when i was younger, but since therapy didn't help me in the past and for other reasons i wasn't sure it really was for me. last week i was looking into an art therapy program locally which just happens to be a leading program in the field and the orientation i like (psychodynamic & family systems) just for the heck of it. i don't know if i'll do this but it would combine my lifelong interests in psychology and art! who knows? my new t is a keeper and seems to be giving me hope that maybe i can really achieve some of these things i've always dreamed of doing.

hii art therapy is reli fun, me wuz in it fer 3 yers till we muve tu nuter place it wuz de best way fer me an sum uf uter alters able tu xpess dings wen we no wana tawk bowt dings. me ish me cud go bac tu it but me big no wans eni more Ts. lynn

[ECHOES]

I have not done art therapy, but I think it would be really fun and interesting! I think art and music are emotional and speak things that we can't or don't have words for.

One of my own goals is to find $$ in my budget to get some paints and brushes and just free-paint, let it flow like free association.

Let us know how this goes, if you want to share that.

And thank you for the book link!!

Originally Posted by reflection

my new t is a keeper and seems to be giving me hope that maybe i can really achieve some of these things i've always dreamed of doing.

I haven't tried art therapy, but I do use a type of free-association journalling that has been really helpful and eye-opening.

I love what you said above....so much hope!

[internettie]

I've done lots of art/music therapy in the past and I really enjoyed it. Also got a lot out of it. Some of my projects I have framed and hanging on my living room wall. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment when I see them.

I think it would be very fun to learn more about art/music therapy. I'll have to check out that book. Another interesting book is the "Artist's Way' series. I find that it really draws me out of myself.

Sometimes I do art therapy while I'm talking to my T. I seem to think better when I'm doing my art. I would think that it has something to do with stimulating both sides of the brain.

Interesting topic. Thanks for bringing it up.

[3velniai]

I've done art therapy for almost a year (it was a group), but i had to quit it recently because it started to uncover something that i wasn't ready to see yet, it became a huge trigger to me. Be careful with this art therapy thing, it's not as harmless as you might think

[chaotic13]

I guess I have stubbled on my own form of art therapy. As a child I used to draw a lot, but kind of forgot about it until recently. One night I was having a particularly hard night, a lot of mental noise floating around in my head. Instead of journalling about it, I picked up a pencil and drew what was in my head. Amazingly after I was done, I was shocked but the noise in my head was gone. My T has been very cool about it too. I brought that sketch to my next session and mentioned that I drew something wacky (of course this was at the very end of the session). My T asked if she could see it and it about floored her. Ever since that session, sharing my sketches has been part of my therapy session.

For me art has been a way for me to communicate, when the words just refuse to come. Its helped me a lot the last few month to be permitted use this medium to explore my inter chaos.

Originally Posted by earthmama

I haven't tried art therapy, but I do use a type of free-association journalling that has been really helpful and eye-opening.

i have read where you said you color sometimes in therapy though. i think that is cool.

Originally Posted by internettie

I've done lots of art/music therapy in the past and I really enjoyed it. Also got a lot out of it. Some of my projects I have framed and hanging on my living room wall. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment when I see them.

i'm glad to hear it has been so helpful for you and others here. i do think that some things can be expressed easier nonverbally as echoes mentioned. i love that you've framed and hung some of your art!

I think it would be very fun to learn more about art/music therapy. I'll have to check out that book. Another interesting book is the "Artist's Way' series. I find that it really draws me out of myself.

i love that book. my new t even does artist way workshops. i'd like to take on from her at some point.

Sometimes I do art therapy while I'm talking to my T. I seem to think better when I'm doing my art. I would think that it has something to do with stimulating both sides of the brain.

interesting thought about the sides of the brain. i don't draw but i know people who do some of their best thinking when sketching away in lectures, etc.

Interesting topic. Thanks for bringing it up.

thanks for your thoughtful responses.

Originally Posted by 3velniai

I've done art therapy for almost a year (it was a group), but i had to quit it recently because it started to uncover something that i wasn't ready to see yet, it became a huge trigger to me. Be careful with this art therapy thing, it's not as harmless as you might think

you've brought up a really good point. i will take it to heart.

[chaotic13]

A few times drew something that really disturbed me. I have a folder where I put my drawing. When this happens I put them in the folder and close it. It is kind of my way of saying... Its out and separate from ME. Some of these drawing I will then share in therapy if it still bothers me.
One thing I've noticed is that just like with verbal communication my self preservation instinct still kicks in. I've not been able to draw the really bad images in my head.

[Hunny]

For me my art has been like a dream or dreams. I can remember what I drew in Kindergarten, Grade 5 and forward until now.

I sometimes look back and understand why I drew what I did when I did.

It also gave my thoughts some 'significance and names' when I was little. I remember my kindergarten teacher telling me I created a flower on the page and sure enough when I looked down there was a flower!

I am a bit stuck as far as doing Art at the present time probably because I am helping my grandchildren do their art. It's still enjoyable but less therapeutic.

I have drawn so many of the issues that I am dealing with and have plans to have my own website to help others.

I have read 'Artists Way' and been in a group but when issues started coming up I felt the group was no longer appropriate but it really helped in my therapy! I mean it was difficult, hard, emotional painful but ultimately helpful. My therapy ties in well with left brain, right brain. I just don't think I would be able to be as clear minded if it didn't.

I started out about 8 years ago with a few 3B, 4B & some 6B pencils and some decent porous paper. Cost probably about $10.00. Oh and an artist's eraser. I would apply the pencil and then erase. Images would appear that I was working on at the time. In those days it was mostly to accept, not be in denial about my mental/emotional issues.

I felt like it gave me affirmation. It's hard to explain but I knew because I knew that it was true. I didn't need to do all the techniques in Artist's Way after that because it just flowed like a waterfall from my finger tips. Then I took a year of school in Web and CD Rom Development with a focus on graphic design in order to try to help myself and others with my kind of condition.

My actual therapy is based on a type of EMDR that uses only one eye at a time but when I tried to upload the site before on another forum it didn't take.

Hopefully something here rings true for someone else. I hope to do a blog like you Reflection. It looks very interesting.

[sunrise]

That book looks really interesting, reflection. Your idea to be an art therapist sounds like a great melding of your interests.

My teen-aged daughter's therapist is an art therapist. I think it helps them communicate (can't say for sure--I'm not in the room with them) because my daughter is not very verbal in therapy. Sometimes my daughter paints during the session, of sometimes she and the T paint something together. They build things together too. They also made a large collage together over many weeks that was used as a piece of furniture. I think doing something together in session helps the conversation.

[coconut64]

I've been thinkng for a while about trying either art therapy or music therapy. Music makes my feelings and pain come out so I thought it could somehow speed my therapy? Just have to find time to fit it in. It's just a thought for now, haven't really searched for therapists in my area who specialize in this.

[chaotic13]

Icestatue if you ever get that website up I love to see some of your drawings.

[sunrise]

coco, my therapist uses music in therapy sometimes. Like when we are going back in time to when I was an infant, he will play a lullaby. Stuff like that. He's not a music therapist, but integrates an occasional use. It can be very powerful.

[Xtree]

I have not done art therapy but I am interested in trying it. Thank you for the feedback, it has been very helpful.

[chaotic13]

When you think about it, the use of art or music to facilitate memory recall or simple expression makes sense. I is just another way to make a connection with stuff stored dead within the folds of the cerebellum.

[Hunny]

My therapist has sung a song on occasion. He has a very nice voice but when he sings it's not about keeping on tune or anything it's about something more, something like...gentleness, calmness, quietness, safety, care and concern.

So, I wouldn't call it 'music therapy' but it has a piece fo music therapy about it. I think I use music on myself, more to sooth than connect.

I'm not sure where in the brain but perhaps music goes more to the place where there is no speech/language, a prelanguage time perhaps. Maybe art (painting, drawing, etc) doesn't connect there quite as easily, if at all.

I hope to have a website but I will take it as it comes. It certainly will be a dream come true but the dream may look different in reality.

The artwork is very particular to this site and vice versa. I aleady have some of the graphics done but it will take a bit of doing yet. But yes, I will put it out there when done. It's good to have something to work toward.

It will be pretty different than this site. This is an amazing site. I've been looking around for a few days now and am amazed at it's depth! I am grateful I have a bit of time to look these days and plan on checking in regularly even when I don't have as much time.

Thanks for everyone's input on this subject and for starting it in the first place! Definately interesting to me.

thanks everybody for all the input about art therapy! it's really encouraging to hear how helpful it has been for some many here.

ice, let us know when you have a site or blog up. i'd love to take a look.

[coconut64]

Originally Posted by sunrise

coco, my therapist uses music in therapy sometimes. Like when we are going back in time to when I was an infant, he will play a lullaby. Stuff like that. He's not a music therapist, but integrates an occasional use. It can be very powerful.

Sunny, that sounds so soothing. I wish my T would do that instead of this inducing transference business. I hate it. I'm not sure I can take it.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by coconut64

Sunny, that sounds so soothing. I wish my T would do that instead of this inducing transference business. I hate it. I'm not sure I can take it.

It actually wasn't soothing one way or the other, but just helped set the stage and take me back in time. It helped me be the infant in the moment and feel what she felt. I think I'm highly suggestible.

Coco, what do you mean your therapist "induces transference"? Deliberately? That sounds kind of harsh. If it disturbs you or feels like a violation, can you ask him not to use that technique? I am used to reading (here on PC) that people explain certain feelings they experience toward their T as transference, but I've never heard anyone say their therapist deliberately induces transference in them. If you don't want him to do that, please tell him no.

[coconut64]

Originally Posted by sunrise

It actually wasn't soothing one way or the other, but just helped set the stage and take me back in time. It helped me be the infant in the moment and feel what she felt. I think I'm highly suggestible.

Coco, what do you mean your therapist "induces transference"? Deliberately? That sounds kind of harsh. If it disturbs you or feels like a violation, can you ask him not to use that technique? I am used to reading (here on PC) that people explain certain feelings they experience toward their T as transference, but I've never heard anyone say their therapist deliberately induces transference in them. If you don't want him to do that, please tell him no.

Sunny, my T follows a psychoanalytic orientation, blank slate, no self-diclosing, big on transference. I hate it, I'm not sure I can do this. Don't get me wrong, he is great, supportive, but we finally reached this point. It had to happen sooner or later. We've been at it for a year and half so I guess it's time. I've told him to help me out but he is just letting me swim in the transferance. I'm drowing and my pleas for help are either not being heard or disregarded in the aim of healing.

[Hunny]

"my T follows a psychoanalytic orientation, blank slate, no self-diclosing, big on transference. I I've told him to help me out but he is just letting me swim in the transferance. I'm drowing and my pleas for help are either not being heard or disregarded in the aim of healing"

I am terribly sorry I wish I had something to offer around these statements but I don't. It's just that it sounds kind of confusing to me but I'm not the one who needs to understand it anyway, right.

But, I did want to add to my previous email, that the few times my T sang, were usually at the end of a session, as in 'our quiet time'.

So, maybe I'm posting in the wrong place by posting under music/art therapy. Sorry, it just occurred to me last evening as I re-read the emails here.

Take care all.

[coconut64]

IceStatue....you're in the right place.I'm the one who should be apologizing. I'm sorry I hijacked the thread with my own therapy rant. Sorry, just going through a difficult time. This thread is indeed about art and music therapy.