The doctrines and philosophies of Transpersonal Psychology can be found in the teachings of some of the forefathers Carl Gustav Jung, Roberto Assagioli and Abraham Maslow. In essence "Transpersonal" means beyond the person and is based on the idea that humans are more than mind and body but are also composed of intangible, or transcendent, factors that make up the whole person. Just as your mind and body sometimes require treatment, your spirituality and other intangible aspects of yourself often require healing of a sort. As a transpersonal therapist I may draw from a variety of different religions and spiritual practices for tools and methods that can help you explore various levels of consciousness and use your spirituality to guide you.
What is Expressive Arts therapy?
Expressive arts therapy is an integrative multi-modal therapy with the emphasis on the healing aspects of the creative process. Movement, drawing, painting, sculpting, music, writing, sound and improvisation are used in a supportive, person-centered setting to experience and express feelings, thought & emotions. We will use the arts to let go, to express and to release. Involving the mind, the body and the emotions brings forth intuitive, imaginative abilities as well as logical linear thought. Using imagery and non-verbal modes allows an alternative path for self-exploration and communication.
What is Person-Centered?
A Person-centered approach requires an open, empathetic, honest, congruent and caring approach of the therapist and a strong belief that every person has worth, dignity, the capacity for self direction and an inherent impulse toward growth and to reach toward full potential. This is the foundation on which my practice rests. Just as the psychologist who framed the philosophy, Carl Rogers (1902-1987),I follow the client's lead as they explore the art, movement or writing & encourage them to focus on their current subjective understanding rather than on some unconscious motive or someone else's interpretation of the situation.
Do I need to be 'artistic' to benefit from Art Therapy?
As Transpersonal Art Therapy focuses on your experience of a particular event or situation & the process of creating the artwork itself. The artwork is viewed as an expression of that experience. For example, you may draw a squiggly line and this line may represent your feelings of a particular situation. The line doesn't have to be aesthetically pleasing or a certain colour or thickness - the focus is on the line, the process of creating the line and what this line means to you.
What happens to the artwork?
.In most cases clients like to take their artwork home to do further work or in some cases I keep the artwork if needed for the next session. It's up to you, what you would prefer.
Do you analyse my artwork?
The focus is on your inner experience—your feelings, perceptions, and imagination. Artworks produced are used to externalise your inner world providing you with an opportunity to explore them in a tangible way. Working in a transpersonal way I invite you to dialogue with the artwork using a variety of ways, my focus is not on analysing or interpreting the art.
