The greatest difficulty for any adult seeking to establish a relationship with a young person is the teen’s resistance to authority and lack of trust in the adult world. This stage of adolescent development is normal, but it works against the traditional forms of verbal therapy. Art therapy can be effective for youth as they […]
What is presently in your life that you’d like to let go? Your unconscious knows where you get too attached. The mindfulness practice of walking in a circle, for instance, allows you to observe what’s going through your mind and what’s emerging from a deeper place. So again, what is currently holding you back in […]
I am so excited to introduce you to our new virtual college. Despite the prevailing uncertainty facing many today, we tackled the challenge that COVID-19 presented to CECAT and our students, and we’ve taken a proactive step. We have now built a beautiful, engaging virtual learning platform on our secure website. Yes, you can now […]
Instead of a new post about art therapy, I have decided to post parts of a wonderful article this month from a German futurist about the world after COVID-19. In working with trauma victims in art therapy, we often experience a time of integration, recovery and hope. The client emerges wiser, more compassionate and even […]
The connection between art and healing is as old as time and most ancient cultures explored this vital link in both tangible and mystical ways. Today, we know the ancients were onto something and that this connection, especially the process of art making, is based on verifiable evidence—whether this is experienced in rehabilitation and recovery, or […]
It is helpful to distinguish between the following in psychological testing: subjective, objective and ‘in-between’ methods—such as projective techniques, which are mainly used in art therapy. Subjective: A type of self-analysis where the client talks about their life and problems and is helped to interpret them. This is typically used in initial assessments! Objective: Using […]
Should we be talking during the drawing process? Is talking in art therapy a smart move? Good question. The answer? It depends on the client. Some children with trauma history find it helpful, especially to help diffuse their powerful and overwhelming feelings. Others become extremely involved with their art making and find it disrupting. Talking […]
Art therapy involves very practical art therapy techniques that encourage creative expression in order to foster healing and well-being. Here is one simple technique that can be used for both personal self-reflection and to help a client get in touch with the deeper self. Place an object in the palm of your hand. A good […]
What is art therapy integration? Consider this story… A man once visited a monk living in remote solitude. Curious about why somebody would choose to live so remotely, the man asked the monk for an explanation. In response, the monk led him to consider an old fountain. Stooping down to pick up a stone, the […]
A great inspiration for many art therapists is Freud’s frustration with words. In discussing dreams, he noted: “We experienced it predominantly in visual images … part of the difficulty of giving an account of dreams is due to our having to translate these images into words. ‘I could draw it,’ a dreamer often says to […]