Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diana Lea Baranovich University of Malaya Dept. of Educational Psychology and Counseling 3 rd Counseling Conference UCSI April 20 and 21, 2016 What is Expressive Arts Therapy Unlike art therapy, which only considers the visual arts in the therapeutic process and requires the therapist to be a formally trained artist, expressive arts therapies incorporates all of the art forms, visual art, music, dance, drama, journaling, creative writing, poetry, sand tray and creative play into the therapeutic process. Furthermore, the therapist need not be formally trained in any of the aforementioned art forms. Carl Jung (1876-1961), a Swiss psychoanalyst was the first to consider using experiential activities in his work with his patients. Jung believed that expressive, experiential activities were the pathways into the deep, unconscious psychic material of his patients. Jungian trained therapists have used expressive arts activities since Jung s time. Natalie Rogers (the daughter of Carl Rogers, who was also Jungian trained) coined the term Expressive Arts Therapy and began using it in her client centered practice during the early 1970 s. Natalie Rogers in the founder of the Expressive Arts Training Institute in Santa Rosa, California. In short, expressive arts therapy brings the individual into the unconscious realms of his soul, allowing the invisible to become visible. This is the essence of his existence and the innermost realms of his being. Expressive arts activities allow the client to continuously spiral between his inner and outer world; whereby, he brings the outward in and the inward out. These experiential activities give the client someone with whom to walk his path of self-discovery, as well as, giving the counselor and client, alike, a much more complete story of the client s journey toward health and wholeness. This adventure goes far beyond where words alone could ever go. 1
EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY Qualifications To be a certified Expressive ARTS THERAPIST ONEMUST 1. Be a certified mental health professional degreed at the Master s Level 2. Complete A 2 to 3 Year Training Program in Expressive Arts Therapy 3. Do not have to have any formal training in any of the art forms. 4. Receive 100 hours of your own expressive arts therapy (varies state to state) Pass a written and oral test expressive arts therapist 5. Complete a 2000 3000 hour internship 6. Pass a written and oral test expressive arts therapist You do not need to be a certified expressive arts therapist to incorporate elements of IT into your verbal counseling work. However, be sure that you have enough training and experience to incorporate the activity and that is in the best interest of the client and his needs. Visual Arts draw, paint, sculpture, clay, etc. Dance and Movement It s all about the client Always and Forever What Art Forms are included? Music and Sound singing, drumming, chanting, instruments Story Telling Creative Writing stories poetry narratives Creative Journaling Spiritual Transpersonal pray, meditate, creative visualization 2
Sand Tray (also known as sand play) Creative Dramatics (not the same as psychodrama) Play Therapy (not just for children) Dream analysis (additional training) Let s Remember The Expressive Arts Therapist Does Not Have To Have any formal training in any of the above art forms just a belief in his own creative powers, a personal experience and a love of the process. Where Did Expressive Arts Therapy Begin? One of the important died men in Dr. Diana s life Carl Jung (1875 1961) Carl Jung was the first to introduce expressive work in the psychoanalysis process. He used art work, movement, spirituality, in his work. He realized that there are many symbolic layers and meanings to his patients expressive work. Words are never enough bring the unconscious to the conscious in order to be processed and integrated. Important to look at many expressive works over time; it is never about one work. Only the creator dreamer can say what the symbols and work mean. Jung studied the historical meanings of symbols however, unlike Freud, Jung believed only creator can say what the symbols and images mean to him whether he created the symbols are is processing something ready made. Freud believes that each symbol has a universal meaning snakes are always penises. Jungian Psychotherapists have used expressive work as part of their work from the beginning. They wouldn t be practicing Jungian Analysis if they didn t. But many mental health professionals who aren t Jungian trained are certified expressive arts therapists or use aspects of expressive art therapy in their work. 3
Where did the use of modern day expressive art therapy begin? Introducing Natalie Rogers The daughter of Carl Rogers. Did you know that the late Carl Rogers has a daughter? Yes, he does Dr. Diana studied with her for a few summers in the 1990 s. Diana also studied at The Carl Jung Training Institute in Houston, Texas The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, California where she received her 3 rd masters in Transpersonal Psychology. About Natalie Rogers She is a clinical psychologist who is also a trained studio artist and writer. She has a strong Jungian background. During the 1970 s and 1980 s she embarked upon her own Active Research in Expressive Arts Therapy combining Expressive Arts with the Principals of Humanistic, Person Centered therapy. Well. She is Carl s daughter. For 20 years she experimented with a variety of clients from low functioning to high functioning children and adults in a variety of settings hospitals, schools, private practice, prisons, etc.. In 1989, after 20 years of active research, Natalie Rogers coined the term Expressive Art Therapy. (Jung called it Expressive Work ). In 1992 - Natalie Rogers funded The Training Institute of Expressive Arts Therapy in Santa Rosa, California. Throughout her research and also in her present day work and practice Natalie Rogers makes it PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT Expressive Arts Therapy is NEVER EVER to be used for DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES by ANY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WITH ANY CLIENT AT ANY TIME UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FULL STOP. 4
Natalie Rogers also devised an approach to using expressive arts therapy called The Creative Connection. What s The Creative Connection? When one art form is used as a springboard into another, such as writing flows into art work flows into movement, etc. One can begin with any art form. However, the different art forms can be used in isolation of one another. The more art forms a client experiences the truer and deeper his personal insights will be; however, the art forms do not have to flow one to another. The Art Forms that Natalie Rogers Uses in Her Creative Connection Approach are Visual Art Movement- Music and Sound Creative Writing and Journaling - Creative Visualization Recently, I read that she is now including sand tray work. The therapist can begin with any one of the art forms (client dependent). However, Natalie has a tendency to begin with creative visualization or meditation. REMEMBER A variety of expressive work over a period of time must be looked at in order to begin to get and clarify insights. It is never about one or two pictures, sand trays, so on OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY To bring the inward out and the outward in to be processed and integrated by the client as part of his growth and healing process. Jung said to make the unconscious conscious Natalie R. said to make the invisible - visible. There are Three Aspects of Processing Expressive Arts Work with Clients Inner and Outer Witness - Jungian Terms Facilitative Questioning by therapist (Humanistic Term) 5
The inner witness is the creator of the work. He is inner witnessing when he explores and process his work what it means or might mean. Only he can be his own inner witness. No one can be an inner witness for anyone else. The outer witness is someone else explores and processes what someone else s work means to him. With some expressive forms, we Spiral In and with others we Spiral Out. Spiraling In Spiraling Out - Always use the I statement. When I put myself in your work, I feel, I see, I think, I am reminded of How does the creator benefit from outer witnessing? He hears how others are affected by his work/story. Sometimes this resonates with the creator and gives him deeper self-insights. Creator ALWAYS goes first NO outer witnessing without first having inner witnessing. REMEMBER Only the creator of the work can say what it means. So, why do we need a therapist? To ask the right facilitative questions at the right time. Only the counselor can ask facilitative questions of either the inner or outer witnesses. Group members never become counselors and ask each other facilitative questions. NEVER LEAD THE WITNESS Important Law From the QDSS Meaning to ask a question that makes the client think in a certain way. Example when you identify something in his drawing/sand tray before he does. DON T ASK WHY QUESTIONS WHY????? You will see and understand this better when we practice. 6
Final Pearls of Wisdom from the QDSS 1. Never show emotional reaction to work. Hence leading the witness 2. Never call the work a master piece etc. 3. Never hang on the wall or display 4. Best not to allow client to take work out of room until termination time. 5. Nothing is trash - collect every lost and found button, toilet paper roll, used wrapping paper, orange peelings, old pictures from calendars, birthday cards, magazines, etc. 6. Background music????? Maybe/Sometimes it will make the creation less authentic. Music will lend a certain emotion (a form of leading the witness.) THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY I HOPE OUR PATHES CROSS AGAIN SOON dr.dileab@gmail.com 7