Witness to the Creative Process: Time & verbal processing & some other ramblings...

Great discussions in class yesterday... When facilitating and witnessing the creative process in therapy it is always a delicate balance between quiet creation and verbal intervention. Only time and experience can assist in knowing when to interrupt, engage, ask a question... It is equally important to not continually "rescue" clients or prematurely pull them out of a process that would otherwise have been a break through for them in some way: i.e., letting them sit in discomfort and then figure out how to make it change is much more powerful than someone stepping in (unasked) and 'fixing it' for them.

I, too, have struggled with this for years in facilitating art therapy groups where there is so much material brought to the fore so quickly. Being able to digest it all is overwhelming. Being able to manage the group as a whole is necessary to not be side-tracked or pulled into solely individual experiences.

Most recently I sat with an individual reviewing a list with words on them for a collage image. The words were are negative. I witnessed this person sitting with this list and watched to be sure they were OK. I am not a mind-reader, but I was sensing that this list was overwhelming and this person may not have been sure how to switch gears or that they had the choice to switch gears. After what seemed like several minutes (but most likely less than that) I quietly spoke, "You can choose to not look at those words." This person seemed to reawaken from a state pulling him/her in a very different place. I imagined it may have been a dark, memory-laden area of life that this individual may be faced with often. The interruption on my part seemed to be necessary. It appeared that there was not going to be an enlightened breakthrough at this point, yet instead, an example of how strong of a hold the negative feelings, harsh words, and nightmare experiences of this person's past have in the here and now.*

We say, "Carpe Diem! Seize the day!" But for some, it is a daily challenge when the "there and then" continues to infiltrate the "here and now". So when we spend our here and now's with our clients, we are on alert for keeping the present moment balanced whilst not avoiding their pasts as well as maintaining the safe and secure creative atmosphere of solo activity, quiet contemplation, social interaction, & self-discovery, among many other aspects.

(This is why those who choose to utilize art in a therapeutic manner with others MUST have the proper education to do so).

*example altered for individual's privacy

Under construction...

I've always wanted to take the plunge and reach out to the world through the written word with my ideas about art, psychology, and the healing properties inherent in creativity. I have, instead, only reached out through my art making where it feels safe. My fear of putting words "out there" is that my words would be misinterpreted... misunderstood... judged or laughed at. Hence, my reluctance to have produced any of my ideas into professional journal articles, but I am working on that thanks to one of my wonderful colleagues and friends, whom many years ago was a student and in many ways has become my mentor to keep me moving forward and believing in myself and the work that I do.

I love the title today for my first blog: Under Construction. It refers not only to this blog but also to myself as I regain confidence lost and find the words to speak.

Thanks for listening.