It's another one that I adore with an indescribable love.
8 years ago
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Art Therapy stuff: Trust/ Intimacy.
So Art Therapy is amazing. Every time I tell someone about my graduate program the common response is, "What is Creative Art Therapy?!"
For starters, we are all creative in our own way. My progressive brain thinks everyone is an artist (feel free to disagree, I often have rebuttal with that statement anyway). ;) How do you vent? What is your escape? At what point are you lost in a state of "flow" (http://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/j21/csiksz.asp)? Could you explain your experience to someone else? What if someone came to you with challenges and they were unsure how to cope with them or how to facilitate healthy alternatives? I'm sure you could empathize with the feeling, probably offer an experience in which you felt similar; perhaps, what you did that helped you feel better.
Well, that's what we do! Kind of! There are tons of different approaches to Art Therapy. Some people take a more psychoanalytic approach, humanistic, etc.
My goals rely a lot on the physical act; the art making (process) as therapy. My scientific and artistic brain automatically focuses on connecting the two. While I think psychoanalytic techniques are necessary in some situations, I'm an advocate of focusing on the present and what will happen next. The physical acts of doing various artwork has a soothing effect on the mind and body-- without getting too technical right now into the biofeedback evidence.
It really bothers me that some people think that they are not artists. You may be one of them. "I'm not an artist. I can't draw." Ummmm. Anyone can pick up a pencil and make a mark on a sheet of paper, unless there is a physical handicap holding you back (in which case there are other ways to express oneself). It isn't your fault if you think that way though, but there is still time to be enlightened. ;) A lot of people are raised thinking they are not artistic; could have stemmed from a misinformed, traditionalist art teacher you had who was also a product of their environment. Some people may be skilled in a particular area but I happen to think anyone can learn.
With all of that said, let me bring you to a specific example. We learn new directives and explore all mediums (being that this is a Creative Art Therapy program); we touch base on all expressive arts. Last night in my Media class we did mask making.
We had the option of either: a. Taking a pre-made plastic mask and molding plaster to that to eventually decorate OR b. Putting the plaster on our own faces to make a more personalized mask.
Most of you who know me, know that getting messy is a favorite activity of mine. I love getting dirty with art materials; anything that makes me feel more like "one" with the medium. I want to submerge myself in the moment as much as I can to try and fully experience it. My good friend Jamie and I wanted to do our own faces no question. The task involved cutting up thin strips of plaster to be placed on our faces (very simple). Each strip needed to be placed in warm water before being placed on the face. Also before putting any plaster on your face, you need to have a thick base of lotion or vaseline to protect your skin. Lather it up around your eyes and more sensitive areas.
In my case, my friend Muen helped me place the strips on my face. She had done the activity before and I hadn't so she asked if she could help me. If you are a tactile person I encourage you even more to try this. These are my personal reactions toward the process, of course other people may not find it as pleasing as myself. I felt:
-amazing
-giving up control and letting someone else do the work for you.
-excited
-relaxed (it felt like I was getting a facial).
Note: Letting someone who you may or may not know well rub lotion all of your face is extremely intimate and then trusting them to be gentle with your skin... Wow. Your face is an important area to practice this on because of your senses. Some people may not like having their eyes covered; for me, it felt nice. I am an extremely visual person so it felt good having my eyes closed for a while. You have to trust that the other person will give you breathing room also through your nose. haha. Muen did a good job. Then you undergo more testing; having to trust who is around you while your face is covered for about 20 minutes. For me, I couldn't just sit there. I signed for pencil and paper that way I could still communicate.
The purpose of us doing this in our class is so we can try to imagine how one of our clients might feel doing the same experiential. We don't just do "arts & crafts" time. There is specific, deep, very emotional reasoning behind all of this.
When we were sharing our feelings at the end of class, I could barely contain myself thinking how wonderful this would be for a couple possibly experiencing some trust issues.
Now, get into this and pay close attention. Really imagine you are doing this. Suppose you and your significant other are sitting in a chair directly across from each other. On the table there is a container with warm water, and several strips of plaster that you two have already cut up. The two of you are staring at each other. Your other dips a piece of material into water and then places it on your face. Now, it's your turn. You place the material in the same spot on their face that your other did to you. You two continue this process until your faces are covered. I know it sounds silly thinking about two people sitting there blinded. Imagine these feelings though. You're trusting each other completely. Then helping each other "remove their mask" (yes, metaphorically speaking as well;)) at the end once it hardens. This is so beyond intimate and digs through so many layers, it makes my brain insanely happy. I realize that I am open and that I am all for exploring the most intimate situations. So this could be a difficult task for some but well worth it.
This idea of "mirroring" one another can be used with other mediums too. Let your mind run wild thinking about the possibilities.
I ranted long enough.
Disclaimer: The Flaming Lips and Josh Ritter were playing simultaneously in the background and may have had some dramatic influence on my thoughts. ;)
For starters, we are all creative in our own way. My progressive brain thinks everyone is an artist (feel free to disagree, I often have rebuttal with that statement anyway). ;) How do you vent? What is your escape? At what point are you lost in a state of "flow" (http://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/j21/csiksz.asp)? Could you explain your experience to someone else? What if someone came to you with challenges and they were unsure how to cope with them or how to facilitate healthy alternatives? I'm sure you could empathize with the feeling, probably offer an experience in which you felt similar; perhaps, what you did that helped you feel better.
Well, that's what we do! Kind of! There are tons of different approaches to Art Therapy. Some people take a more psychoanalytic approach, humanistic, etc.
My goals rely a lot on the physical act; the art making (process) as therapy. My scientific and artistic brain automatically focuses on connecting the two. While I think psychoanalytic techniques are necessary in some situations, I'm an advocate of focusing on the present and what will happen next. The physical acts of doing various artwork has a soothing effect on the mind and body-- without getting too technical right now into the biofeedback evidence.
It really bothers me that some people think that they are not artists. You may be one of them. "I'm not an artist. I can't draw." Ummmm. Anyone can pick up a pencil and make a mark on a sheet of paper, unless there is a physical handicap holding you back (in which case there are other ways to express oneself). It isn't your fault if you think that way though, but there is still time to be enlightened. ;) A lot of people are raised thinking they are not artistic; could have stemmed from a misinformed, traditionalist art teacher you had who was also a product of their environment. Some people may be skilled in a particular area but I happen to think anyone can learn.
With all of that said, let me bring you to a specific example. We learn new directives and explore all mediums (being that this is a Creative Art Therapy program); we touch base on all expressive arts. Last night in my Media class we did mask making.
We had the option of either: a. Taking a pre-made plastic mask and molding plaster to that to eventually decorate OR b. Putting the plaster on our own faces to make a more personalized mask.
Most of you who know me, know that getting messy is a favorite activity of mine. I love getting dirty with art materials; anything that makes me feel more like "one" with the medium. I want to submerge myself in the moment as much as I can to try and fully experience it. My good friend Jamie and I wanted to do our own faces no question. The task involved cutting up thin strips of plaster to be placed on our faces (very simple). Each strip needed to be placed in warm water before being placed on the face. Also before putting any plaster on your face, you need to have a thick base of lotion or vaseline to protect your skin. Lather it up around your eyes and more sensitive areas.
In my case, my friend Muen helped me place the strips on my face. She had done the activity before and I hadn't so she asked if she could help me. If you are a tactile person I encourage you even more to try this. These are my personal reactions toward the process, of course other people may not find it as pleasing as myself. I felt:
-amazing
-giving up control and letting someone else do the work for you.
-excited
-relaxed (it felt like I was getting a facial).
Note: Letting someone who you may or may not know well rub lotion all of your face is extremely intimate and then trusting them to be gentle with your skin... Wow. Your face is an important area to practice this on because of your senses. Some people may not like having their eyes covered; for me, it felt nice. I am an extremely visual person so it felt good having my eyes closed for a while. You have to trust that the other person will give you breathing room also through your nose. haha. Muen did a good job. Then you undergo more testing; having to trust who is around you while your face is covered for about 20 minutes. For me, I couldn't just sit there. I signed for pencil and paper that way I could still communicate.
The purpose of us doing this in our class is so we can try to imagine how one of our clients might feel doing the same experiential. We don't just do "arts & crafts" time. There is specific, deep, very emotional reasoning behind all of this.
When we were sharing our feelings at the end of class, I could barely contain myself thinking how wonderful this would be for a couple possibly experiencing some trust issues.
Now, get into this and pay close attention. Really imagine you are doing this. Suppose you and your significant other are sitting in a chair directly across from each other. On the table there is a container with warm water, and several strips of plaster that you two have already cut up. The two of you are staring at each other. Your other dips a piece of material into water and then places it on your face. Now, it's your turn. You place the material in the same spot on their face that your other did to you. You two continue this process until your faces are covered. I know it sounds silly thinking about two people sitting there blinded. Imagine these feelings though. You're trusting each other completely. Then helping each other "remove their mask" (yes, metaphorically speaking as well;)) at the end once it hardens. This is so beyond intimate and digs through so many layers, it makes my brain insanely happy. I realize that I am open and that I am all for exploring the most intimate situations. So this could be a difficult task for some but well worth it.
This idea of "mirroring" one another can be used with other mediums too. Let your mind run wild thinking about the possibilities.
I ranted long enough.
Disclaimer: The Flaming Lips and Josh Ritter were playing simultaneously in the background and may have had some dramatic influence on my thoughts. ;)
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Reckoner.
Not really sure where to begin. I know I need to start somewhere though. Radiohead's "Reckoner" is such a great song. This whole album (In Rainbows) is incredible actually. I've been thinking about updating this for so long, for some reason I've been scared to though. I realize when I write, I put things into perspective and sometimes that's hard to deal with.
At brunch today with 2 of my dearest friends, a wave of sadness overcame me. I'm still not sure exactly why. One minute I was there in conversation and momentarily I drifted somewhere, somewhere I haven't been in a while. I just have so many goals, so many things I want to be doing and I don't know how to execute them all.
Something feels empty in me. There's a sort of loneliness I feel. I have the best friends a girl could ask for. I think it has more to do with males. Here I am living in NYC with some of the most interesting, attractive males I've seen in so long. They are nothing like the guys here in Virginia Beach. I was feeling a bit boy crazy this past month of me living in Brooklyn. I've been partying too much. I'm not sure subconsciously what is going on with me. Maybe I was thinking I'd find a guy I could really connect with hanging out at all of these cokehead bars. I'm just happy I'm realizing now that that isn't where I want to spend my time.
Maybe I feel a bit heartbroken from a guy that I fell for again. In the past it didn't work and I went for it again. Stupid of me. You live and learn though. I feel a bit jealous; not of his new girl but because I think he has what I wanted-- to be with someone again. So childish of me.
Ironically, I just had a moment that made the snake-bite I previously wrote about okay. Literally, I was listening to a pastor talk about being bitten by a snake and how to feel okay letting it sit with you. ahhhh, life and its coincidences. They're amazing.
I need to get started on all of my goals. I have so many things I want to do. I still have so much to learn. I need to stay strong, focused, and true to myself.
Everyday is beautiful and I'm thankful.
At brunch today with 2 of my dearest friends, a wave of sadness overcame me. I'm still not sure exactly why. One minute I was there in conversation and momentarily I drifted somewhere, somewhere I haven't been in a while. I just have so many goals, so many things I want to be doing and I don't know how to execute them all.
Something feels empty in me. There's a sort of loneliness I feel. I have the best friends a girl could ask for. I think it has more to do with males. Here I am living in NYC with some of the most interesting, attractive males I've seen in so long. They are nothing like the guys here in Virginia Beach. I was feeling a bit boy crazy this past month of me living in Brooklyn. I've been partying too much. I'm not sure subconsciously what is going on with me. Maybe I was thinking I'd find a guy I could really connect with hanging out at all of these cokehead bars. I'm just happy I'm realizing now that that isn't where I want to spend my time.
Maybe I feel a bit heartbroken from a guy that I fell for again. In the past it didn't work and I went for it again. Stupid of me. You live and learn though. I feel a bit jealous; not of his new girl but because I think he has what I wanted-- to be with someone again. So childish of me.
Ironically, I just had a moment that made the snake-bite I previously wrote about okay. Literally, I was listening to a pastor talk about being bitten by a snake and how to feel okay letting it sit with you. ahhhh, life and its coincidences. They're amazing.
I need to get started on all of my goals. I have so many things I want to do. I still have so much to learn. I need to stay strong, focused, and true to myself.
Everyday is beautiful and I'm thankful.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Bitten.
Have you ever felt the sleekness of a snake in a confusion of dirty water? Have you felt it slide and wrap its body closely around yours? It's oh so strong. At first you try to squirm and break free but the snake is too strong. It may not even be its strength that has the advantage over you. Perhaps it is because it snuck up behind you in filthy water that you couldn't see through anyway. You feel the snake squeeze tighter; crushing your bones. Next, the teeth sink deep into your back. In a way, it feels good. The venom is numbing and burning you at the same time. At least the bite distracts your mind from the rest of your aching body. The struggling, the poking at the snake is useless, you give into it. You surrender your body to the snake. In a way it feels good, almost pleasurable. You no longer have to struggle, but wait...
Where are you now?
Are you gone?
Where are you now?
Are you gone?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
It's time.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! It's been 3 months ya'll! Wow, it's so easy to give into habits. I seriously doubt anyone is looking at this now, which provokes me to be even more open.. ;)
I'm not going to give an update on my life right now because I don't feel like it. Not that there isn't much to say because there is, grand things at that, I just have Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona on the brain right now.
I watched it for the first time last September in the theater with 3 guys (one of which was my boyfriend at that time). That was not a wise decision on my part. I wasn't able to fully accept the brilliance and beauty in the story. Part of that was because my boyfriend at the time immensely disliked it and his thoughts and words were so strong they were indirectly hammering down any adverse thought that I had. I rewatched VCB today and I am so thankful I did.
Eleven months ago, I felt ashamed of my opinions on the movie. Afterwards, I didn't even feel like I could tell my current boyfriend about my genuine appreciation for Allen's realistic portrayal of the confusion love can breed in relationships. Whoa, did you get that last sentence? ;) I felt so guilty telling him that I saw nothing wrong with the love triangle between Maria Elena, Cristina, and Juan Antonio. In my eyes, it was just another couple trying to find their way and doing what they could to make things work. Let me state how much I adore Penelope Cruz also. She expresses tormented, feisty, and sexy so well. I admit that Vicky's character annoyed me but I felt like I understood her emotions. She was so judgmental and rigid at first, but then gave into the contrary. We're all finding our ways and learning with every action (hopefully). Hypocrisy is so necessary to learn sometimes.
Mother effer. I just had to take a 25 minute pause, because I started getting so excited and inspired and had to express certain things to other people. This is why I haven't written in 3 months. When I'm writing, the creativity is flowing. When I'm not, it isn't, and then I'm not overwhelmed. I know I need to figure out how to manage my ideas better, but I'm just about shaking with all of the ideas that have just come to me over a 3 month dry spell. AHHHHHH!
Crap. I have to go meditate or something.
I'm not going to give an update on my life right now because I don't feel like it. Not that there isn't much to say because there is, grand things at that, I just have Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona on the brain right now.
I watched it for the first time last September in the theater with 3 guys (one of which was my boyfriend at that time). That was not a wise decision on my part. I wasn't able to fully accept the brilliance and beauty in the story. Part of that was because my boyfriend at the time immensely disliked it and his thoughts and words were so strong they were indirectly hammering down any adverse thought that I had. I rewatched VCB today and I am so thankful I did.
Eleven months ago, I felt ashamed of my opinions on the movie. Afterwards, I didn't even feel like I could tell my current boyfriend about my genuine appreciation for Allen's realistic portrayal of the confusion love can breed in relationships. Whoa, did you get that last sentence? ;) I felt so guilty telling him that I saw nothing wrong with the love triangle between Maria Elena, Cristina, and Juan Antonio. In my eyes, it was just another couple trying to find their way and doing what they could to make things work. Let me state how much I adore Penelope Cruz also. She expresses tormented, feisty, and sexy so well. I admit that Vicky's character annoyed me but I felt like I understood her emotions. She was so judgmental and rigid at first, but then gave into the contrary. We're all finding our ways and learning with every action (hopefully). Hypocrisy is so necessary to learn sometimes.
Mother effer. I just had to take a 25 minute pause, because I started getting so excited and inspired and had to express certain things to other people. This is why I haven't written in 3 months. When I'm writing, the creativity is flowing. When I'm not, it isn't, and then I'm not overwhelmed. I know I need to figure out how to manage my ideas better, but I'm just about shaking with all of the ideas that have just come to me over a 3 month dry spell. AHHHHHH!
Crap. I have to go meditate or something.
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