Art Therapy Blog
The End of 2022: Reflection and Integration
December already! The end of the year is once again fast approaching. This time of year is usually buzzing with an intensity of energy and emotions. We spend a lot of our year thinking, waiting or planning for the end of the year with an expectation of actually slowing down and optimistically having fun. We get caught up in the rush of completing projects, organizing, finalizing, planning… The...
Art Therapy, Desire and Creativity
As humans we all have needs, urges and desires! Some are healthy and some are not. Some are easy to fulfil, while others are more challenging. Some are urgent, some are risky and some outright dangerous. Learning to manage desire is part of normal human development. For me the greatest dangers arise when desire is associated with addiction. Addiction develops when the harmful desires go unchecked...
Conscious Reflections of the Past Year
Congratulations on having made it through yet another challenging year - oscillating change, levels of lockdown, stages of load shedding, loss, overwhelm, more change and of course all the unknowns that accompany such change. We spend a lot of our year thinking, waiting or planning for the end of the year with an expectation of actually slowing down and optimistically having fun. With the Xmas rush...
What is Art in Art Therapy?
“Sorry I am more of a words person”, a group participant recently divulged as she shared her picture (of words) with the group. It is strange that we feel that we need to apologize when our creativity - which is so natural and organic - flows through us. We somehow feel that it differs from the ‘norm’. This led me to explore and reflect on how the ‘Art’ in Art Therapy can be used...
Communication and Connection: Then and Now
I recently went to visit my father’s childhood home in Muizenburg, Cape Town, which was his family home for 35 years. The part that stood out for me the most was my dad directing me (via Whatsapp video) to “Walk through the entrance, turn a sharp left and slide open the cupboard on the wall…” (Pause) “Can you see the telephone?” he asked expectantly. And there it was: the 100+ year old...
The End of 2020 – An Opportunity for Reflection
For many people, endings can bring up a combination of feelings, associations and expectations regarding the festive season. There may be apprehension or excitement, relief or overwhelm or even dread around end-of-year arrangements and relationships with family and friends, or perhaps being alone at this time. There are often conflicting emotions around endings. Endings usually involve a degree...
What is Art Therapy and How Does it Help People Heal?
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to talk about your feelings, or put your feelings into words? How and why does Art Therapy make this easier? Let’s start with the structure of the brain. An extremely simplistic version, no doubt! Picture this… According to research, people tend to have a personality style, or way of doing things that is either predominantly left-brained or right-brained....
How to Deal with Frustration in the Art Therapy Process
Creative time should be fun and easy, right? But what happens when it doesn’t turn out nicely? When busy with a creative project, have you ever felt stuck or blocked, as if you’ve hit a brick wall, and can’t continue? Have you found yourself saying “I can’t do this” or “I am outta here”? Have you noticed self-criticism coming up, or feelings of anger, frustration, distress or exhaustion?...
Art Therapy and Mindfulness
There has been an increasing ‘’awareness’’ (excuse the pun?) and interest in Mindfulness over the years. I for one strongly believe in it and try to incorporate it into my life as much as possible. I meditate daily, try to slow down, be conscious and present in doing one activity at a time. But having said all that, what exactly is Mindfulness, Mindful Art and how do you actually do it? Have...
The Healing Power of Art
How does Art Therapy actually ‘work’ you may wonder? “Does the client arrive and just you tell them what to draw?” is a question that I often get asked. Well actually, quite the opposite! I provide a safe space whereby clients can use the room and art materials in whatever way they want. In psychodynamic terms, I work ‘non-directively’ with adults and children, meaning that I allow and...
