Theories of Art Therapy & Counseling
My favorite theories are those with magical/mystical qualities. Carl Jung, the unconscious and collective unconscious, dreams, spirituality, synchronicity, archetypes, myth, and shamanism all call to me. There is something about these areas that brings me back to childhood. I believe it’s the magical, mystical, mysterious nature inherent in the unconscious, collective unconscious, and the dreaming world. Further, there is a parapsychology and shamanistic-like element that speaks to my imagination and awe of energy work. I’ve personally found great healing and guidance from archetypal stories and myths. For these reasons and more, I feel most drawn to those theories that incorporate spirituality, dreams, and have magical qualities.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are additional modalities I appreciate because I believe they could be an excellent fit for the populations I might prefer to work with in my future practice, adolescents especially. I particularly appreciate the inherent measurability present within both variations and the mindfulness component present in ACT. I’ve found both CBT and ACT to be personally helpful in working with my anxiety.
I've also enjoyed learning about the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) and different ways to approach art therapy across the Kinesthetic-Sensory, Perceptual-Affective, and Cognitive-Symbolic levels. I’ve learned that I’m personally more comfortable working across the cognitive-symbolic spectrum and least comfortable in the kinesthetic. I’m still exploring why. The ETC also serves as a helpful guide for me to find appropriate art therapy exercises to offer a client/patient, based on where they are on the ETC at the time. In many ways, the ETC feels like a map. Additionally, combined with a trauma-informed approach, the ETC helps me choose appropriate mediums to offer.
“Since the image precedes the word, we can through images . . . evoke unknown aspects of the psyche and bring them to the light of consciousness; this results in understanding and often healing.”
ARTIFACT 1:
Jungian Therapy Paper, Case Conceptualization Paper, and Tissue Paper Collage
The artwork below comes from my experience with Edith Wallace's Tissue Paper Collage and Jung's "Active Imagination" experiential. I made it from tissue paper and Elmer's Glue. I call this creation "Secret Tunnel of the Unconscious."
I wasn't trying to create anything specific. Instead, I listened to my internal knowing and let what would emerge come forth. It was afterward that I saw the meaning and symbolism. The pink tissue at the bottom of a tunnel into the unconscious represents me standing at the entrance looking in. The tunnel gets darker and more mysterious the deeper it goes. I feel fascinated by this experience because I wasn't trying to create a tunnel, yet the image emerged from the depths of my psyche. I believe it served as a calling to "go deeper" into my depths, into mysterious, dark, and sometimes scary places, to bring insight and healing into my awareness. I created it during a time of deep spiritual inquiry and grief after the death of my aunt. I did go deeper. Accessing my psyche helped me investigate my thoughts on death and the meaning of life. A whole magical spiritual world opened up like a blooming flower taking root in the soil of my awareness. It continues to grow and fascinate me in the present day.
This artifact speaks to Jungian Analytical Theory and that mystical-magical quality that I love because it came out of the depths of my being. The central tenets of this theoretical approach, as it applies to the experiential and my artwork, are that it supports methods of accessing the psyche and bringing parts of the unconscious to the surface of awareness to create a greater sense of Self. Additionally, utilizing dream analysis to access the personal and collective unconscious is another foundation of Jungian analysis that I might have explored. My Case Conceptualization Paper is another example of my journey through grief using theory, and in particular Jungian Theory.
This creation lives primarily on the kinesthetic-sensory level of the ETC. The image came from my subconscious, and the experience consisted of tearing tissue paper and smearing the glue with my fingers. Additionally, the symbolism in the image speaks to the ETC's symbolic level.
"Secret Tunnel of the Unconscious"
“When externalized in a visual image, once the problem is in visual form, it is easier and safer for the client to explore. The external image of the problem is malleable, can be altered, and can also be a bridge to finding solutions.”
ARTIFACT 2:
Theoretical Lens Case Comparison Paper and ACT Art Therapy Exercises
Six core processes are central to the ACT modality: acceptance, cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, self-as-context, values, and committed action. These processes are working parts in the overarching goal of increasing psychological flexibility. I love the inclusion of mindfulness in cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, and the measurability and results-oriented nature of committed action. In my Theoretical Lens Case Comparison Paper, I explored the use of ACT in the case of an adolescent with an eating disorder. I learned through that experience how I can use ACT to treat the underlying roots of an issue, like unhealthy coping strategies. That has applications not only with eating disorders but addiction and other areas as well.
ACT-based art therapy exercises have also been helpful personally by helping me become more self-aware in the present moment and connecting with my body and feelings. The below group of artworks is from self-awareness ACT-based exercises. “The Breath” exercise involves using a marker or other appropriate medium and a large piece of paper. With each inhale, an upward stroke is made, and it comes down with the exhale. That creates a visual representation of the breath. As someone who struggles with more traditional breath awareness methods, as breath focus tends to exacerbate my anxiety and a feeling of not getting enough air, I loved how this exercise allowed me to focus on my breath in a different way. Focusing on my breath through the image being created put enough distance between me and my breath focus that it didn’t cause anxiety; it increased my awareness and brought a sense of calm.
The “Colors” exercise allowed me to visually express my inner world and emotions through color, whereas the “Just One Line” exercise allowed me to do the same through the use of lines. Both allowed me to externalize and put some needed space between myself and my emotions. In turn, I could make choices rather than react in the moment.
"The Breath" Exercise
"Colors" Exercise
"Just One Line" Exercise
ARTIFACT 3:
Cognitive-Symbolic Facilitation Outline, Container, and Mask
Containers and their contents can be so powerful within the therapeutic realm. They can function as protectors from what is held or for what is held. When thinking of nature, ceremony, and circles, I'm reminded of growing up in rural Ohio among the pines, grass, and fields. I used to wonder at the Earth's hidden powers, secrets, and energies and perform rituals or ceremonies asking for rain, luck, or happiness.
In the theme of nature and ceremony, I decided to create a positive psychology style, "flourish bottle," housing little things to attract flourishing energy. The whole experience felt very much on the cognitive and symbolic level of the ETC as I shifted from one side to the other. I had to think through what I wanted to put in the bottle, what I had available, and what each would represent. I also noticed what surfaced emotionally for each item as I included it. In addition, I had to keep the overall theme of flourishing in mind and include the different life areas I wanted to have representation.
My process started with choosing a bottle and the items in it. First, I added a single hair to tie it to me. Then I added turmeric for health, dried Baby's Breath from my wedding bouquet for love, broken glass to ward off harmful spirits, gold flakes for wealth, peppercorn for third eye intuition, sea salt for protection, dried pine from the Ohio land I grew up on for longevity, joy and roots/ancestry, dried Juniper from the Ohio land I grew up on for good luck and roots/ancestry, lavender for peace and calm, and lastly, burnt sea salt in Egyptian style for travel protection and to honor my mysterious trace Egyptian DNA. I corked the bottle, sealed it with wax, and added a golden ribbon for beauty. I enjoyed this creation, and I feel a connection to my bottle. I now carry it with me in my medicine bag.
The mask assignment was my favorite of all others in my Techniques and Materials class, and it was also the most emotional for me. The emotional part came during the plaster phase, while I was sitting on my bathroom floor with my entire face, mouth, and eyes covered in plaster strips waiting on them to dry. It made me think about my life’s journey, the different chapters in my story, and what masks I’ve symbolically worn along the way. I intuitively knew how to decorate her to give her what she needed.
The decoration process started by enhancing her brow and cheekbones with additional plaster strips and building her third eye. I also added some plain plaster to smooth out the fabric texture. After the plaster dried, I painted an undercoating of gold and covered that with acrylic black mica flakes to give her a mysterious, cosmic look. I collaged her inside with positivity and topped it off with gold flakes. Then, I added foliage and flowers for her eyes and forehead. Lastly, I added hanging hardware to the back. I felt in the cognitive-symbolic realm of the ETC most of the time, except for the plaster phase, where I was all over the ETC.
Regarding the mask herself, I think she “lives” in the cosmos, offering guidance, reflection, and spirituality. She tells me to listen more deeply to my intuition, which has never guided me wrong. I think she’s also connected to my ancestors and the wisdom of the collective unconscious. She is my friend, and I’m grateful she came into my awareness through the physical medium of a mask.
"Flourish Bottle"
"Cosmic Guide"
Kinesthetic Level - "Embryonic Dance"
Sensory Level - "Firefly Forest"
Perceptual Level - "Achy But Optimistic"
Affective Level - "Connection"
Cognitive Level - "Career Vision Board"
Symbolic Level - "Intuition"
Symbolic Level - "Believe"
ARTIFACT 4:
Literature Review and Action Research Project on Nightmares
I’ve discovered along my journey that I also enjoy research. I found researching nightmares and exploring my own experiences with chronic nightmares fascinating and deeply insightful. Diving into the literature on PTSD and anxiety-related disturbed dreaming, while also tracking my own disturbed dreaming, allowed me to see the scope of my sleep challenges, do the inner work needed, and find healing.