“The secrets of the heart should be seen by the eyes … What your eyes witness, your hands will touch”* – says the poet, Attila József. We do just that at expressive arts therapy.
We carry a load of information in our bodies. More often than not the body “pays the price” for the difficulties of the soul. Moving, painting, humming etc. can be a source of joy in itself – in this sense we are all artists. Also, expressing and processing experiences and traumas through the body, the senses by art making significantly supports us in making changes in our lives. In the safe environment hold by the facilitator creation inspires, calls for an inner journey, stimulates dialogues with the art product. In the same time the product (like a composition of words, movements, lines) is physically present. It can be observed and it is witnessed by the whole group. This connects us to the here and now, to reality, to facts. And “facts are friendly” – says Carl Rogers, father of humanistic psychology.
Since our imagination builds on all of our senses, expressive arts therapy integrates all five art disciplines, music, visual art, dance, drama and poetry to sharpen our senses, increase our sensitivity and to tap into our embodied consciousness. The creative process of expressive arts therapy uses a “low skill, high sensitivity” approach. It facilitates meaning making by aesthetic analysis (the process of phenomenological dialogue with the art) rather than psychological interpretation. It believes that the expert of the art piece is the artist itself. Its philosophy is influenced by postmodern views among others and its practice and language is rooted in the arts.
No previous experience needed.
*Translation of poetry by Peter Hargitai