Posted by fallsfall on September 19, 2004, at 10:55:36
In reply to having fun » daisym, posted by Aphrodite on September 19, 2004, at 7:54:24
Although I had neglect, but not abuse, I have trouble being spontaneous, trouble doing anything that doesn't have a concrete purpose. When I first went into the hospital 9 years ago, they suggested that I try some art. They had a pretty good craft shop which helped get me started.
I did start with a bunch of scribbles (crayons smell wonderful). I proudly brought them all into my therapist who dutifully admired them (but I think she was pretty bored after the 3rd one... What do you say about the 14th scribble??)
Over time, I found that I could draw pictures that could express things that I couldn't espress in words. I draw like a 2nd grader, so you really have to look past the lack of technique to the message. I would bring them into therapy and we would talk about them, and they would help me to put words to my feelings.
I like sculpture the best, though. For some reason 3 dimensions suit me, plus I usually make them move in some way, or there is some process that converts them from one form to another (i.e. I had words - Anger, Rage - made out of letter beads inside a wooden box. You had to open the box to get to the Anger and Rage). The process of designing and constructing these things also helped me to understand better what they meant.
The visual allows me to express nuances that my words can't express (and I have a reasonable vocabulary and facility with words).
I also stumbled across this book: "Metaphor Therapy : Using client-generated metaphors in psychotherapy". It talks about using metaphors to talk about things that have a hard time being expressed directly.
I did interview an art therapist when I was looking for my current therapist. I was quite disappointed - her office looked more like an office than an art studio, and she *really, really, really* wanted me to go back and work things out with my first therapist. I would love to find a place with lots of different kinds of supplies where I could go once a month to see what came out. Maybe I'll unpack my box of artsy supplies...
Daisy, can you tell us what some of the activities were in your class, so we can try them at home??
poster:fallsfall
thread:392471
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040918/msgs/392588.html