Integrating research and practice of evidence-based psychotherapy and Person-Centered Expressive Arts (PCEA) for healing and social change.
Recognizing, understanding and regulating emotions is complicated, which may a part of why therapists are in demand. As therapists, we have skills to help clients sort through the difficulties and challenges of life in order to create opportunities for meaningful change, improved clarity, insight, and relationships.
Person-Centered Expressive Art combines the creative process and psychology to promote emotional growth and healing. Therapists can use our inborn desire to create as therapeutic support to help initiate change, nurture well-being, and foster transformation.
On Feb 23, 2018 Santa Clara Valley Chapter of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (SCV-CAMFT) invited Julie Norton to facilitate a participatory professional engagement presentation, entitled “Ignite Creativity, Wonder, and Well-being.” The presentation offered an opportunity to explore our relationship with creativity to serve as a pathway to deep work with clients.
Creativity can be used for enriching a wellness practice, and creative expression can have many benefits for youth and adults alike. Creativity is highly connected to emotion. Active participation in art activities is one of the best ways to achieve benefits (Bolwerk et. al, 2014). Participants in this introductory Person-Centered Expressive Arts presentation were encouraged to reflect on their own wellbeing and their relationship to creativity, as well as that of their clients.
Creativity is a process that involves mental agility and cognitive resourcing. In order to increase creativity, research indicates that we need to tend to our wellbeing. Some examples are reducing the overload on working memory and lessening over-stimulation.
Participants who attended this presentation-explored ways that awe, wonder, and well-being can be modeled and applied. Each clinician had a chance to apply a multi-modal approach that included elements such as sounding, visual arts, writing, movement, and other forms of expression. According to Myers and Sweeny, “Wellness refers to the integration of mind, body and spirit into healthy balance.” In the session, participants explored what wellness and well-being meant to them and their clients.
Drawing can improve moods, reduce stress, and help regulate emotion by serving as a distractor (Drake & Winner, 2012; Stuckey & Nobel, 2010). People who report feeling happy and active are more likely to engage creatively (Silvia et. al, 2014).
One of the concepts and practices explored in the presentation was that of wonder. Wonder and awe are most likely to occur in places that have two key features: physical vastness and novelty. To experience a moment of awe, take a look at this resource provided by Greater Good in Action: Science-based Practices for a Meaningful Life. https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/awe_video This video was shared in the session and one participant said, “I loved the video clip! It was inspiring and very good priming for creativity, awe, and well being. I was in awe, so it was then easy to draw, use colors, shapes, etc.”
The person-centered approach offers qualities of empathy, openness, honesty and congruence as a foundational basis for creating safety and building trust in groups.
Person-Centered Expressive Arts Guidelines
Natalie Rogers, Ph.D. (2011). The Creative Connection for Groups: Person-Centered Expressive Arts for Healing and Social Change. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior.
- Be aware of your feelings as a source for creative expression.
- There is no right or wrong way to do art. We create art to discover our inner essence.
- Be aware of your own body, and take care of yourself.
- Instructions are always suggestions. You have the option not to do them. Be your own boss, here.
- These experiences stirrup many feelings. You may need to cry or let out loud sounds, which can be very helpful.
- If you choose to observe, notice group dynamics or enjoy the experience vicariously. Please do not judge others.
- The events in this session/program should be kept confidential. You may discuss the events with others outside of the group without attaching any personal names to those events. Thank you for keeping our trust.
Carl Rogers was known for his belief, “Experience is, for me, the highest authority.” Some feedback from participants who attended the presentation were:
- “Great reminder to use our creativity and help our clients.”
- “Sometimes we need to re-learn how to breathe. Inspiring and a breath of fresh air!!”
- “Enriching, inspiring, connecting.”
- “Great reminder for me to use the arts for myself, not just my clients. Loved it!”
- “Thanks, Julie! It was fun, informative, and refreshing. Well done!”
- “Crayons + stickers + pastels, oh my! Thanks for this opportunity to play and connect with myself and with others.”
Natalie Rogers, the pioneer of PCEA said, “It is difficult to convey in words the depth and power of the expressive arts process. Really, you must taste it to understand it.” The desire of Norton was for local therapists to get a nourishing morsel.
The SCV-CAMFT presentation was popular and Santa Cruz therapists have asked Julie to do an encore presentation.
Julie Norton, LMFT
Julie Norton is a licensed marriage and family therapist (MFC53057) and relationship specialist, trained to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, couples, children, families, and groups to achieve more satisfying and productive lives. Julie presents nationally on resilience, social and emotional learning, and grief. She specializes in a Person-centered expressive arts, humanistic and strengths-based approach. Find out more: www.nortonmft.com.
References
Bolwerk A, Mack-Andrick J, Lang FR, Dörfler A, Maihöfner C (2014) How Art Changes Your Brain: Differential Effects of Visual Art Production and Cognitive Art Evaluation on Functional Brain Connectivity. PLoS ONE 9(7): e101035. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0101035.
Drake, J.E. & Winner, E. (2012). How children use drawing to regulate their emotions. Cognition and Emotion, 27, 3, 512-520, DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2012.720567
Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (Eds.). (2005). Counseling for wellness: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 29–38). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
Natalie Rogers, Ph.D. (2011). The Creative Connection for Groups: Person-Centered Expressive Arts for Healing and Social Change. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior.
Silvia, P.J., Beaty, R.E., Nusbaum, E.C., Eddington, K.M., Levin-Aspensen, H., & Kwapil T.R. (2014). Everyday creativity in daily life: An experience-sampling study of “little c” creativity. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 8, 2, 183-188.
Stuckey, H. L., & Nobel, J. (2010). The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), 254–263. http://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.156497
Note: portions of this article are adapted from a short piece on ACES by Kim Gulbrandson, Ph.D. and the research referenced is from https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-24/edition-7/how-rudeness-takes-its-toll
