"Art opens the closets, airs out the cellars and attics. It brings healing." ~ Julia Cameron from her book The Artist's Way.
Born from the mists of time the healing power of art, music and creative expression have always been intuitively known. Ancient tribal cultures used dance, music, costume and storytelling to invoke or release specific energies (spirit) for healing. Whether these rituals were used to purify the tribesman before the hunt or invite the blessings of spirit, all tribal people essentially believed that there was a healing energy or spirit that could be released from an individual by going into the sacred space of music or art and fully participating in the experience.
In Native American traditions, the Navaho medicine men utilized the ancient art of sandpainting for healing. In this practice, the sick or wounded individual lay on the ground while the medicine man created images around them simultaneously communicating the healing story of these images to the rest of the tribe. It is believed that the spoken word of the story as well as the use of specific colors and shapes influenced spirit and the healing process of the individual.
Despite its ancient roots, art as a form of therapy did not emerge as a distinct profession until the 1940s. In psychology, it is believed that art has a way of bypassing our defenses that are more prominent during verbal communication. The writings of Sigmund Freud reveal his theory that art has the capacity to unearth the unconscious material of the mind. Allison Glatstein, a registered Art Therapist in South Pasadena states, “Art therapy is an experience of art wherein individuals are allowed space to make art in a therapeutic setting to either enhance the talk therapy process or to allow the art creation process to be the therapy itself.”
Glatstein theorizes, “The art media (aka “art supplies”) serve as an intermediary between therapist and client or a proxy for communication. In other words, through choosing, using and sometimes avoiding certain art supplies, the client has a safe way of communication their needs in a relationship. When carefully observed and witnessed by an attuned art therapist, this process becomes a metaphor for the client’s interactions with the world and others and serves as a template to make changes within the therapeutic relationship that can be internalized and later generalized to the client’s ‘problematic’ interactions with family, friends, colleagues, etc.” Glatstein currently offers one on one art therapy sessions in her office in South Pasadena.
Despite common misconceptions, art therapy is not just for artists. Individuals of all ages and walks of life can enjoy its benefits. At a metaphysical level, the energy of creativity and the creative process is believed to have links to Source energy. Creative inspiration can ‘birth’ many things and bring about transformation and change in an individual or even community if harnessed properly. So whether one uses the energy of art and the creative process for self-reflection, emotional release, personal healing or to inspire others, it is the power of one’s intention that holds the key.
ART THERAPISTS/ART HEALING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA:
http://www.allisonglatstein.com/
http://www.atcb.org/find_a_credentialed_art_therapist/
http://www.artheals.org/inspiration/organizations.php
HEALING WITH ART WORKSHOPS:
http://www.sanctuary-much.com/index.php/healing-workshops
http://www.artheals.org/inspiration/classes.php
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