Integratative Arts Psychotherapy is my primary modality:
It uses the arts, metaphor and creativity, which can help to tap into hidden or unconscious feelings. This process can help you to develop to a better understanding of yourself. There is absolutely no need to have ‘artistic talent’, and there is no right or wrong way to make an image. We are all intrinsically creative.
For this purpose the following is provided if and when appropriate:
• Moulding materials, such as clay, offer a three-dimensional image allowing clarity to emerge through the sensation of touch.
• A sand tray with miniatures allows you to re-enact important life events, which can then be considered with a sense of distance.
• Poetry/metaphor allows for a richer description of our feelings as opposed to a single word, which can be limiting.
• Paints, crayons and other art materials deliver an opportunity for allowing the inner landscape to emerge and to have a visual image to 'hold' on to.
• Puppets/Drama aid in a deeper understanding of our relationships and the roles we play.
• Music has the ability to evoke powerful feelings whether joyful or sad.
Attachment theory explores our family histories, the family dynamics and stories that could be holding us back and which keep us stuck in old beliefs. As babies and young children, we need to develop relationships with at least one caregiver for normal social and emotional development and when these go askew it can affect how we relate to others and upset relationships throughout our lives. We may have developed fixed attitudes towards ourselves and others and we can come to realise that such patterns that once held a purpose to keep us safe, are no longer necessary and are in fact keeping us imprisoned.
Somatic Experiencing is working from the bottom up as opposed to talking therapies which generally work from the top down. Many people talk about living in their heads and not experiencing their bodies. The sessions focus on moment to moment experiences and awareness of sensations in our body. This can take time and we will go at a pace that suits you. SE will help you attend to sensations in your body and gently unwind them through your conscious attention.
Together with psychotherapy SE offers you many benefits such as an increased ability to self-soothe and feel empowered with simple and effective skills to activate your body’s innate self-healing and self-regulating abilities.
For more information on Somatic Experiencing please see here.