Art Therapy
When Jake was 5 years old, his father was essentially taken out of his life. His father was suffering from a mental illness and once he was admitted to a hospital for evaluation, Jake’s mother took the opportunity to lock him and years of physical and mental abuse out of the home. Now Jake did not know about the physical and emotional abuse that was being given to her as Jake’s mother took all of her efforts and shielded Jake from this pain that she was going through each and every day. All Jake knew was that his father was not coming back and he did not understand why. He did understand that his mother was the reason that his father was gone from the household.
Even with all of the efforts that Jake’s mother used to explain that his father had a “brain sickness”, Jake’s temperament become that of rage, anger and not understanding towards her. Another element that Jake’s mother did notice was when he was playing with his set of army men there was always death and torture, all losers, no winners. What she did not know was the resentment Jake felt towards her for making Daddy leave. What Jake’s mother did know was the focus Jake gave to a picture that he was asked to draw by his teacher at the time. Jake was to draw a picture showing “Who do you want to be now? Not when you grow up.” Jake’s attention to this project grew and he produced a picture of him being a very tall person with his mother on one side and his father on the other. This started his mother’s mind working and she started to contact Art Therapists.
What is Art Therapy? Well the technical definition is that it combines the creative process and psychotherapy, it creates self-exploration and understanding. The person uses imagery, colour, and shape as part of the creative therapeutic in order to process, thoughts and feelings that can be expressed that would otherwise be difficult to share. Art Therapy is for any age group. The therapist will work with people as individuals, couples, families, or groups.
The purpose of Art Therapy is to improve or maintain mental health and emotional well-being with the use of drawing, painting, sculpture and photography. Art Therapists are trained to recognize the nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are communicated within the creative process, symbols and metaphors. It is hoped that people will not only gain insight and judgment, but have a better understanding of themselves and the way they relate to the people around them.
In Jake’s case, over time when he was paying with army men, he added a hospital for the wounded. He was trying to save them and not destroy them. Through these sessions, Jake started to be honest to his mother about his feelings towards her and what had happened with his father. After a period of eight months after the time in which his father was not allowed back in the home, Jake was able to tell his mother that he blamed her and that he was upset that she did not wake him up that night and that it was important to him.
While it will take time for all of the emotions to come out with Jake, he took the first important steps of talking with his mother about where the anger was coming from. It will not be for many years as Jake will not understand fully until then why his mother acted the way she did in order to protect him. However, the healing process has started between then through non speaking art and communication.
A Little Wave
A little wave to Tilly Rivers and the Main Street Magazine. This is an ever growing magazine that originated in Ontario but is starting to expand globally. Tilly was good enough to have one of my poems grace her magazines precense for the December issue called "A Rose for You". So please go and get a copy and/or get more information on this magazine at http://www.mainstreetmagazine.net/
Molly's Cafe
I am no longer a poetry reading virgin. Today I went to Molly's Cafe located here in Fredericton and was given an opportunity to read one of my writing during an open mike sessioin. Afterwards, I was told by the organizer to come back and read anytime I wish. Too cool and thanks for a great afternoon.
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