Art for Healing
Julie Cunningham
Art Therapy is good for...
Relationships
All life is about relationship; to the various parts of ourselves, to significant others, our family, our work, our creativity, the world, our culture, and to the stories we buy into and carry with us. Art therapy offers a way to explore relationships and to attend to them.
Body/Mind conditions
Patient stories documented in my Masters Of Fine Arts film project revealed some chronic conditions bio medicine treats as purely physical have an emotional basis below the patients conscious awareness. When uncovered, through therapy with a doctor who was both a psychotherapist and immunologist, the condition was addressed at its source and went away . For more about this see Medicine as an Art.
While Art Therapy is different to how this doctor works, I have witnessed significant shifts through AT. In testimonials you'll find Natalie's account of her healing through our therapy together.
If you have a mind/body issue which may have an emotional base this is best addressed in conjunction with consulting a GP.
The Female Cycle
Exploring what is behind an irregular or painful cycle can point to emotional factors. That said, it is also best to check with a doctor. The cycle can reflect relationship issues, particularly with your partner. Negative attitudes to the female cycle abound, so pain can also reflect dominant cultural atttitudes.
Alexandra Pope, author of The Wild Genie frames the menstrual cycle as a template or map of the creative process. This may seem like an odd idea initally but travelling with the cycle in this way can aid the flow of your energy and creativity, enriching you and directing you towards your female power.
Transition/Adolesence
Art therapy provides creative self reflection for young adults that is empowering, non judgemental and often fun. As its about drawing out the person's own answers so for teenagers wanting to develop their own understanding about themselves and the world Art Therapy can be very effective.
Grief/loss
Commemorative art processes can help with loss. Creating art can help to express intense feelings and can also be a great way to honour the person, and your life together.
The grief felt after a beloved companion animal passes is also intense as bonds with animals can significantly touch us . Again commemorative art processes can offer a way to honour their passing and serve as a reminder of their part in your life.
Addiction
Art therapy can help with some addictions. When a person really wants to change, discovering the emotional basis of an addiction can help in the process. The testimonial of a client who shed a marihuana addiction through combining art therapy sessions with energy work, is on the Testimonial page.