Being an Arts Therapist

Trusting the process.

Playing with the feeling of creating.

 

It seems like much of my writing over the last two years has had a focus on Covid 19, lockdown, working from home and adjusting to the new norm, which is not entirely surprising. However, I thought I might follow a different thought despite the fact that here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, we have lost our battle to eliminate the virus from our shores and now are navigating a path which enables our population, social and economic structure , our health service and infrastructure to survive the onslaught.

I want to talk about Arts Therapy.

As a relatively new Arts Therapist I have been dwelling in that Imposter Syndrome space. Yes,  I worked hard to gain my qualifications (MAAT 2018).  It was thorough and robust and included 750 supervised clinical hours, some of which were still being gained after 2018, but still, every time I work with a new client I wonder what I will learn walking alongside them on their journey. I wonder if I will have the skill and knowledge to support them, to hold them in a space that is safe for their own exploration. What a massive privilege it is to work in this role. Every single client I work with brings me deeper learning and understanding. No two people journey in the same way and what an honour it is to be acknowledged as a companion on that journey.

As all therapists know, it is an ongoing reflective, iterative process, checking in with self. Am I in a good space to work with and support my clients? Have I got the support network I need to be my very best self? Noticing the oscillations of the visceral response and questioning what it is telling me. In Maori there is a word: tairongo, which for me captures that intuitive, gut response which is such a valuable and necessary guide. What I love so much about Arts therapy is it embraces the individual, their internal noticing, and enables them to communicate in some way.

As with all therapy, you can never be certain where a session is going to take you. So many factors come into play and the client remains in control. The therapist keeps the client safe, walks alongside them and judges if, when and how to offer provocations and wonderings.

Currently, much of my work is with children. After 30 years of teaching you might think there are no surprises… but every child surprises and delights me with their insights, resilience and the trust that they have in the process. I truly love my work and learn something new every day.

 

https://sites.google.com/waikato.ac.nz/gracefullyconnected/mauri-ora/mauri-ora

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