What is transpersonal art therapy?
Transpersonal art therapy is just one of the modalities I offer at Gillian Drew Life Transitions. What I love about it is the way it allows for expression of whatever you need to say, even when you don’t have words for it.
I also love that art therapy isn’t about making something aesthetically pleasing and beautiful, and it isn’t about being technically correct in art-making. I really connect with this aspect because art wasn’t one of my favourite subjects in high school because although I enjoyed the making part but I’m not naturally artistic at all. I had so much personal judgement going on inside my head as I ‘created’ whatever we were assigned to do…I always felt like the teacher was looking at what I was doing and thinking ‘dear god, what do we have here?!’. She probably wasn’t, but in my head there was quite a conversation going on!!
Who is art therapy for?
Anyway, what I’m saying is art therapy isn’t just for artists and it’s not just for kids (in fact I work mostly with adults at the moment). Art therapy is for anyone who has something they need to express. It’s about what you want to say, in a colour, shape, blend of colours, or design. It doesn’t have to be ‘pretty’ or amazing. As the art therapist, I don’t apply any meaning or interpretation to what you’ve created, I leave that part entirely up to you - after all, it’s your story, not mine.
What do you mean by ‘transpersonal’?
The ’transpersonal’ part of transpersonal art therapy means going beyond the outer layer of what you show the world, and exploring what’s beneath. What’s really going on inside of you? How do you feel or what do you sense within you in response to a situation or an experience? What’s inside of you that needs to be said and heard but you don’t have words for? Or even cognitively understand?
What happens in an appointment?
In a transpersonal art therapy appointment, we start by talking about whatever issue or situation you’d like help with. The conversation is about me listening as a counsellor to help you reflect and share where you’re at, it’s not like coaching where you’re actively working towards a goal. Using counselling skills, I help you to unpack and explore the issue before we move into an activity involving art materials to assist you in exploring the issue or what we’ve discussed more deeply. We then talk further to explore and help you understand any message or meaning that arises from what you’ve created.
How do I book in?
You can book in for Transpersonal Art Therapy via the Appointments page. Appointments are offered in the Goulburn clinic or online.
You might like to also keep an eye on the Upcoming Events page for upcoming workshops that involve art therapy.