art-therapy
© caroline maby
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art holds the power to transform our life in depth.
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"when words turn out to be in vain, we use images and symbols to tell our story. putting the creative process in motion through artistic practice provides access to the path to health and well-being, emotional healing, regaining the self and ultimately, transformation. "
in order to improve or stabilize the physical state, mental health and emotional well-being of a person, art therapy offers the opportunity to express oneself through the use of artistic mediation: drawing, painting, sculpture, writing…
by allowing access to the unconscious through drawing (or other artistic mediation), art therapy considers the process of creation as an outpouring of the psyche. to create is a unique opportunity to venture on the side of the imagination, in an authentic and spontaneous way.
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great is the diversity of theoretical and practical models united under the term 'art therapy'.
our approach finds strong support on jungian analytical current and symbolism, both considered from a humanistic perspective. widely recognized in anglo-saxon countries (notably u.s.a., canada and australia), the humanistic approach is still relatively innovative in france.
'humanistic art therapy offers a positive vision of the person, recognizes that each human being is unique, worthy of respect and has the right to self-determination. this approach emphasizes skills and the potential of deep change and enhances the actualization, the realization and the development of oneself. in a humanistic context, art therapy considers the psychological well-being of the person and is committed to treating him or her as a whole and not as a fragmented being.'
[extract from "découvrir l'art-thérapie, des mots sur les mots" de j. hamel et j. labrèche, ed. larousse]
it is essential first to recognize the human being as a whole. it is not a question of suppressing any symptoms but of welcoming everything in order to strengthen the healthy parts of the body and the psyche.
the process of analysis, both intuitive and rigorous, is based on in-depth ethno-psychological knowledge and an understanding of the symbolic systems of the country of operation in order to better understand the nature of the conflicts expressed. for each new ethno-cultural paradigm, our art therapists and trainers work to be able to recognize the symbols and metaphors which arise during the creative process, signs that have become alternative language for what would otherwise have been impossible to evoke.
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in this work, creation appears as a revealing image of what hinders the development of the person or slows down their life dynamics. through collaborative analysis, the image (or writing or sculpture) is understood and then transformed in an uplifting perspective, becoming an irreplaceable tool for progress, growth, and liberation. giving meaning to one's sufferings, encouraging the renewed friendship with a benevolent image of oneself and inviting to experience of positive emotions such as confidence or joy… are the common threads towards greater resilience.
the development of loving kindness is part of the whole process towards the recognition of one's qualities and the field of possibilities, and a setting in motion towards a responsible and creative commitment of one's life and the life of others.
the continuous artistic practice of the art therapists and trainers safeguards their link with the creative process. their ongoing training in meditation colors their relationship to others, to phenomena, to space and to form.
the depth of these complementary foundations is the signature of an integrative style specific to elovution.