Expressive Arts Ireland
Expressive Arts Therapy is founded on the premise that everyone is capable of making meaningful art and that the process and/or product is always helpful to the client.
Therefore, we embody a low skill, high sensitivity approach. We are not technique oriented, but rather gear all our groups and sessions so that any person, regardless of their artistic talent or previous experience, can enter into the process.
We guide the client into their senses and their sensitivity to create work. We look together observantly at what has been created without critique or judgment. There can often be educational or instructional components to the art making that are naturally imbedded within the
groups.
We also hold that the client is the expert of their art and therefore will let meaning emerge through a reflective process that assists the client in discovering their own resources. We call this Aesthetic Analysis, which gives careful attention to what is actually there on the page, in the dance or song and allows for the whole experience to touch them. We do not codify images, colors, movements to any external meaning other than the client’s own experience.
We work in the arts modalities such as: music, theatre, writing, visual arts, storytelling, nature, dance/movement and will often incorporate more than one modality into a session. Intermodal refers to our ability to shift into different art making modalities to bring more of the senses into play, to receive more information about an image, and or to facilitate where the images are leading the client. The therapist is knowledgeable in the language of all these art forms and how they interrelate.
We are grounded in theories from philosophy, sociology, education, ecopsycology, and anthropology as well as psychology that acknowledge arts as medicine. In expressive arts we practice that the making and finding what arrives with reflection is a healing act.
Creating art with sensitive awareness is a similar process as creating our lives.
A quote from a participant of the Dublin Workshop,
11th/12th March 2012.
'I honestly didn't know what to expect from the 2 days but I definitely hadn't expected it to be such a moving experience. I enjoy art but don't feel totally comfortable with other mediums such as drama, dance and story-telling but the facilitors presented every aspect of the course in such a safe non-judgemental manner that I never felt that I needed to do something the right way, only whatever way felt right for me. I had such a wonderful experience and left with the feeling that I had learned a new skill but also a new way of communicating with others and with myself. I actually would recommend this workshop to everyone, if you want to learn a new skill to use professionally (I'm a social worker), if you want to experience a new way to heal some old wounds or if you just want a weekend filled with fun, joy and laughter!' Sorcha Walsh Social Worker Dublin.
A quote from a participant of the Dublin Workshop,
28th/29th April 2012.
'When Expressive Arts Ireland is at work, a new world is created that has not existed before, into which participants are drawn, seamlessly, gently and with great loving care. Its members are so professional and talented at what they do that they make group creation look like child's play. They make it look like anybody could do it!
There is an integrity about handling the hurts and worries of people who come for healing through creative therapies. A sensitive knowing of how to move forward, when to move forward and when to hold back and when to simply bear witness and let the emotions come, as they will. Expressive Arts Ireland knows!' Orfhlaith Ramsey Strategic Development Advisor on Participative Engagement Waterford.
A quote from a participant of the Dublin Workshop,
10th/11th March 2012.
'What I enjoyed was the freedom and gentleness given to NOT have to be good, or artistic or to achieve anything artistic. I also formed friendships, had fun and learned some new approaches for working with groups. Most of all it strengthened my trust in myself. It was amazing doing it with 3 generations of women in my family. ' Kathryn Mc Cabe Facilitator Educator Sligo.
