Artist, Art Therapy, Psychotherapy and Belief Statement

I believe all people have the need and ability to create. Using various art and therapy methods I provide a safe and empathetic environment, to encourage life-enhancing expression that brings wholeness, physically, emotionally and spiritually to people's life.
Showing posts with label art therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art therapy. Show all posts

Friday, October 4, 2013

Time to Pause

School. Teaching Zentangle Classes. Birthdays. Dog Walks. It is a charmed life I lead. Then there are these assignments I need to complete, like writing papers, where I need to pause, and think over what I want to say. Then I am muddled with thoughts, not knowing where to focus.
   I remember my recent work to enjoy the moments of everyday. One of my recent calls to understand my connection with self and others is to live in the moment, and capture the narrative of my everyday life. For this is the real me. These moments are what make up who I am and what I live for. These moments identify my priorities and define where my hopes, dreams, goals and focus is. These moments are what the exciting activities and drama are part of.
   I practice these moments of pause when I lie in my bed, and notice the coolness of the sheets on my face. I relish the warmth of the blanket on my body, and feel my dog press against my legs. I enjoy with gratitude the safety of my home, the ability to live with these simple joys, and know that even the ability to enjoy these simple moments is a gift. I can let my worries, and pressing issues fall away, and enjoy the quiet and peace of the moment. How safe and happy I feel. Then I turn my legs from the covers and step onto the floor. Eager to wander to the kitchen to make coffee, to see the brightness of the day.
   Enjoying these moments is what living is about.
   And later I will turn to writing about how my initial Art therapy course has touched my life, and how my experience with art therapy will affect me and others who participate in it. But in the whole scheme of therapy the events of everyday life must be considered as the framework for the individual sessions. The work within the therapy sessions are part of the everyday drama of life. Together they express the narrative of one's life, including the focus, priorities, and mundane tasks. To consider one activity of Art therapy is to consider only a fragment, a paragraph in the story of my life. Art therapy and the moments must be considered together, bringing a fuller understanding of who I am.
Tangle on.
Deb

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Zendala, Zendala

What a week in Edmonton. A full week of learning new-to-me art therapy techniques, and practicing. And then teaching Zentangles on the weekend to a full and enthuisiastic group. Wonderful! To top it off I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon learning Margaret Bremner's method on Zendalas. I am inspired. Rejuvenated.  So good. Now I have a bunch of homework to complete. And some inspiration to instill in others.

Here are some photos from the Zentangle classes in Edmonton. Keep an eye here. I will teach again when I return in late October.
Tangle Tiles # 2


Tangle Tiles # 4

Margaret finishing off Tangles # 6

Tangle Tiles # 6


Full size Zendala done with Margaret
Zentangle Challenge # 136  "a bit of colour"
It was a wonderful week. Full. Fun.
I would like to thank Margaret for being able to teach alongside her. It was great to hear another CZT's methods and style, and learn some new Tips and Tricks. Coming soon to you.