"Dancing on the Bridge"

Art Analogue Contact in Expressive Arts Therapy

A therapeutic relationship is a fundamental basis for all psychotherapeutic work. In expressive arts therapy a therapeutic relationship is seen to be analogous to art. In this thesis I explore the quality of contact needed in an art analogue relationship I am looking at what could be an art analogue contact in expressive arts therapy.

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In the first chapter “The Landscape” I sketch out phenomenological view as a philosophical frame of reference for expressive arts therapy. I clarify also how art is seen differently in expressive arts therapy than in traditional aesthetics. Heidegger’s thoughts play a central role there. In expressive arts therapy the therapeutic relationship is a meeting place between the therapist the client and arts. The second chapter “Building Bridges” concerns contact in three different realms: interpersonal contact as both the therapist’s and the client’s contact to oneself interpersonal contact which takes place between two or more individuals and an individual’s contact with arts. In the third chapter “Dances on the Bridge” I describe my own painting project as well as several case studies reflecting the quality of contact taking place there in these three realms. I conclude that it is essential for an expressive arts therapist to serve the therapeutic situation so that the therapist’s contact with the clients could serve the clients’ contact with arts and help them to find contact with their authenticity as well as encouragement to live according to it.

A loving intermezzo - encounter and relationship in the Expressive Arts Triad

The thesis examines the triad of therapist client and artwork from the perspective of encounter and relationship in Expressive Arts Therapy. A philosophical approach based on Buber is presented followed by the exploration of elements essential to encounter and relationship according to Petersen and Rogers. Two models of the therapeutic process are linked to the artistic process. The relationship between client and artwork is explored on different levels: material artistic process aesthetic analysis and dialogue by McNiff. The relationship between therapist and artwork is addressed through the low skill-high sensitivity approach aesthetic response and responsibility. The phenomenon of the "third" is discussed as well as the essential elements of encounter and relationship with hospitalized children mentally handicapped brain injured and elderly people. Throughout the thesis many clinical examples are given.

Art is a Verb

This thesis investigates how the expressive arts principles of low skill and high sensitivity can be a foundation for building creative confidence. I tell my own story of building creative confidence through doing art every day for 365 days. From this art-based research I harvest what was helpful and in my literature review expand on why. Looking at simplicity of frame and materials - historical antecedents of low skill like Dada and Art Brut - working with the senses - building trust between the expressive arts practitioner and the client and ultimately the client learning to trust him or her self in the art making. I explore loving affection - authenticity - perfection - play and through client sessions I look for the just right place between frame and freedom to build creative confidence.

Auf der Suche nach dem Wesentlichen - Mitteilungen

In this thesis you will find some observations to the following questions:
What is the essential? Where is it located? How can it be experienced?

Although or rather because the character of the topic is philosophical the approach chosen was mainly a personal and artistic one. Associated with practical examples the term looses its abstraction.

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You will be informed about experiences made with reading writing drawing and meditating which were used as research methods in order to get in contact with the essential.

You will learn that art and meditation presumably offer a great deal of possibilities to meet the essential and you will read about various encounters e.g. in the daily work of an art therapist.

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Finally you will recognise that although the essential is always there and everywhere here and now you will never experience it by intending to do so.

Balance - In Gegensätzen miteinander

In my thesis I explore the question of how certain opposites such as nature and mind matter and form relate to one another. Whether they correspond to each other and are balanced or whether they face each other without any connection are foreign to one another maybe even separated.

I try to approach this complex subject from different angles of cultural and philosophical history. This and the understanding of art history about abstract paintings of the 20th century creates a basis which leads to a corresponding view of art therapy. Hereby I mainly focus on the visual level of painting and the subject of „Grenzgestaltung": a reflection on the effects of creative elements of indifferent matter or clearly articulated form in relation to the psyche and the patient's internal balance. Restrictions one-sidedness and the loss of balance and flexibility can have pathological effects which is why I describe several cases of patients with somatic as well as mental issues. It is very important to me to illustrate how specific criteria of artistic shaping can be effectively applied within art therapy.

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The question whether something „in between" a „third space" exists in which the opposites we humans are entangled with are combined and balanced also accompanied F. v. Schiller (who was a medical doctor and a philosopher as well as an artist) throughout his life. His answer is: yes in art it does!

Bewegung Beziehung Leben

The purpose of this piece of work is to be a contribution to the Flow Experience in regard to Artistic Experience and Coaching the latter both creating Flow in the truest sense of the word. A pre-requisite of Flow is the inner drive of the human being in connection with challenges and capabilities. My aim is to show that the artist and coach both confront identical issues. Both start off with similar questions. In regard to the creation process feelings and solution finding both go through the same phases. This process bestows upon both the artist and coach a feeling of happiness free from exterior judgement and rewards. Fundamental features of the Flow Experience are experiencing joy and fun with the matter in hand as well as a readiness to grow in the act of doing and being. It is only so that I can connect with my own personal being (my Self) and become identical with my own growth process.

Brain & Art

Zur Emergenz von Lernen

The core of the thesis is the approach to art-based learning. Corner stones hereby are two questions:

How does the brain work and how could art in this context be understood. For to provide a general understanding of the laws of the brain basic knowledge will be introduced referring mainly to SPRINGER SPITZER and ROTH who are experts in the field of brain research. Different understandings of Learning ist explored. Although nowadays the terminus "art" is used quite controversial it has to be considered. Here the standpoint of SCHMUECKER will be expound who gives an anser to the question "for what art?" (Wozu Kunst?) The importance of aesthetic and aesthetic experience is shown. Research in a school setting (professional training for adults) lead to an art-basid teaching model which is called LEARNING DESIGN. It is based on the EXA-architecture for consulting and modified for a teaching/learning setting. In this liaison of brain and art learning can emerge.

Complementing Statistics with Story:

An Aesthetic Counterpoint to Educational Outcomes Assessment

This thesis presents expressive arts therapy theory and practice as a method for art therapists to explore and expand their lived experience and practice of arts-based therapy. The centrality of the arts is viewed as a defining characteristic of an arts- based approach to therapy. (Moon 2002) It is the key factor in the theoretical positioning of intermodal expressive arts therapy that is the foundational influence in this work. (Knill 2004) This thesis was guided by two specific questions: 1.) What is the lived experience of art-making in arts-based therapy? 2.) What does intermodal expressive arts therapy theory have to offer art therapists and/or therapists using the arts? The project began as a self- inquiry that was inspired by the heuristic method of Moustakas (1990). Later the project broadened to include the work of trainees in a post-Masters art therapy program and art therapy supervision candidates in the primary researcher’s private art therapy practice. The collective data was approached from a heuristic/phenomenological perspective. Several core themes were apparent in the synthesis of the results giving voice to ways in which the research revealed that: participants experienced increased effectiveness in maintaining an arts–based perspective where the arts remained at the center and that the creative currents of client and therapist were nourished through the application of expressive arts therapy theory in art therapy practice.

Complementing Statistics with Story: An Aesthetic Counterpoint to Educational Outcomes Assessment

This thesis presents a case study of an arts-based research project conducted in an alternative education setting with a homeless and at-risk population. It asks "How can an expressive arts exploration of student stories offer an aesthetic counterpoint to statistical educational outcomes assessment?" Expressive arts concepts and methods are combined with art-based educational research and narrative inquiry to offer a useful framework for conducting arts-based research in schools.

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The project focuses on engaging students and the school community in aesthetic experiential ways of knowing about student and school narratives where participants tell their stories in their own voices through the arts culminating in an intermodal performance piece. Heuristic reflections samples of student artworks audience and co-reseracher feedback are included. Ways that artistic inquiry can empower build community and inspire social action are mentioned.

Constructing Change:

Making Junk Sculpture in Recovery

The focus of my research project is exploring the range of possibilities in using expressive arts therapy (EXA) in the specific setting of the crisis intervention ward of the psychiatric services in Berne Switzerland.

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All the patients admitted on the ward are experiencing an acute mental or social crisis and can stay for a maximum of three weeks. The concept of the institution aims at a stabilization of the patient’s condition that allows her or him after a stay of up to three weeks at the most to go back home or further into some longer-term (psycho)-therapeutic treatment.

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I work as an expressive arts therapist with a group of ten to twelve individuals. The sessions take place three time a week. The group is hardly ever the same twice in a row as patients are admitted day and night and leave after a varying amount of days. This brings both challenging and irritating aspects to my work and awakened my interest to explore the potential as well as the limits of expressive arts therapy in this special field.

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I compared my daily working situation with trying to weave a little patch of some unique beauty with an accidental combination of unpredictable materials. As an attempt to compensate the sometimes overwhelming heaviness of the circumstances of my work I put the weaving idea into practice. I kept collecting all sorts of materials that crossed my way in a box next to my writing desk and set up a rudimental weaving contraption. It turned out to be a good way of keeping up a search for lightness renewal and ease by turning away from the computer leaving the heavy thoughts and plunging into the box of materials playing with it weaving it.

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In analogy to this the thesis is constructed like a weaving frame:

The first part (the frame) of the thesis describes the institutional and theoretical background of my work. It is followed by a chapter (the warp) about the fundamental concepts of my working practice and then by a choice of examples (the woven material the work) of the practicable EXA-work with these groups mainly illustrated with descriptions concrete situations and/or pictures of paintings or objects.

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The last part (the contemplation of the work) is a discussion of the potentials as well as of the limitations of EXA that I can observe and experience and conclusions and reflections on where and when I could take some influence in widening the field of EXA-possibilities in this specific setting. It contains also observations on my personal being in this work on how I can take care of my energies and how to keep up my interest and creativity.

Cooking Without A Recipe, Weighing In Without A Scale

Autopoiesis, Art Making and Eating Disorders

Eating disordered clients artfully satisfy their creative appetites Inspired by chaos theory this thesis endeavors to demonstrate the capacity for self-organization or autopoiesis of people suffering from eating disorders who often use food in an attempt to control emotions thoughts and behavior. The expressive arts offer a colorful buffet of materials with which to develop awareness of hunger and fulfillment as the expressive arts therapist encourages experimentation with creative appetite. In the art-kitchen people move away from adherence to external controls and return to the senses as a way of knowing. The client plays safely with "too much" and "not enough" learning how to know trust and act on her needs and desires. The arts are essential guides in this journey towards the sense of "just right" - a personal equilibrium that supports the client/artist’s growing understanding of nourishment and movement in the world.

Creation

This thesis deals with the subject of creation according to ancient myths. The world was created by the creator of all things the creator had an idea to create a new world. From that idea the creator starts to shape the spirtual into a concrete form to give life to his idea.
In all myths the world is created as a whole in single day all at once but rather it developed gradually from stage to stage.
This thesis is intended to examine the therapeutic process of bringing the spiritual into the real through art making.
Paralleling the developing process of composition the creator (the patient) undergoes an internal process of constant creation which also develops in stages.
This work will review theories such as : crystallization polyaesthetics imaginative reality and literal reality concepts from Jung's theory and from the alchemic aspect.

Die Kunst zu führen und sich führen zu lassen

Based on the question how profit organizations could learn and benefit from the way an artists shapes his/her work processes, the subject of this thesis deals with the concept of leading in dance improvisation as a performance-art.

Eros as Inspiration on the Road to Recovery

All human want to live ecstatically to live beyond the ordinary to feel the fire of love desire and experience the mystery of life. Drugs and alcohol can easily induce these feelings but only temporarily and as addiction occurs a high price is paid. My research delves into the question of how encountering Eros in art making can serve as an inspiration to develop healthy activities instead of drugs and alcohol that provide a life long experience of pleasure relaxation excitement and fantasy. The co-researchers are homeless veterans living in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Eros unveils himself during the art making process and in the therapuetic relationship expressing feelings of love desire and intrigue. The transference/countertransference issue is dealt with through the heuristic research model personal supervision and the expressive arts literature.

Expression creates impression

The search for expression in artistic movement

Each human being is unique in the way he moves. All human beings have individual manners to express themselves with their bodies. Just observing people moving - without evaluation - it becomes instantly visible that some people possess a good deal of bodily expression, whereas others find it more difficult to express themselves through movement. Somebody with a lot of expression automatically leaves a stronger impression.
This thesis deals with the question: 'How can non-professional movement artists become more expressive in their artistic movements?' In particular it describes exercises and methods which can be used to strengthen expression without the individual expression being manipulated.
The exercise field used is firstly the health promotion project "roundabout - moving girls", a low threshold hip-hop-dance project for teenage girls. Additionally, experience from work in movement therapy at a crisis intervention centre as well as the author's own experience in movement, dance and theatre, flow into this thesis

Führen als Kunst

In the work on hand the author reflects on two processes of change and learning that take place almost synchronically and flow together into the vision of a "salutogenetic organization".

The first part describes on several levels the innovative steps of the new head of a rundown children’s home. Within a complex field of action impulses are given deliberately and from various angles breathing new life into the home. It gains more internal contentment and a better external reputation. In the second part the author meticulously records how he transforms his morning walk through woods and fields into a path of almost spiritual training which enables him to see the land developed and cultivated by man – and his work as head of the home – in a continually new light. Including the impulses of salutogenetic and resilience he brings both these poles into a mutually enriching relationship. Towards each pole – and in the end towards himself – he takes on an artistic open and inquiring attitude which divests things of their apparent definiteness and completeness. The conscious direction of his own perception and the management of the social organisation acquire at the same time the character of a dialogue. The manner of acting and the facts accomplished remind us of Joseph Beuys’ "social sculpture".

Expressive Arts in the rythmic play between tension and relaxation

The human being is in his existing a being that can not exist with out the phenomena of tension and relaxation. If the influence of the tension is too much we get stressed and in a further state we show symptoms of burnout. This Thesis is all about how the phenomena of relaxation and tension is connected to each other and how the expressive arts are a wonderful way to find out in what state of tension and relaxation we are and how to transform our stat of tension and relaxation to a more accurate state. The concepts and hypothesis can be used in a therapeutic setting as well as in pedagogic and educational settings. If we go further we will find lots of tension and relaxation in political issues globally. With the help of expressive arts we will find ways to meet the tension and relaxation individually as well as in groups through a sensitised being in consideration on the degree of tension and relaxation individually and in consideration on our surroundings...

Kann das Theater-Projekt "Kultur-Integration-Kreativität" Migrantinnen aus Russland bei der Integration helfen?

This thesis is designed as a handout for teachers and students of dance therapy.
It compares the classical expressive arts session with a session model of dance therapy.
The topic is discussing the differences between both models as well as finding out similar ideas and possibilities of combination.

It describes the idea of intermodel work and the technique of decentering in expressive arts and the use of those techniques in dance therapy.
 

Three session models from the education programme for dance therapists show several combinations between expressive arts and dance therapy.
In the sessions theory of teaching is explained first. The next step is methology and at least the outcome of real education settings.

In Media Vita:

Other modes of perceiving, remembering and imagining in the thick of things

Through the expressive arts one explores his or her capacity to shape experiences of and objects in the world. In turn there is transformation of a sense of self. In the exchange a person uncovers unique modes of perceiving remembering and imagining – all of which help structure this sense of self. Each encounter with these modes offers remarkable expressions that permeate the artistic process and may manifest in an artwork. In a phenomenological study expressions draw attention to ways of opening to experiences of self and world. This is especially visible in persons with acquired brain injury since injury reveals altered modes of perceiving remembering and imagining which are then reconceived of as adaptations rather than deficits. Neurological differences help to illuminate the means by which concepts of self are constructed and deconstructed.

Kunstanaloge Management- und Organisationsentwicklung

The first challenge of art analogue management- & organizational development is the communication. This is because in organizations the systematic-logical way of thinking dominates. This approach has its place in the process of work flow. In working with people it is useful to change to the systemic-dynamic approach. But how can we talk about something that sounds so easy in a way that interests the middle and upper management? One type of answer is found.

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The art analogue attitude is seen as a part of the systemic-dynamic approach. Roles and gender are also described as two new models of management & organizational development. A practical example describes a management of change in a business unit with 2500 people. Points of conclusions are in the final section of the thesis.

One heart four legs - how can Argentine Tango and Exa partner together?

This thesis looks at the similarities between Expressive Arts and Argentine tango and investigates the benefits that each one might bring to the other. To research the benefit of using EXA in teaching social partner dancing in general and Argentine tango in particular a series of exercises were combined and presented to various groups of dancers in the form of workshops in New York and North Carolina. To research the positive impact that Argentine tango might have on EXA the qualities required to dance Argentine tango well were explored in relation to the qualities of an Expressive Arts Therapist Consultant or Educator. A history of tango can be found in appendix.

Parcours der Sinne

Projektarbeit zur Gestaltung von Milieu und Lebensraum

In my thesis I will be presenting the project „Places and Spaces of Stimulation". This is a context-orientated approach for a social artistic and curative-education orientated work that I have developed and realized within the living space and environment occupied by a group of resident youths receiving curative education in a youth welfare environment.

The question was whether the social development and maturity of traumatized residential youths could be promoted and supported over the long-term by using and working with complex aesthetical and artistically oriented stimulation and conduct. I was able to reveal a positive answer to this question.

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The artistic approach was based on Joseph Beuys' „Plastic Theory". As an additional working basis I put together a multi-modal method and theory concept. The setting was integrated into everyday activities and developed out of the situation. By the means of resource-orientated creative and art-based procedures and techniques I could successfully stimulate and accompany individual and social processes of change.

Project Candart – Für ein Projekt

The principal subject of this thesis is land art as a preparation for an art- and expression- oriented project with children having behavioural disorders in a residential school.

The thesis contains two parts:
The first part is about my own experience with land art which is the main point that helped to develop this project. My art work was focused on experiments with the basic colours yellow red and blue the way they appear in nature. The frame for my work was to create something outdoors with unnatural forms like circles spirals lines and squares. Working with a phenomenological attitude like watching precisely and focusing on its simplicity I finally succeeded in translating my own experiences into a concept.
The second part of the thesis shows the concept and its realisation. The project follows the principle: Low skill – high sensitivity. Both parts complement each other.
How can children with low technical abilities but high sensitivity be motivated to work during the whole three sessions each of which for three hours in the afternoon for an art project? It turned out to be that this method and the setting of my land art project children with behavioural disorders and the usual weakness to concentrate are enabled to concentrate incessantly and experiment playfully.

Resilience:

Authenticity and Intermodal Arts Therapy

The ability of the arts to uncover authenticity within the frame of Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy nourishes resilience. The three main topic of discussion are authenticity creativity and resilience and the three supportive experts were Stephen Levine, Rollo May and Martin Heidegger. Through art based research conducted within an Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy approach I have confirmed that the joy and pleasure of playing in the arts releases the mind and awakens the senses allowing authentic being a voice and a place to make choices for change. As this is a dynamic process requiring adaptation and curiosity suggest that to be resilient one needs these charactristics. The creative process accomplishes this task and consequently nurtures resilience. I conclude that authentic creativity is the source of our resilience.

Selbstorganisation in Unternehmen

This work deals with processes of self-organization. First the theoretical bases are compiled (refering to system theory synergetic and chaos theory). Subsequently a representation takes place how self-organization can be applied in the everyday life of an enterprise and used as the central steering element and method of organization. A core statement of the theorists reads: Complex systems are not controllable. Out of this the hypothesis arose that professional prefer the self-organization paradigm for changes. To examine this assumption interviews were led with employees of a pubic utility and evaluated. It was shown that most practical persons prefer a procedure dominated by foreign-organization (top down) which is eased by some elements of self-organization (bottom up). Participation is almost constantly endorsed and applied in many fields but without leaving powers of decision or granting partial autonomy to subsystems. Also foreign expert s assessment (e.g. of management consultants) is esteemed.

Sound and Music Healing:

Integrating with Expressive Arts Therapy

This paper investigates the physiology of hearing and relevance to sound healing. I explore the history of sound healing going back to ancient times and the links that early philosophers and scientists made with spirituality. Individuals of major influence are highlighted and methods are expanded on that may integrate well with expressive arts therapy. The poetry exposes how this work has touched me and I elaborate on the sources of their inspiration. Case histories of experiences while working for agencies that serve more than four different population types as well as my private clients relate the characteristics of individuals and their responses to arts-based work. In conclusion recognition is given to my brother for his inspiration and the lyrics inserted serve as my tribute to him.

Tending the Fire at Work:

An Expressive Arts Investigation of Burnout

This thesis investigates how decentering with the arts in solution-focused coaching helps revitalize mid-career professionals suffering from burnout. I tell my own story of burnout and recovery through art-making and in my literature review I expand on the principles behind its effectiveness.
Through arts-based research and case studies I refute the common conception that stress causes burnout. Instead I identify loss of meaning as the underlying issue and demonstrate the restorative power of the arts. I explore how meaning is formed rather than found through the process of shaping and discuss how decentering with the arts is a salutogenic practice that contributes to what Antonovsky calls sense of coherence (SOC). I show how decentering re-establishes the free-play of thoughts concepts and ideas changing our narratives and our lives.

Training in México

Introducing the Expressive Arts Therapy into mental hospitals

In this thesis Claudia Alvarez Duarte links the culture and social situation in Mexico to expressive arts therapy through visual arts history. The researcher explores her journey training mental health professionals to use expressive arts therapy in public mental hospitals. She discusses the relation between the qualities of Mexican Culture and the unique characteristics of theory and practice of expressive arts therapy. Finally she lists the factors that helped as well as those that could be improved in the future.

Weaving Threads

Creating Communication with Children on the Expressive Arts Playground

This thesis investigates the inclusion of Expressive Arts in a classroom setting with the specific purpose of increasing communication skills of the students. Through engaging the students in playful and imaginative sessions I established a focused awareness on communication. This included increased listening capabilities encouraged a more positive manner of interacting with others and enhanced students' awareness on an intrapersonal level. My main expressive modality was drama although I worked intermodally with a variety of arts modalities. I have woven theories of Expressive Arts Therapy and background information on the topic of communication including the unique contributions of art in order to gain insight as to how they interact. My personal experiences aesthetic responses as expressed through my art as well as descriptions and findings through group studies contribute to the body of this work. I was most interested in expanding the horizons of implementation of Expressive Arts in educational settings.