Social media networks, such as Backbone and Mainstream provide us with a way of witnessing the transformation of our peers and families strictly on a surface level. Perceiving our accounts and pictures from previous years we may notice changes in our physical attributes and relationship status, and maybe we are reminded of big events, happy memories and even times of grief. In this technology-based society, everything is recorded, and an outline of our growth and transformation is available for the world to see.
At the same, the world sees thing; they feel nothing, because change and growth have been re-defined as a status update and sell-worth and validation comes trot the number of likes received on our latest post, What happens when the result of the Internet is a catalyst for the existential crisis? The following paper, 1) describes how personal and past experiences with social media and journaling informed my decision to pursue in expressive arts therapy 2) and led to my research on existential- integrative theory.
This paper will also 3) explore how integrative theory has shaped my clinical experiences, 4) and inspired my research in using elements of IP-hop as a therapeutic approach. The winter of 2007, brought on an emotional blizzard, fueled by series traumatic events that swallowed me Whole chewed me up and spat me out around 2012. These events led me to a search for meaning; the meaning of life, mind, body, sex death, spirituality, family, and “friends. ” The first approaches to finding meaning were unsuccessful, which made seeking professional help necessary.
In a therapeutic and hospital setting, the use of technology is often prohibited. And other patients are required to communicate in other ways. At first these rules were problematic, for so long the Internet had been my escape ND the prime resource for understanding, Then, in an art therapy session at the hospital, the therapist handed me a simple composition notebook and asked me to decorate and write my status updates and text to my friends instead. This significant moment in my elite directed my touch inward, rather online.
After a few months, my Backbone participation had decreased drastically, and the pages began to Fill up with entries, drawings, and collage. I started to write song lyrics, which turned into a musical collaboration with friends and other patients. Through the arts, I was able to find meaning in my existence. From which point studying the arts and psychology became my passion and felt a responsibility to share this approach with others. At the time, it was unclear that my existential crisis would give me clarity and the ability to imagine.
Looking back at which authors, artist, and musicians peaked my interest as a teen, many Of the themes surrounded existential issues. For instance, the narrative of Paolo Cellos novel, The Alchemist, “Before a dream is realized, the Soul Of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because is evil, but so that we can, in addition to legalizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which most people give up.
Its the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one ‘dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon” (Cello), Cello breathes life back into the word, ‘dream,’ by honoring the journey, The Alchemist is full of existential themes; it invites the reader to trust the struggle and use it to find meaning. , Haling (2003) includes concepts from May and Schneider (1996) existential-integrative psychology, which describe the existential rises as an opportunity for transformation.
The Expressive Body in Life, Art, and Therapy, Haling (2003) draws from multiple perspectives of psychology to define her movement and art as metaphor practices as an approach to expressive arts therapy and healing. When presented with similar past emotions, I am more inclined to identify and confront discomfort with journaling, painting, mindfulness practices, movement, and improvisation. My artistic process changes every semester. Poor example, last semester my process began with words which flowed into lyrics and then visual arts. This semester my focus is movement and body mindfulness.
The entry method changes based on personal affect; however it still informs the next mode of expression. Part of my process surrounds themes borrowed from the animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbed (2006). In series previous paper, the subtitle use to describe this creative approach is “elemental enchantment as a metaphor for expressive arts modalities” (Guavas 2014). My intermediate process is greatly influenced by elemental enchantment. From my perspective the nature of artistic expression shares in the qualities of the natural elements. Modality Element Connection Visual Arts Earth
The foundation of artistic expression, grounding, core, clay, art materials are to the earth. Poetry and Literature Words are powerful; they can burn bridges or weld them, When something is said it can be unsaid, much like the permanence of burns. Music/ Island Breath, sounds fill the air, vibrations, heard but always seen. Drama/ Theatre Water Transforming, consistency, appearing as ice, liquid, or gas. The actor/actress can experience multiple perspectives thought acting and role reversal, Movement Earth, Fire, Air, Water Movement is required to cultivate all elements; to give body and life to the element.
Guavas, 2014). Example 2: of Artistic response using elemental enchantment: prompt in integrated art approaches, to explore my relationships With rive modalities through artistic response. The use of this metaphor has proved a successful explanation for my younger relatives. Therefore, it is my hope to develop this model as a means introduce movement therapy and even transposable concepts with children and families. The use of cinema therapy in particular has already proven a useful when engaging the residents at my facility in rap therapy. My current occupation is a direct care counselor in the Waltham House.
This session was earned upon the completion of my first and second internship with the program. Waltham House was developed by the Home for Little Wanderers organization and were only one to three group homes created to support LEGIT youth. Many of the children we receive for the program are transgender and continuously experience ridicule and inadequate support systems. As counselors, it is our mission to provide care to these young residents and help them to develop healthy copings skills. The hope is that these skills will contribute to reintegrate them into society with confidence and a higher developed sense of self.
The adolescents that come to the home are not always receptive to therapy; many struggles with issues of trust having been forced to move from home to home. My role at the home is not clinical; therefore, when building relationships, I do not engage them as a therapist. Relationships are built, instead, by providing a space for expressive activities, such as drag performances, photography, dance, music, hip-hop, freestyle rap, hair, and make- up. There are many theories in expressive arts, Which discuss the concept Of letting be. Interpret this in my work with teens as let them be teens and adapt to their surroundings.
Integrating the Arts in Therapy provides several cases in which the role of the therapist is to draw upon multiple theories and manifest every opportunity to integrate the arts. For instance, McCain (2009) recounts an experience with a client, who showed resistant to painting, instead of insisting, he refers to Piglet’s research on “seniority exploration. ” While the boy did not want paint, he was fond of stirring the paint, “As away of building on what the child did naturally and in an effort to orientate our work together toward something that he did well, shifted my attention from painting to 2009).
Adhering to these principles has eased finding ways to push through the adolescent resistance and encourage the arts as a coping skill. Integrating the Arts speaks to another interest of mine, which is developing an existing theory within the expressive arts community, Hip Hop Psychology Expressive Therapies (WHIPPET While Hip Hop Psychology is not accepted as a new branch of psychology, Hip Hop Therapy is recognized under related therapies for mental health counseling. Hip is the concept, and HOPE is the action, Hip Hop Expressive Therapy uses traditional practices of hip hop expression as a therapeutic device.
According to the HP official website (http://www. Hypoglycemia’s. Org/), WHET integrates graffiti, Digging/ music production, hip hop and urban dance movements, and emceeing, “foster authentic creative expression, self- actualization, social interaction, emotional identification and mastery, catharsis, communication, development, empowerment, adoption, critical analysis, liberation, emancipators knowledge-building, resilience and strength With an overall goal of improving physical, mental, and emotional health” (Roughhoused & Gardner, 201).
To expand on this approach would be to integrate discussions rounding the media influence of hip-hop on our youth and the difference between surface hip-hop and conscious hip-hop. The study alone sets the stage for consciousness, and mindfulness practices, Most often, we do not listen to words we are singing and the messages we relay with our words and movements. Much of hip-hop is confrontational because it is in your face and blunt. It is my goal to provide a sate place to explore confrontation.
Haling (2003) addresses confrontation in as a pivotal moment; leading to release and then groom, all must occur in the five-step process. In using this approach, would also play close attention to information we receive from media and how to channel information using our creative energy rather than internalize it and allows it keeps us blocked, My creative process and clinical experiences encouraged me to define expressive arts therapy for myself and inspired a search for the non-tradition approaches within the expressive therapeutic realm In my research, I found cinema therapy and hip-hop therapy.
Both would be useful, in society dependent on technology. Pending correlations from The Alchemist and The Avatar: Last Airbed to existential-integrative psychology an inform a clinical setting for children and families. My existential crisis brought me to the field of expressive arts therapy. Therefore, it is my hope to inspire individuals that may have lost meaning in their lives to look inward and minimize their reliance on the Internet and the media to validate their identity.
The elements of existential theory in expressive arts therapy provide the foundation for individuals to find meaning and acceptance after crisis and confrontation. Grappling with these issues can open a third space where the blocks in the creative process become an opportunity for discovery. This area is only possible when we allow it surface and refrain using our energy to define our identity on the surface, which we forget to define meaning for ourselves.
Glossary Attainment: the adjustment of expressive energy and space to bring about uniform-receptive awareness; harmonious presence: when charms are aligned and center (Osaka, 2008), Catharsis: an emotional detailing which involves the cleansing of negative emotions and discomforting bodily sensations through artistic expression and confession; to let go (Knell, 2004). Container: a mental and, or physical safe space created for the purpose of self-expression. Creative response: an expressive reaction to a specific stimulus; an artistic interpretation (Knell 2004).
G-L Hold: coming to a pause faith the intent to carry the weight of the present moments, emotions, sensations, feelings, or experiences (Verbal Communication) Imagination: the mental space in which one has the ability to create alternate realities from perceived images, happenings, and concepts that have no presence in the external space (Knell, 2004). L-P Mismanagement: bringing awareness to chaos; an imbalance of expressive energy and space; a dissonance between an individual and the lived experience (Osaka, 008).
