Comments on: 7 Art Therapy Testimonials From a Mental Hospital

By: Robyn George

Robyn George — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:34:03 +0000

I am looking to participate in a volunteer Art Therapy placement (2-6 weeks) in Mississippi or thereabouts in April/May 2012, after I graduate in a Diploma of Art Therapy, from an Australian Art Therapy school (IKON). I am very much inspired by the Mississippi State Hospital’s Art program, and wondered if there would be volunteer opportunities available?

I currently live and work in Alice Springs, Central Australia, as an Occupational Therapist I where I also provide Art Therapy services to adults with mental health difficulties and cognitive impairment. My work history is extensive – I have 11 years clinical experience in diverse settings with a culturally varied client base.

I can be contacted via email or Scype to discuss possibilities, and am happy to provide my resume and references. Please feel free to refer my details to other Art Therapists who may be interested.

Robyn George
lindarobyngeorge@yahoo.com.au

By: Dorota

Dorota — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:27:28 +0000

I`m a mental health nurse student and I`m preparing presentatin about art therapy in the mental health nurse work. This website is my inspiration and this clip from youtube is great! I`m going to use it in my presentation, I hope I can. This website is absolutely fab
Dorota

By: Taryn

Taryn — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:21:25 +0000

This story/video was truly inspirational. As an artist myself, I can really appreciate stories like this and connect to the characters in the video. This story inspired me for 2 of my class assignments as an Arts Management major at SUNY Purchase, and I also shared the video in my blog too!

By: Lawrence

Lawrence — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:39:48 +0000

A creative outlet, art, can truly be anything and done by everyone. A way to get out of our soul, that which is in need of spilling forth onto this plane of existence. A way to safely rant, rave, yell, scream, lay bare emotions, explode an idea, impossible to express in words, but in desperate need of expression. A way to relax, flow, ground and recharge, dispel confusion, make happy, safe, feel nurtured, excepted and loved. What else offers humanity so much, for so little investment?

By: Admin

Admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:08:04 +0000

@angela,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful story!

By: Angela Susan Harrison

Angela Susan Harrison — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:00:26 +0000

Nice to hear all these comments from people, who are being helped throughout their Mental Illnesses with Art Therapy. It is amazing as a few weeks ago a friend asked me to organize a painting session at ‘home’. She was feeling a bit ‘under the weather’, and so I said, ‘yes’, and set up the Art room for a two hour Art session. Neither of us had an idea what to do, but we set up with pencils, Acrylic paints, bits of tissue paper,and hey presto! There was a ‘ratatatat’ at the door, there appeared my friend with all her Art kit, ready to work! She said ‘I really haven’t a clue, as to know what to do’, and I said ‘that’s alright, we shall just start with a little observational exercise first, then we shall see’. We sat on a chair and I began with a Sensory exercise, being aware of the sense of touch, then sense of smell, then sense of taste, then the sense of hearing, then the sense of sight, observing a particular colour in front of you, and just see colour, shape, and form. Then close the eyes for about 2 minutes and just listen to the Natural Sounds, and come to rest. Being aware of the senses and body,brings one into the Now, and the listening to natural sounds helps to still Mind from the busy state, and whatsoever, helping to focus upon the sense of sight, brings clarity. Anyway after this sensory exercise we took out Paper, Watercolours, and I said, ‘Now choose the most dominant colour out of three, then the second, and third.I had an idea to create textures, and mixed some flour, salt and water together and made a runny glue-like mixture, painted it on greaseproof paper, and baked it for 10 mins. It turned out crinkly, and there was a texture. My friend started working on Watercolour paper with watercolour. She kept saying’I don’t really know what to do’, its like a ‘doodle’ I said”that’s alright, just let the doodle do it for youy’ and you know it did! She suddenly started sketching geometric shapes, and beautiful colours appeared. I took out some greaseproof paper and daubed this flour and water mixture all over it, and then started dribbling paint, in various places, started using my fingers, and got into a messy state, but saw all different kinds of colours, shapes and forms.Then I saw the shape of an Eagle, so I broke up the baked texture, and formed some wings, that had a crinkled effect. As the Acrylic was drying, we decided to take a break, with some refreshment, and pinned the paintings up to study what had taken place.It was just seeing and observing. My friends doodles had turned into three beautiful birds, exotic birds, and she began to talk about colourful things, like her holiday in South America, and all these colours came into Mind, but that happened ages ago, 10 yrs or so, but nevertheless, these colours were set to work, and appeared in the form of three exotic birds. My painting was a grand mixture of oranges, browns, and yellows, with white bits, from the flour and water, that had made a textured effect. The Eagle appeared on the upper half, looking down at a rock-like surface. Could make this image out, but needed more work on it, so we had initiated a painting, just through Colour technique of doodling and experimenting with simple elements like Flour salt and Water, baked to make a crinkly effect on paper. The ‘doldrums’ were let go of, and something had been created out of nothing! So I thought I would share this 2 hour session in Art with you all, and hope this has contributed to promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing for Art Therapy at Home! I am seriously thinking about starting a group for people with a disability in home centre for Art as it makes a difference, and motivates. My friend said that she felt relaxed and out of the ‘doldrums’, so Art does assist us when we need to create!After being diagnosed with OesteoArthritis, and sometimes experience painful joint, Art has been so therapeutic for myself, and has enabled me to discover new things, that helps to lift depression and Anxiety too. So I am very happy to share this with you all. All the best in Art and your creativity. Regards Angela Susan Harrison