To delve deeper into the topic of the healing aspects of creativity I interviewed Mary Jo Zawalski, a passionate artist residing in New York who helps people through artistic expression and loves it. It was very kind of her to share what being an art therapist entails and her view of how it can be used as a tool for healing.
Mary Jo, tell us about yourself and how you got involved in art therapy?
I've been into art since I could hold a crayon or clay without dropping it. My dad introduced me to artmaking.In school, I began a path toward a higher education in visual arts, with music as a close companion, though I also maintained an interest in the sciences. In my undergraduate years I realized I was not interested in "art for art's sake", or for art as business. I met people whose lives were revolutionized by their art! And I began shifting my career toward art therapy.
Can you describe what being an art therapist entails?
Being an art therapist entails much more than creativity/artistic ability plus desire to help others. It takes great courage, incredible personal flexibility, and, I think, a perserverance that borders on stubbornness. I will explain: It's given that the would-be art therapist will encounter the gamut of emotionally/psychologically troubled persons. But it is also true that he/she will face the best and the worst in human nature---sometimes on a daily basis---not just in clients but in their relatives, friends, and coworkers, in person and by stories.
As for personal flexibility, art therapists must constantly reinvent themselves. By this I mean one may need to adapt their professional role when dealing with different clients, different client demographics, or different institutions. Most art therapists draw from other creative disciplines and/or run non-art groups on a regular basis. Generally, art therapy is not a high-paying profession, so it's typical to work one or more jobs even if one is full time. Art therapists' second jobs may include teaching, tutoring, bartending, and yes, serving in restaurants!
As in traditional therapy, the therapist must be able to reinvent himself/herself without losing the self. In other words, ego strength must be solid, for the art therapist routinely faces counter-transference: clients/situations that unconsciously remind the therapist of his/her past. These may be positive, negative, or mixed. So the therapist needs to prepare and recognize this before he/she reacts to the client.
Of course there is also the technical training---in New York: masters' degree, limited permit, license, registration, board certification exam, and continuing education credits. It's a loooooooong process!!!
Describe a typical day for you.
I work an unusual schedule: noon to 8pm, Thursday through Monday in an acute psychiatric hospital. A typical day for me includes running four to six patient activity groups on different units. Clients are segmentedby age and some by gender. I usually have an hour to do clinical charting, and a one hour break to make preparations for groups, eat, etc.
Why do you think being creative is healing?
I'm humanistic in philosophy, so I think being creative is healing because creativity takes people off-guard, opening up their subconscious and revealing within themselves possible solutions to their problems. I see my therapeutic role as a catalyst for this positive reaction to occur in the client/patient.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
It's hard to determine the most rewarding part of my job. I work with a diverse, supportive and often fun care team. There are positive affirmations about my work from patients and staff AND I get to color with crayons and sidewalk chalk at work!!! Oh, and I get to dance and hula hoop too!!!
What do you recommend someone try or do to incorporate the healing aspects of art into their lives?
People can definitely tap into the healing power of art in their daily lives. How many times have we felt refreshed by music playing or by looking out the window at springtime colors? After all, art includes art appreciation. Beyond this, it helps to look at artmaking as more than a formal or serious process with the goal of producing a masterpiece. Art can and should be about playing, too. Creative play is both relaxing and stimulating, giving a break from routine. One of my favorite forms of creative play is cooking/baking, tweaking recipes, pretending I'm a famous chef, even dancing around the kitchen! I have to cook, but I make it fun.
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