A conversation between creative arts therapists: Part One
Common assumptions and the populations we gravitate towards
Lynda Jessen-Tye (Nelson/Tasman, NZ) and Kate Willis (Christchurch, NZ)
L: There is often a misconception that you need to be an artist to participate in creative arts therapy. However, no experience with the visual arts or a particular skill set using arts materials is necessary to attend a creative arts therapy session. All you need is a curiosity for the material.
As an emergent field, what other assumptions do you think also exist in the field that is creative arts therapy?
K: A key assumption is that the role of creative arts therapists is to interpret client's artwork. However, we as creative art therapists can use various approaches, just as counsellors or psychotherapists may utilise different methods. I connect with the humanistic approach to art therapy, focusing on the personal meaning the client finds within their own work, rather than an arbitrary meaning imposed by the therapist. The client is an expert on their own artwork and creative process. The art therapist's role is to facilitate explorations of their work rather than analyse or interpret it.
L: I also connect with the humanistic approach of working with clients and see myself working in partnership, following the clients' explorations.
Another assumption is that creative arts therapists are trained artists who teach art. Although the role of an arts therapist and an art teacher look very similar from the outside, our qualifications set us apart. The three-year Master of Arts in Arts Therapy program includes 750 hours of therapeutic work with clients. We are taught to value the process through working with the creative arts in a multitude of ways. However, there are creative arts therapists who also work as active artists.
K: From my experience, both as an artist and creative art therapist, I can acknowledge that the process of creating is very different. I find it’s the intentions behind the work that separates the two professions. What unites them, however, is the ability to bring people together.
As a creative arts therapist, what clientele do you gravitate towards working with and why?
L: I genuinely enjoy working with a wide range of age groups and populations. I run workshops and group arts therapy sessions as well as individual creative arts therapy sessions with all ages across the lifespan. This includes working with neurodiverse children and teens. I moved into this work because of my past connections to Autism New Zealand and previous work in other contexts with this population. I have just started running a small group for neurodiverse and neurotypical children at a local primary school.
I am also passionate about holding space for women. One of my clinical placements last year was at the Nelson Women's Centre. I had another placement at a residential rest home where I worked with clients in their golden years and have a pilot group starting soon in the community for over 65s.
I apply a multimodal approach to the clients I work with. I might weave two or more modalities into a session that could include the visual arts, creative writing, nature-based arts and/or drama/movement but this is in response to who I am working with and what might be unfolding.
K: I also enjoy working with children and teens and use the visual arts and nature-based therapy as my focus modalities. I gravitate towards working with mental ill health, learning difficulties, and neurodiversity in a one-on-one and group capacity. I found my placement experiences really helpful in discovering my passion for working with a range of children with various needs. This included places such as the Champion Centre and Seabrook Mckenzie.
Part two coming soon…
If you have any further questions or want to find out more, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Kate Willis Creative Arts TherapyCreative Arts Therapist Master of Arts in Arts Therapy (Clinical)Email: kate@creativeartstherapy.nzLynda Jessen-TyeKomorebi Creative Arts Creative arts therapistMaster of Arts in Arts Therapy (Clinical) Email: komorebicreativearts@gmail.com