Art in My Heart

Art in my Heart

"You know a dream is like a river, ever-changing as it flows. And a dreamer's just a vessel who must follow where it goes. So many times we stand aside never knowing what's in store, but I will choose to chance the rapids, than stay there on the shore... I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry, like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky. I'll never reach my destination if I never try, so I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry."--Garth Brooks song

As I try to figure out my dreams for my life so that I can write this paper, that songs keeps playing in my mind. So many times in life I get scared and can't decide what I want, yet if I would only look back on my life's course and be comfortable with what I am right now, I would naturally be drawn to my next opportunity, whether or not the outcome is good. As I try to do that, to cultivate my current situation and to be cultivating to others in my life, I realize a couple things. I have always loved being with people, playing with them, listening to them, laughing with them, and just living side-by-side with them. I have always been drawn to things that let me cultivate my love for people, and that is what brought me to my current major, psychology.

My other love has always been the arts. Not just drawing, but the creativity in dancing, painting, theatre, music, and crafting things that appeal to my senses. Even when doing my chores when I was young, my favorite was always dusting, for even thgouh everything had to be moved from its spot to clean underneath it, I could reconstruct the designs of all the trinkets and frames. When I get to do these things I feel like I am sailing on water or gliding in the air, with breezes blowing the toxic feelings and thoughts out into the abyss and soothing feelings taking their places. I have always been able to work through issues so much better by doodling or writing about them, making everything more clear than it was before.

I would have hardly any characteristics left that would stay if I wasn't involved with people and with art. So the next natural thing form me to purse is a career with the two of them in one: Art Therapy. Art therapy can be defined in many different ways, yet it is basically the facilitated use of art making to promote positive growth for people who experience illness, adversity, trauma, or challenges in living, and for people who seek personal and professional development.

Art therapy gives a voice and expression to hidden unconscious emotions, feelings, personal meanings, thoughts, dreams, struggle and survival through color, construction of drawings, paintings, sculpture, poetry, and so on. These images release the feelings, most commonly fear and anger, and lead to confrontation of difficult issues that have taken form in people's lives. . It has the advantage of being able to cross over boundaries of cultures, communication, language skills and all levels of education allowing each individual to also bypass their defenses such as denial, avoidance, etc. It enables a person to visually listen with their eyes, view problems with a new perspective and create solutions in their own unique style.It has a wide range of situations and forms it can take. It can be individual, group, family, couples, and community art therapy sessions and workshops. They provide professional consultations to allied professionals, perform art-based assessments, and conduct research.

Art therapy is regulated in the U.S. by voluntary compliance with the standards of The American Art Therapy Association, which sets educational, professional, and ethical standards for its members.

Email Interview with Dr. Ellen G. Horovitz, who is on the Board of Directors for the AATA.

"How and why did you become involved in art therapy?"

I became an art therapist because I loved Psychology and Art. I had always leaned toward both fields and at an early age (16) had already experienced the value of using art materials with physically challenged individuals. As well, in college, I worked in the back wards of the Brattleboro Retreat (Brattleboro, Vermont). Here, I experienced first hand how instrumental art was with the chronic schizophrenic population. As a result, I triple majored in Art, Education, and Psychology. Art Therapy seemed a natural conversion of all these disciplines by the time I was ready to enter graduate school.

How important personally is the work you've done with children and the disabled throughout your career in addition to your academic career and private practice in art therapy?

Extremely. I feel that one must practice what one preaches. In other words, I feel as an educator that it is my duty to stay current with many different populations. Otherwise, I would be teaching from perspectives that might be outdated. That