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Free Webinar Tomorrow!

Just a reminder about the FREE webinar that I’ll be giving tomorrow, hosted by the American Art Therapy Association: Demystifying the Online Presence: Art Therapists and the Internet.

Synopsis:

It’s natural to feel skeptical or overwhelmed about the changing nature of social interaction and marketing. Although disregarding these changes may feel like the safe choice, this also limits your ability to network professionally, reach new clients and help others.

This seminar will address common questions asked by art therapists about the benefits and pitfalls of having a digital presence, giving you the tools to decide whether being available online is right for you. Topics include:

  • What it means to have an online presence, and how it’s useful
  • Common questions and concerns about having an online presence
  • Appropriate places for a therapist to build an online presence, including a discussion about Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
  • Why having a website is important
  • Why it’s important to keep your online content updated
  • What information is useful to include on a professional website
  • Simple guidelines to keep your professional online presence ethical
    • If you would like to attend, please register here.
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    Can Viewing Art Provide Emotional Insight & Catalyze Healing?

    Take a look at this article by Dr. Jeremy Spiegel that considers whether viewing artwork in a gallery setting may lay the groundwork towards self-understanding.

    I originally posted this on the Liz Beck Designs facebook page on 07/11, and recieved this question from Cathy Malchiodi:

    “Gosh Liz, what do you really think about this?”

    My response:

    “You know, I’ve been seeing a lot of articles lately talking about art therapy in the context of going to a museum and viewing artwork, but usually for the Alzheimer’s/dementia population. I’m not familiar with research done on the effectiveness of treating a mental illness through the viewing of art. If you know of any, Cathy, I’d love to read it!

    In any case, when I read Dr. Spiegel’s post, I couldn’t help but think how collage images are used in art therapy sessions. The images are created by someone other than the person choosing to use them in a collage; the images are chosen because they resonate in some way with the client and are a source of exploration throughout the therapeutic session. In this way, I can see how going to a gallery and focusing on pieces of artwork that stand out to the client could open up fruitful discussion and self-examination.

    The method used to explore the images and the ego strength of the client would be key. For example, I wouldn’t bring a client who has a tendency to dissociate or have intense and difficult to contain emotional reactions to a public environment to view triggering images. I also wouldn’t want to have a discussion about a particular piece in the middle of the gallery, for other people to hear. Perhaps the art viewing would work best by having a client write down his or her impressions and experiences to later be explored in a private therapy session. I would also want to bring a picture of the artwork to the therapy session to help bring the client back to the original viewing experience.”

    What are your thoughts?

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    Why We Need the Arts in Medicine

    Check out this article by Gary Christenson, M.D., on the value of including the arts in both medical education and healthcare in general.

    Here’s a break down of the main topics:

    1. Studying the arts makes medical students into better doctors

    2. The arts have therapeutic benefits

    3. The arts can help prevent disease

    4. The arts can improve the patient experience

    5. The arts can promote physician well-being

    Hat tip— the Art Therapy Alliance on Twitter.

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    This Week’s News—Recap

    As promised, here’s a recap of the art therapy news of the week…plus some other interesting tidbits sprinkled in!

  • Imagine Technology As An Ocean

  • Guitar Villa music, art therapy program targets mental health needs

  • Facing Alzheimer’s: Art Therapy and Alzheimer’s

  • Therapist’s film tells inspiring story

  • Photographic Education Raises $10,000 in donations for Akron Children’s Hospital

  • The Hidden Village Behind Golden Gate Fields

  • Being a hero to a cause prompts site dedication

  • Social networking ‘utopia’ isn’t coming

  • Telemedicine is giving Idaho patients health care from a distance

  • Ten ways to heal yourself with art

  • Do Antidepressants Make You Sad?

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    Want More Art Therapy News?

    Be sure to follow me on either Facebook or Twitter. I’m posting art therapy related news stories on a daily basis! And, for those who don’t have a Facebook or Twitter account, I intend to post a weekly recap here on my blog :)

    Thank you for your support!

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    “Art Therapy” Installation by the Guggenheim

    The Fader: The Guggenheim Brings Alternative Art Therapy to Downtown Brooklyn

    The Fader: The Guggenheim Brings Alternative Art Therapy to Downtown Brooklyn
    Hmn…

    …a temporary clinic, “which combines the best of New York’s existing therapy landscape with unexpected, short, experimental treatments. In two-hour windows, Sanatorium visitors experience up to three sessions from a roster of sixteen special ‘urban therapies.’ Upon arrival, visitors will meet a receptionist who will assign a series of “therapies” to each person. Balancing reality and parody, Sanatorium draws from Gestalt psychology, theater warm-up exercises, Fluxus events, conflict resolution techniques, trust-building games, corporate coaching, psychodrama, and hypnosis.

    Is this parody helpful or hurtful for the art therapy profession? I wish I could experience the installation for myself so I could formulate an accurate opinion.