The journey of an art therapist turned education technology expert
For those of you in private practice who are interested in DIY tips on Free for Service issues and online marketing, check out these reasonably priced guides offered by the Zur Institute.
The Complete Fee-for-Service Private Practice Handbook &
The Psychotherapist’s Guide to Online Marketing for Private Practice: A simple do-it-yourself model
I hope you find these guides useful!
Hat Tip Kristina Bell DiTullo:
British organization Mind, starts a fund to help people experiencing mental health problems explore the benefits of creative arts therapies.
Read an interview with artist, Stuart Semple, about his art making and the Mind project:
“I was left with this strange sense of questioning – what happened, what can I eat, what can I not eat – and nobody could really give me any answers…So in one way I guess I had an eating disorder, but also I was just incredibly anxious about anything and everything…Of all things we tried – and they did eventually point me to a psychologist – it was actually my art that was there for me and helped me through it all.”
Drawing using a tablet is pretty cool, but is definitely not the same as drawing with a pen in a sketchbook. Wacom has addressed this issue this their new product Inkling. I’m not endorsing this product, seeing as I never tried it. But the concept is appealing. I hope it works as well as I want it to!
Via Live Science:
The new show at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore follows Johnson’s journey, including her artwork from before she got viral encephalitis in 2007 and as she recovered. The journey is providing scientists unique insights into the dire effects of amnesia and the complementary roles played by language and memory in her artistic expression.
Via NPR:
Thank you to Joyce W. for sending me this story!
I’m so sad to hear about his resignation from Apple, which almost certainly has to do with his failing health. This presentation given by Jobs several years ago to a Stanford graduating class clearly shows how introspective Jobs is, and his advice is something we all would benefit from knowing.
Hat tip Coach Poppy for posting this on Facebook.
Environmental Arts Research Grant
A $1,000 award, sponsored by American Art Resources, Houston, will be provided to a Principal Investigator to conduct or supplement Arts in Healthcare research. Society members from all countries are invited to apply. Selection will be made on the merit, innovation, and feasibility of the research proposal.
Purpose and Application Information
A challenge in healthcare today is the dearth of caregivers and a consistent human support system. Within the context of the arts, often an artist or a creative art therapist can spend only a few hours with the patient (or a stressed family member or staff). While the impact of an art intervention can be powerful during this time, and have a ripple effect afterwards, there is still a large body of time that the patients and care providers are left to their own means – and this is an opportunity for the more passive creative art interventions.
This grant is focused on research on art interventions that become part of the healthcare environment. Such environmental art interventions do not require the presence of a creative arts therapist or an artist facilitator to be experienced by the patients, caregivers or staff. They are passive rather than participative interventions. In other words, the individual “takes in” the experience rather than actively engaging in it. Examples could be viewing visual art or murals on the wall, using Virtual Reality glasses during procedures, listening to music or a poetry reading or watching videos, to list a few. Such interventions do not require a caregiver interface (via the presence of a creative arts therapist or artist). There is a small but significant body of research that establishes that exposure to art can affect patients’ healthcare experience. For example, research shows that viewing visual art (static or dynamic) and listening to music can have an impact on the stress, anxiety and pain perception in patients.
It is of value to investigate and evaluate whether other environmental interventions, such as sound cones, lighting installations, plasma screen interventions, healing gardens, viewing (not participating) in live performances, being exposed to pleasant odors and aromas etc., can improve the patient/caregiver experience and, more importantly, whether this impact can be measured through rigorous research. We need more research to understand how art that appeals to one or more of the senses can improve the healthcare environment and impact the healthcare experience. We also need research to investigate what specific aspects of the art contribute towards its therapeutic impact.
Creative arts therapists, artists, researchers, administrators, designers, healthcare providers and students are all encouraged to apply for this grant.
To view more information about this grant, please check out the Society for Arts in Healthcare website.
Enjoy this fabulous Ted talk clip: