The following interview (MP3) was done in Australia with a psychotherapist and the topic of discussion is how art is used as therapy for people with a mental illness.
Transcript from the interview:
Dr. Chris James:
Art therapy is a very simple process of separating the thinking mind from the observing mind. When we think thoughts, they’re usually fleeting thoughts and we don’t give them a great deal of consideration. Very often we act on those inappropriately.
When we think about our thoughts, then we paint a picture in our mind. Now most people don’t use the observing mind…they don’t need to on a daily basis. But artists do because if artists didn’t use the observing mind, they wouldn’t be able to paint a picture.
So, it makes a very good form of therapy for people who are experiencing mental health problems.
Interviewer:
So, what actually happened here today?
Dr. Chris James:
We started off by having a powerpoint presentation which explained to people basically what happens in their brain when they feel anxiety or fear and get panic attacks and experience those sorts of discomforts. We identify the area of the brain that is affected and we looked at strategies for coping with those feelings. Essentially it’s about accepting a lot of those feelings as normal. And dealing with them, being able to manage them rather than saying, “well I’m abnormal because I have anxiety or because I have depression.” It’s more about, well, everyone has levels of depression…everyone has levels of anxiety, but we need to manage it so we can get on with our lives.
Interviewer:
So, over the course of the next few weeks you’ll have more workshops like this and then it will culminate in an exhibition of art works that have been produced by the people that are taking part in the workshops. What’s the aim behind all of this?
Dr. Chris James:
The aim is to raise awareness in the community about people with mental illness and to dispel some of the myths about it as well. Also the aim is to provide some services for people who experience mental health difficulties and to make them feel as though they are welcome people in the environment and that they do have talents. Because they may feel different or they have different experiences they are still human beings and have an awful lot to give the community and I think the art exhibition will demonstrate that because we’ve had some marvellous work just come out in the first workshop today.
Interviewer:
Are there particular issues facing people with mental illness that live in small communities like some of the communities around here in South Kippsland.
Dr. Chris James:
Yes there are. In some cases there are families who will deny that their children have mental illness. There are difficulties especially if there is more than one person in the family who has mental illness. And in the general population at large, there’s not a lot of knowledge about mental illness so people have a lot of fears about it. And one of the things that happens is somebody who does suffer from a mental illness is often labeled criminal. There’s the assumption that they’re going to do something terrible. And of course that generates a lot of fear…and it’s quite wrong. When people with mental illness get associated with crime it’s totally inappropriate because if you look at crime across Australia, most of the people who commit crime do not have a mental illness.
Interviewer:
So, you’re sort of disspelling the idea of any kind of link between mental illness and crime. I’m interested in whether you believe there’s a link between mental illness and creativity because if you look back in history at some of the most creative minds in all sorts of fields of arts, perhaps nowadays they would be diagnosed as having a mental illness. Do you think there is a correlation there between creativity and mental illness?
Dr. Chris James:
I think everyone has creative potential. But what happens with people with mental illness is – and it happens in the brain, it’s a very physical thing – the brain has to compensate for some of the things that are lacking. It’s like if a person is blind, you’ll often find they’ve got an amazing sense of smell or an amazing sense of touch. And the brain does a lot of compensating for areas that may be a little bit deficient and it’s called brain plasticity. It’s the brain’s ability to heal itself by using other areas of the brain. And I guess what happens with mental illness is they do develop these amazing talents for art and for music and dance and theatre. And yes, there are many famous people in history who have had severe mental illness and produced brilliant works.
Interviewer:
And we’re likely to see some brilliant works produced here in Foster over the next couple of weeks, do you think?
Dr. Chris James:
Oh, most definitely. I’ve seen brilliant works already today. And I’m quite ecstatic about what’s happened today.
Wonderful. Thank you for sharing this. I am interested in learning more about the series – Thanks again.
Thank you for this article I would be very interested in hearing more and learning more about the workshops that were mentioned.
Interesting article, and I can really support the idea that during a painting or sketching exercise there are benefits from participating in a therapy, as it does assist in healing. Over the years I have experienced reaction, bouts of depression, and stress,after a physical illness,Aneamia and Oesteo Arthritus. At the same time being involved with supporting a few people who have been depressed, I decided to study Visual Art. After studing Visual Art and able to Tutor it has been such a useful therapy and healing to both myself and individuals who participated in a few hours of Art. Yes, painting does separate the thinking mind from the Observing faculty, and provides a space, wherby the person experiences something other than ‘racing thoughts, or ‘fleeting feelings’, or even excessive bouts of fatigue- a pause in the interlude! I agree that everybody has creativity in their being, and it only needs to be encouraged or channeled,constructively in some area of Art form. Children are blessed with Creativity, and one of the simplest way of scribing is to let them chalk out their expressions, on board, the same with older people, one of the most easiest ways of unravelling an idea is to doodle it out on paper, this way not only releases tension, but it shows them lots of interesting lines to express. Its like what one of the contemporary Artist had to say, “Art is like taking a line for a walk’!: Paul Klees. Instead of magazines in Psychologists or Therapists Waiting Rooms, there should be a corner, where the patients can peruse Art Journals, maybe some of the individuals could create a folio of visual diaries and exhibit them for the public to view? Its nice to know that Art Therapy is the most natural remedy in helping people to heal, and cope with managing stress, in todays busy world. I found this interesting to read today. Thankyou, I am about to finish an impasto painting of our Ginger Cat today,all the best to you all! ASH
What a great article! I like how you broke concepts down into manageable bits, and that you’re dispelling myths about mental illness. As a Recreation Therapist with Mental Health & Addictions Services in Canada, I’m thrilled to see articles that address mental illness in such a practical way. I’m also just starting a creative arts group for some clients, and would love to hear more about this group. Thanks,
I am very excited by this idea of combining psychoeducation, normalization, and strengthening the observing mind. I work with people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia, some of whom are very out of touch with their emotions, or who fear them, or both. I work with one fellow who fears “becoming unraveled” if he allows himself to feel the least bit of anger, sadness or anxiety. Definitely would like to learn more about this project. Thanks for the inspiration!
I would like to reference this interview for my dissertation. Could you please send me the details, such as date (year), interviewers name etc. Thanks.
My doctor Manuel Gallego MD in Port Charlotte, Florida, USA, has initiated the ‘Genius of Mental Illness’. His idea is to rent stores in very nice shopping areas and display and sell the art for the mentally ill in Southwest Florida. As the Art Show Coordinator for Dr. Gallego I will not only get the ball rolling for the shows I will display and sell my own art. A friend is designing our website. I’ll be setting up our email address November 21, 2011. I would like to comment again as the stores are rented and artists start signing up. Dr. Gallego thinks we are geniuses. He has every confidence these shows, in Fort Myers, Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte and Sarasota will be very beneficial for those who choose to use their talents to observe as therapy. Our neural pathways connect through art. Andrea Bower Willard
Hello,
I promised to post the email address for ‘The Genius of Mental Illness in the Arts’ in Southwest Florida. It is: thegeniusofmentalillnessart@gmail.com
I am diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder. As I learned behaviors that enhanced my relationships and position in my community I found incredible support and found discrimination lessening.
As a Mental Health Peer Advocate I am helping others increase their resilience and self-respect and hope and abilities to cope and succeed by expressing themselves in art and writing. I encourage a daily journal with pictures scribbled in the margins. Life without the arts is bleak.
Feeling our feelings without acting out in unacceptable ways is a way of life I hope other mentally ill people can learn. Expressions of art and writing give the mentally ill who do no harm to society a better way of life.
I speak out for advocasy for mental illness. I am not embarrassed anymore by my challenged mind. As hopeful as I am I know medicines fail and we can go backwards. But the more we are educated about our illnesses and the other mental illnesses-I know by experience-that we CAN go through those situations with grace and fortitude.
May Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Licenced Mental Health Counselors, Advocates, and Families Never Forget Our(Mentally Ill Peoples’s) Need for Dignity. May Civil Servants such as Police and The People in Government Departments who Preside Over the Mentally Ill With Force Instead Of Peace Never Forget Our Need for Dignity.
The research and presentations of your findings make me grateful I found your site. Thank you for sharing all this information. The more we learn about ourselves and how our brains work the healthier our attitudes will becomes. Every thought builds neural pathways that were never there before.
I am smiling. Thank you again.
Andrea
Hello,
I am Andrea Bower Willard of Southwest Florida, USA. The previous two comments were mine. I want to give you our website as promised and email address. We are as of tonight an affiliate of Altered States of the Arts. A National Organization of Artists with Psychiatric Histories. We should have pages on that website tomorrow. Our email address is thegeniusofmentalillnessart@gmail.com. Our organization was renamed yesterday; and it is ‘Mental Wellness and Recovery as Artists’. As the Director of Artists I am recruiting artists from around the globe.
All of your blogs are very special. I enjoy every one.
They have educated me with a new perspective of art as therapy. It has always been therapeutic for me to sculpt or use watercolors to illustrate my poetry. I sculpted a large man’s hand in 2007 and I gave it to my psychiatrist. He set it prominently at the front of his desk. One day I was in his office and noticed it was gone. He commented, “It was broken the other day. You see almost everyone held the hand as they talked. It was so comforting, a blessing, it was therapeutic Andrea.” What I felt was beyond words. He ordered another hand the other day. The clay is on my work table ready to pummel into a workable condition. Yes art is therapeutic. Blessings, Andrea Bower Willard USA
I would also like to reference this interview for my research paper on art therapy. Could you please send me the publication information, as well as the date (year), and interviewers name etc. Thank you!
fascinating reading this as ive recently discovered the work of english artist michael fitzgerald at saatchi
I too am grateful for the clear way in which Chris James has presented the issues AND for the beautiful responses by people who have benefited from the wisdom inherent in Art Therapy! Thank you