Using Art and Narrative to Foster Self-expression with Mental Health Professionals

Download or read book Using Art and Narrative to Foster Self-expression with Mental Health Professionals written by Lisa Jackson Wood and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This art-based study attempted to alleviate stress and burnout in mental health professionals while increasing self-awareness through art process and narratives. in a one-day focus group, eight female practitioners and one artist-researcher explored together the healing effects of this art process experience. It implored non-verbal methods of film viewing and responsive art making to generate images and metaphors. During the first part of the group session the movie, Baraka (Magidson & Fricke, 1992) was viewed to activate imaginations. The last portion of the day participants created in an Open Studio (Allen, 1995) in response to the movie. The data were the created art products and journals containing biographical narratives. The artist-researcher responded to and explored the data in a reflexive and creative manner. The literature review highlighted the intersectional and anthropological perspective the researcher embraced to approach this process. Results confirmed previous findings that art process leads to self-awareness and wellbeing. This study advocated for the use of image and narrative in healthcare practices. It explored the subjective nature of human experience and gave strength to the validity of art-based approaches to healthcare that serve as a curative force for both healing professionals and those needing healed.