A couple weeks ago in class I mentioned my curiosity about Bruce Moon's practice of creating artwork along song his clients. He never really explained why. In chapter 6 he explains, "I must emphasize here that I believe it is imperative to engage in art processes in the course of the art therapeutic encounter with the patient. This a vital element of art therapy practice, not only pragmatically, but ethically imperative. The courage that I honor as I struggle with my own imagery is infectious. It establishes a safe milieu in which the patient is enable to enter upon his own excursion into self-exploration. As his journey begins, his expressions trickle, ooze, gush, spew, and surge onto the page. It is my willingness to be with my own images that lays the groundwork that allows the patient to believe that I will understand his symbolic metaphors. If I can open myself to what he has expressed, the patient feels the twin edges of enjoyment: the vent of emotion for himself, and the awareness that he has been understood by another."
I LOVE this practice and I wish it was something embraced in art education. There have been times in my past teaching experiences where students wanted to see me make art but it wasn't something consciously planned and was more for entertainment. One problem that I feel may arise in this practice is the clients insecurities about their work- skill level, subject matter etc, compared to the therapists. Would a client feel their art work isn't as good as the therapist because the therapist has more experience/knowledge? If a therapist can work around this obstacle with his patient I feel this practice can be extremely effective- for both patient and therapist.
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