The Healing Power of Archetypal Art Therapy
First, I will set the stage for the healing power of archetypal art therapy. You struggle, find yourself stuck, and feel miserable. You keep showing up to do the work in treatment. Sessions are sometimes frustrating and sometimes challenging; they can feel tense and even stress-producing. And yet, you know that magic is happening in the therapeutic process. Furthermore, You feel lighter sometimes after engaging in artwork or discussing it with your therapist; sessions feel like a lifeline. You know your therapist has your back and is in the “thick of it” with you.
Power of the Image
Then all of a sudden, in the middle of a session, an image clicks. The therapist reflects on what you’ve made and the images you’ve explored in your dreams. Suddenly, it’s like an earthquake inside you. You feel shaken up; the air feels thick, and you feel exhausted from the emotional change. And yet, something profound within you has moved. Now, something is different.
Then your dreams reflect this change. Likewise, people and situations around you seem different.
This process is the alchemy of archetypal art therapy. Next, I will discuss how I utilize images for storytelling and personal understanding.
Using Images in Therapy
In the therapy process, I look at images that my clients make, that they discuss in their stories about their lives, and as they emerge in their dreams. Then we circle around the central archetypal themes of the stories of their lives and their inner worlds. As this weekly process continues, the patterns become more apparent, and more of their true nature unfolds.
Releasing the Energy for Therapeutic Healing
Foremost, these are the moments that I cherish. My clients express, “It shook me,” or “Wow! This point hit home.” We uncover gold, the philosopher’s stone, through personal alchemy with art. As we hold the tension with the unconscious, we discover great gifts from the depths of the soul. Finally, this results in finding greater meaning and purpose in life together.
Finally, if you resonate with this post and are ready to make transformative changes and progress in your life, schedule a free consultation to determine if we are a good fit.
Maggi Colwell
Maggi is a registered art therapist at Columbus Art Therapy who assists their clients to discover more of themselves through dream interpretation, art therapy, and depth psychotherapy. They specialize in working with grief and loss as well as gender exploration. Click the button below to get connected.