Ideas to Help You Get the Most Out of Creative Play
Expressive Arts Therapy is different from other modality specific creative arts therapies.
Expressive arts therapists see creative expression as inherently healing, especially when we integrate multiple forms of expression. The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) defines Expressive Arts Therapy as a combination of "the visual arts, movement, drama, music, writing and other creative processes to foster deep personal growth and community development. ... By integrating the arts processes and allowing one to flow into another, we gain access to our inner resources for healing, clarity, illumination and creativity."
Process vs. Product
A foundation of expressive arts is the emphasis of process of creation over the product. When we create for performance, sale, an assignment, or a gift, we are often focused on the product. We become concerned with mistakes and our level of skill or technique. We may think more about how a critical witness will perceive our work than what we want to express. Prioritizing process over product can help us to let go of these concerns and allow what we need to express to come out.
Low Skill, High Sensitivity
It is often easier to focus on process when we choose low skill modes of expression because we are less concerned about technical skill. Even if we already have a lot of skill with a particular mode, it can be helpful to use lower skill forms to put us into beginner’s mind. For example, a technically skilled painter may use finger paints instead of a brush. Using low skill modes of expression frees us up to freely and playfully create products that have high sensitivity. Some examples of ways of expressing that are low skill for most people:
scribbling with crayons;
a dance based on varying walking speed, direction, and height
haiku poetry
arranging stones in a pattern
clapping a simple rhythm
creating a pinch pot from clay
collage
Working within constraints can also support creative freedom in the process. For example:
paper bag skits
limited colors
found poetry
freewrites
set a timer
fill a space
Sharing Our Expressions
We will allow our expressions to speak for themselves. We may share information about our process such as what was surprising, how we coped with unexpected outcomes, what felt easy, what felt hard, etc. We may share a title or theme. We will avoid explanations and analysis.
Aesthetic Response
We will strive to respond to each other’s creations from our own experience, including both our sensed experience and internal responses such as memories, emotions, images, and stories. As we begin to practice this way of responding, we may find it useful to use a form such as:
I sense….
I feel….
I imagine….
We will avoid judgment such as critique, feedback, or praise. We will refrain from advice giving, analysis, or labeling.
Artistic Response
We may be inspired to create in response. It can be helpful to choose a different mode of expression like writing a poem in response to a painting or a painting in response to a dance. This can be a way to deepen our own understanding of a creation we’ve already made or give the gift of a different perspective to another creator.
You can experience these ideas in action by joinging one of my upcoming Creative Play Groups. sign up here.
