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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by happykat on December 7, 2006, at 10:43:10
Has anyone tried art therapy? What exactly does that entail? And does it work?
Also exercises working with inner child? I've done some and got nowhere as I don't really like my inner child much. Has anyone found that they've made progress by working with their inner child?
Thanks,
happykat :)
Posted by bil on December 7, 2006, at 10:53:44
In reply to Art Therapy Inner Child Work, posted by happykat on December 7, 2006, at 10:43:10
Ooohhh- I think art therapy is brilliant!
Can't type much of a reply now, (running late as per usual) but I will type more when I get back later- just wanted to say yeah, it can be very good; I found that the best thing that works for me.bil
Posted by Daisym on December 7, 2006, at 12:47:38
In reply to Art Therapy Inner Child Work, posted by happykat on December 7, 2006, at 10:43:10
I think it depends on what you are looking for the art therapy to do. There is a book called "Artful Scribbles" that I'll recommend if you want art for soothing, etc. But as far as reflection work, allowing something to come foreward or learn something about yourself, you need to be working with an art therapist, I think. It can be very healing, and you can get a lot out that way, if you are that kind of a person.
I find art frustrating, even though I like to color. But it appeals to the younger side of me.
As far as inner child work, I guess I want to ask what you've already done and again, what you are trying to do. Are you wanting to get in touch with yourself more? Or are you trying to integrate pieces? Not liking the childlike parts is pretty common is there is abuse in your background, or you had a rocky childhood. There are lots of ways to work towards liking yourself more.
I guess I have more questions than answers today, huh?
sorry...
Posted by muffled on December 7, 2006, at 15:23:48
In reply to Re: Art Therapy Inner Child Work, posted by Daisym on December 7, 2006, at 12:47:38
Good Lord, if only I had a brain....
There is an art therapist HERE on babble, mebbe more than one, but one for sure.
Can't remember WHO though...dang.
I just remember they are very dedicated and into their work, so they could proly give some insight.
Sigh. Wish I could remember...
Tip of my tougue...grrrrr.
I dunno bout inner child work. But I got inside kids. One I used to FIGHT with like crazy. I could not get that FACT that this was in fact a child and responded as such. But now the more motherly adult part of me has resolved much of this kids probs and she is a GREAT kid! Really nice and wants to be helpful. Not afraid to jump right in there and help me with stuff.
I got another kid who is kinda messed up. I still having a real battle over that one. I get quite bothered and act in dangerous ways, so I being careful with this one.
But she haunts me, so i got to deal with her SOMEhow....
So I dunno if this is what inner child work is?
Dunno if this was helpful at all.
Muffled
Posted by happykat on December 7, 2006, at 15:32:42
In reply to Re: Art Therapy Inner Child Work, posted by Daisym on December 7, 2006, at 12:47:38
Hi Daisy,
Thanks for your post. My T has touched on inner child work a little. I tried journaling/dialoging and really don't feel much connection to the younger part of myself. What connection I had I didn't like. It has been stressed that I need to reclaim that part of me. But do I really?
I have some compartmentalization issues and poor memory as well, but this could be hormonal, there is abs hst.
Someone suggested art therapy as a way around resistance. I have a hard time expressing my feelings to my T. I tend to bottle it up. When I do discuss I generally feel anxiety about talking and end up hating myself more and wanting to punish myself. So its easier to not talk sometimes.
I actually think babble is turning out to be one of the most useful things I've tried. I've felt more relief from knowing others are going through same. And find it easier to discuss things on here than with a T sometimes.
I've also tried writing and then shredding what I've written. I like this alot! :)
thanks,
happykat :)
Posted by happykat on December 7, 2006, at 15:57:41
In reply to Re: Art Therapy Inner Child Work » Daisym, posted by muffled on December 7, 2006, at 15:23:48
Hey Muffled,
Thanks for your posts. If you think of who the art therapist is let me know. That would be great!:)
It just came to me while i was typing this up. Maybe what my t is getting at with the inner child work is for me to learn to parent my inner child. I'm trying to get pregnant. Maybe I need to learn to parent myself before I parent a child. Or accept myself. Hmmm? Oh no, now I'm thinking. That's always a dangerous thing for me. LOL! : )
It sounds like you've done alot of work. That you've been able to identify and integrate various parts. Was this like a natural progression in your therapy or did you just come to an understanding of how you work internally on your own? Sometimes I think maybe I can just figure this out on my own.
thanks,
HK :)
Posted by bil on December 7, 2006, at 16:57:34
In reply to Re: Art Therapy Inner Child Work » muffled, posted by happykat on December 7, 2006, at 15:57:41
Therapy with an actual T has not been helpful at all- the 'art therapy' I've attempted has been on my own.
I started out using a book called 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron, (which isn't just for painters- it can be used by writers, too.)I've been to art workshops where we would first meditate, and then worked with whatever colours we were intuitively drawn to...after attending a few of these I had a go at it at home. I would set a day aside, and try to express my feeling, emotions, whatever- on paper.
Once I was really feeling awful- very, very depressed, angry- and was thinking there was no point in anything, but I pulled out a load of coloured tissue paper (in colours that 'felt' like I did- dark brown, navy, black, and red) and violently ripped them up all jagged and glued them down onto a huge sheet of paper.
I was amazed at the results- and then I felt better, because that's what I love about this- I actually had something to show for it, and it gave me a sense of accomplishment.
For the inner child stuff I do paintings, drawings of me as a child, trying to reconnect with how I felt- lost, frightened, angry- while I'm doing the drawing I talk to 'her'- telling her it's ok to be mad, and she certainly isn't going to hell for being a bad little girl.
This is the only thing I know to do, since I've had to leave therapy and I know I still have so much work to do to try to heal myself- clutching at straws I suppose... but I think I might be helping. (I hope).
Bil
Posted by happykat on December 7, 2006, at 17:17:02
In reply to Re: Art Therapy Inner Child Work, posted by bil on December 7, 2006, at 16:57:34
Hi bil,
Thanks for your posts! That sounds very therapeutic and I like the fact that you do have something to show for your efforts.
I use to really like collages. Maybe I will try that as well. I like your idea of using colored tissue paper and ripping up and making artwork.
I see how you kind of combine inner child with artwork and let her help get her feelings out. I never thought of that angle.
Your suggestions are great. i'll give them a try. Good luck with your efforts as well.
thanks,
happykat :)
Posted by muffled on December 7, 2006, at 21:12:05
In reply to Re: Art Therapy Inner Child Work » muffled, posted by happykat on December 7, 2006, at 15:57:41
> Thanks for your posts. If you think of who the art therapist is let me know. That would be great!:)
**I'm hoping she'll spot this and post!
>
> It just came to me while i was typing this up. Maybe what my t is getting at with the inner child work is for me to learn to parent my inner child. I'm trying to get pregnant. Maybe I need to learn to parent myself before I parent a child. Or accept myself. Hmmm? Oh no, now I'm thinking. That's always a dangerous thing for me. LOL! : )**I did it the other way round. In fact I don't honestly think I could have 'got it', before I had kids of my own. Cuz I hadn't been around kids much. And actually it took another babbler to help me understand (the famous yet absent :-( Alex)
BTW good luck on pregnancy!
If its dangerous to think, better not!!LOL
>
> It sounds like you've done alot of work. That you've been able to identify and integrate various parts. Was this like a natural progression in your therapy or did you just come to an understanding of how you work internally on your own? Sometimes I think maybe I can just figure this out on my own.**Ohhhh. One kid absolutely HATES the I word.(integ.....)
My T dared to say it one time and the normally monosylabic silent me spoke lots and relatively emotionally for me!
Quite a reaction it was!!LOL.
I have done this primarily on my own and with the help of babblers and a little bit of research on the net. It all started when my higher power showed me my baby. She was SO sweet and untainted it was SO amazing. I loved that baby. And that baby was ME?!?!Weird.
So that started it. Then I don't remmebr the exact progression, but I remember the strange silence in my head when I 'discovered' 'them'. It actually was kinda hilarious, and strange, cuz I was used to so much noise. the silence was strange! Musta spooked them!!!LOL!!!
I dunno. I liked doing it on my own with not much input, and not much research, because then what I learned I knew was true, it wasn't something planted in my head by something I'd read. And the fun part too, is now I have done some more reading and its like YEAH! Thats IT! And I can feel confident that its true, and that I am not alone. So I dunno if i explained that very well.
So there you go,
Muffled
Posted by happykat on December 8, 2006, at 21:09:11
In reply to Re: Art Therapy Inner Child Work » happykat, posted by muffled on December 7, 2006, at 21:12:05
Thanks for your post Muffled! Thanks for sharing how your experience has unfolded. I like that you were shown a baby and it turned out to be you. That is touching and powerful! I am in awe of the mind and body. It's an amazing machine.
Thanks also for the luck. I need it! : ) I agree that the best and only way sometimes on this journey is through self realization and finding our own truth. T's are great for guidance and to witness our process, but ultimately if it is to be authentic it must be felt from within our souls and unfold within the realm of our own consciousness.
You take care as well!
happykat :)
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 11, 2006, at 4:33:40
In reply to Re: Art Therapy Inner Child Work, posted by bil on December 7, 2006, at 16:57:34
> I started out using a book called 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron, (which isn't just for painters- it can be used by writers, too.)
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book, movie, or music without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
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