Dare We Laugh With our patients? - Day Workshop
Dare We Laugh With our patients? - Day Workshop
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| Image by Art Therapy Centre London |
One day, being bombarded from the constant ads on social media, I came across a Conference announcement that was taking place right up my street.
I had made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would battle my fear of rejection and shame (focus on this fear it reappears in the juicy part) and that I will raise my hand and my voice in occasions such as this one.
The conference was exhilarating (that’s a different story though). One of the talks was about taboos and stigma around Psychoanalysts and their portrayal in cinema and comedy.
Working at an NHS Mental Health Unit Ward and having kept a log of the humorous encounters I had experienced, I was wondering how do we respond and handle humour in the workplace.
I use humour as a therapeutic tool with my patients in a safe space but I have noticed that other staff members use humour in a degrading, humiliating way, targeting not only the patients but also the process of art therapy itself.
During the break, the conference facilitator approached me :
-Are you the Art Therapist who was asking about Humour and Art therapy?
-Yes I am.
-Please go and talk to Hephzibah, the lady over there! Her research and expertise focuses on that!
I jumped into this opportunity without hesitation.
Due to the conference’s strict timetable, we only had a five-minute chat . It was more than enough though! She invited me to join the workshop herself and her husband Brian Kaplan co-facilitate at the Art Therapy Centre in London.
‘Dare we laugh with Patients’ The title was enough to trigger my curiosity.
That’s how I fell into the rabbit hole; similarly to Alice, who followed a socially anxious rabbit, I was intrigued by this art therapist with whom, in five minutes, I was able to relate to and share the passion of humour and therapy.
- Do I have permission to invite you to five minutes of complete absurdity, sarcasm, and offensive conversation?
- Yes
Its provocative, hence it’s called ‘provocative art therapy.’
It’s so absurd it makes sense!
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| The Erinyes Image Source |
Growing up, we are hindered from analysing and expressing our emotions – at least I was.
‘Don’t cry, Don’t laugh so loud, Don’t act like a clown…’
Don’t Don’t Don’t Don’t
However, now, I was a part of a conversation on a summery Saturday evening after finishing that was all about:
Do Do Do Do
There is a difference between probing a person with a stick to react as a circus animal and providing a loving, protected safe space for them to challenge their boundaries and triggers.
An absurd session that was taking place within our already absurd everyday life.
The Erinyes (The three furies), referred to as the “infernal goddesses, were the goddesses of punishment and guilt inducing in Greek mythology. Brian Kaplan talking about the voices within us reminded me of them and how many of those I carry with me consciously and unconsciously.
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| "The selection of masks" Image by Art Therapy Centre London |
We were asked to pick a mask and use the various art materials available in the studio to transform them in one of the myriad voices that surround our thoughts.
I chose my fear of rejection, my Erinys that pops up with her screeching voice every time I start a new venture, relationship and job.
How exhilarating!
I finished my mask; It seemed highly symbolical and archetypal to me. It had a cross made out of caution paper and the eyes were covered. The patient I had been working with at the time also used to draw crosses and it was a shock to realise that I was carrying him with me in this session.
It is possible that we were sharing the same inner voice, on an unconscious level.
Such a fascinating observation!
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| Image by Art Therapy Centre London |
Upon holding the mask it in front of my face, in order to engage in this provocative therapy session with my colleague, I realised I was able to see her and the world but not vice versa !
I fulfilled my prophecy of rejection. Of course I would be rejected. I could hardly be seen!
The session started. I was holding the mask. My colleague/therapist couldn’t see me:
-Share with me your internal voice.
-I fear rejection
-What’s wrong with that? Be more out there. Be more rejected. That’s how the world works. It’s not in your control. Get out there! Start many things! Talk to many people! Get rejected!
My mind transformed into the matrix: an abundance of thoughts and revelations.
- The therapist is rejecting my fear of rejection. I am asked to challenge my fear of rejection whist being rejected and supported at the same time. YAS
- This constant bounce-back in the conversation and attunement process demanded the therapist’s whole, undivided attention, which comforted me.
- The absurd situation of being advised always seek rejection made me think of how absurd wanting to never face rejection is.
I have been trained to abide by certain rules and boundaries which I am constantly resisting and challenging. In the question whether she liked sushi, my personal therapist responded that she could not disclose this information in the therapeutic relationship. Although I understand those premises, something does not sit well in me as a patient / practitioner.
Attending this workshop familiarising myself with the concept of provocative therapy and being part of an amazing group of practitioners has revealed once again my desire to use art as a tool to play, provoke, and explore the therapeutic capabilities of a person.
Hephzibah & Brian Kaplan are planning to publish and release a book in 2020, thus I will not reveal any further content from the training session.
If interested please click the link and check out Art Therapy Centre London
The next ‘Dare We Laugh session takes place on the 29th of July’
Link to event : https://arttherapycentre.com/calendar/28-jul-2019-day-workshop-dare-we-laugh-with-clients/
Do not miss it! I will certainly not.
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