I just went to this great training about Expressive Arts. I decided to share some of my notes here:
The belief that we cannot control our emotions, emotions control us instead is a very common belief but a very dangerous belief. Subscribing to this belief leads to victimizing ourselves. Freedom is the key to emotional health, and freedom is being able to manage emotions.
In order to manage emotions one must use release mechanisms to release the energy of our emotions. As adults we have been “weaned” from release mechanisms that come from our bodies, but as adults we still need release mechanisms. Physical activity releases emotions and Expressive Arts in its many forms allows for physical activity, hands-on experiences and emotional release. In a way expressive arts are the antithesis of other interventions geared toward controlling emotions- although that type of intervention has its place also. However, even expressive arts techniques offer ways to teach containing emotions when an individual may be overly emotional to the point of dysfunction.
Talking is not required in expressive arts techniques. This minimizes the cognitive processes. Expressive arts bring the individual back to a pure experience. They bring us back to the child part of ourselves that is untouched and untainted. The child in each of us is the key in unleashing our creative power, accepting and loving ourselves, and ultimately, success and balance.
Many times we are taught in subtle ways that mind and body are separate. This is a distorted view, however. Mind and body cannot be separated. Expressive arts techniques work because of the connection between mind and body. We must not shortchange ourselves by disconnecting the two. When we neglect the care of our psyche we harm our body and negative physical symptoms are seen, as well as vice versa.
*These notes were taken from a training on Expressive Arts Techniques by Tana Slay, PhD. I was extremely impressed with Dr. Slay. She is truly an expert in this subject and has many experiences and countless knowledge that others can draw on. I highly recommend any of her trainings or seminars. Dr. Slay is a very skilled lecturer and teacher.