Le Journal

A selection of Images From My Reflective Journal

**10 Things I Made From My Room** Summer 2010

L-R: A Reconstructed Text Book, a pair of customised knickers, a safety pin necklace and a wrist corsage.

Cover of reconstructed psychology text book, constructed using shoe glue.

Wrist Corsage, made from remnants of dress fabric and the elastic from a pair of old (clean) knickers.

Safety Pin/Dolls House Peg Necklace. Made from gold safety pins, clothes hanging tags and ornament pegs.

Hair corsage and paper weight. Made using fabric remnants and knicker elastic plus a charm from an old necklace and some left-over dolls pegs.

Necklace made up of old earrings and an old neck chain.

 Over the course of two days, I created several different objects from reconstructed garments, books and jewellery, using nothing but materials from my bedroom. The idea came to me after feelings of frustration at being unable to buy the materials needed for another, similar project.

The Course...General Thoughts.

There is not a doubt in my mind that this course (FdA Creative Arts Therapy Studies) is the right one for me. I find it deeply engaging, and the concepts behind the use of Arts in Therapy is, of course, very interesting. The combination creative activity and academic study ticks all the boxes, and I am in no doubt that both will be good foundation blocks for my intended future studies.

With regards to further study, just recently I have been toying with the idea of going all-out and studying Art Psychotherapy after this course. The options are endless, within reason, of course!

Our lecturers are practitioners themselves, and this is what I believe makes our course so beneficial and unique. The sessions are fun, and all learning styles are accepted - I feel I have learnt more about psychology here in my first term than I did in previous psychology courses I have undertaken. 

As with most things in life, there are areas that pose problems for me. The modules we are on at the moment (Arts+Health, Marketing, Self Awareness and Relationships) are all so intricately linked that I find it difficult to keep my work organised and my assignments in order. A pin board may be the solution!

To miss just one lecture/session on this course makes it unbelievably easy to slip out of the loop and fall behind, unlike other courses where emailed lecture notes are a simple solution to the problem (or so I'm told).  I missed one day (albeit unavoidably, due to my being unable to actually move) two weeks ago, and I still feel like I missed a lot.

On a final note, I would very much love to see this course extended to a full 3yr BAHons. The general feeling throughout my class is a slight concern that an FdA won't be as easily recognised by a potential employer. But, only time will tell! And, in my new capacity as a Student Rep, I will most definitely be airing my views on this subject. That, and a microwave/kettle for the student room.

Tea Mugs and Epilepsy Drugs

I have had an amazingly productive 24 hours, culminating in a rather fruitful Doctors appointment. From tomorrow I will be reducing my anti-depressants (Sertraline) and starting a drug used to control epilepsy for my nerve pain/muscle spasms. I'm feeling positive about this. My GP is also convinced that my depression has eased as a result of being in a therapeutic setting on a regular basis.

Being with my parents in Somerset, tea drinking has been inevitable. Musgrove Park Hospital can also be found here in Somerset, and it's somewhere I'm very keen to do a work placement in.

Check out the link:
http://www.artforlife.nhs.uk/Home/tabid/920/Default.aspx

Martin Buber (1878 - 1965) - Jewish Philosopher, Theologian and... Bible Translator. Oh Joy!

In preparation for a short presentation that I will be attempting on Buber, I have decided to question his "I Thou/I It" theory.

The essay was written in German, with his use of the German language said to be "unconventional", how can we be sure that the translation into English is accurate, and that we thus interpret it's meanings as Buber would have intended?


There are different versions of the translation. Which is more accurate? Even without the need for translation into another language, if his use of German was unconventional then surely it is easier to misinterpret his intended meaning?


Buber suggests that we can all have a relationship with God, and that any inter-human relationship is merely a reflection of the human relationship with God. The obvious question being; Does God actually exist? Surely if there is no God, his theory is a little weightless?



Updated: 28th October ~ Further Thoughts and Questions...


Gestalt Therapy was founded by Fritz and Laura Perl and Paul Goodman in the 1940s/50s. Laura Perl became personally associated with Martin Buber whilst living in Frankfurt. She is said to have been a fan of his lectures.



"The basic messages and concepts of existential philosophy became the philosophical foundation of Gestalt Therapy". (Gestalt Therapy website).



Gestalt Therapy often uses the 'open chair' technique, in which the person having therapy talks to an empty chair - talking to someone who isn't there. Is this a spin-off from talking to God? It's proven to benefit people who are quite closed, who find it difficult to express themselves freely to another person. So, even if God doesn't exist, surely this makes Bubers work useful? 

Zac and The Six Piece Story

~Hero~Problem~Helper~Obstacle~Solution~Outcome~

This is the first time I have attempted to run an activity with anyone outside of my course. I found working with someone who perhaps isn't as creative (and possibly a little sceptical) was very challenging. When I have been presented with these tasks in our group sessions at Uni, I have been happy and comfortable with just 'going along' with what I had been instructed to do because I knew the underlying purpose. For someone attending a session who struggles to do something without knowing the exact reasoning behind it, this type of exercise may present significant challenges and cause distress/anxiety. As a leader, I think I need to work on briefing my service users more effectively before allowing them to undertake an exercise.

An Exerpt From My Journal...21st October 2010

"I haven't written for some days now, which is odd because this has been the week in which my passion for, and belief in this work has been compounded - set in concrete. I was on a mental high last week, after delivering my first facilitation to people on my course. The rest of the week was tainted by illness, forcing me to miss (albeit reluctantly) a whole day of Uni. I think the only way I can successfully overcome these sudden onsets of crippledness is to ensure that I stay ahead of the game, academically."


Keep Reading, Keep Talking, Keep Creating and Keep Thinking!