Traumatic Experiences... What Works?

Check out this article online at www.psychologytoday.com that discusses traumatic experiences and how relief workers help victims to process.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healing-arts/201001/is-talking-about-traumatic-experiences-dangerous

Therapists Report Increase in Green Disputes

How green is too green? Another thing to learn how to communicate "well" as we navigate partner relationships...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/science/earth/18family.html

About Art Therapy... there's no wrong in art!

Art therapy is where the creative arts and psychology intersect. Art therapy helps to cultivate self-expression, create coping skills, manage stress, and strengthen sense of self. It can be used with a wide range of client populations, including people who face terminal illness, children with behavior problems, survivors of abuse and trauma, and families experiencing transition.

Art therapists are Master’s level mental health professionals trained in psychological theory and practice in tandem with the use of art media. Art therapists work in a variety of settings including mental health agencies, hospitals, schools, wellness centers, community programs, residential programs, shelters, correctional programs, and private practice.

Materials we might use are clay, paper, crayons, oil and chalk pastels, collage, markers, paint, coloring sheets, mandalas, and mask-making. You will have the option of leaving your work with me or taking it home after each session. Choice of media and its therapeutic use will be chosen by the client and therapist together based on client goals. An open dialogue between therapist and client will determine the best artistic pathways to explore the client’s counseling needs.

More information about art therapy can be found at www.arttherapy.org.

Everyone has stuff, everybody's messy.

The first thing I tell clients, prospective clients, and random (or not-so-random) people asking me about therapy and art therapy, is that everyone has 'stuff' and everybody's messy. People, communication, relationships, emotions and daily life is messy. Sometimes it's gloriously, beautifully, fantastical inspirational messiness, and sometimes it sucks. Sometimes we learn (willingly and unwillingly) lessons from our messes, and sometimes it takes a while and maybe some assistance to relearn our way out of bad habits.

Helping people navigate through the challenging messiness is something that I love to do. Translating for families or partners who have lost their way in the communication jungle is energizing and inspiring for me, and reminds me to take that extra breath before I give in to road rage or snap at my husband (not that I always do so). Guiding someone out of the messiness of old patterns and into new or renewed healthy relationships and acknowledging their power and responsibility gives hope and encourages new growth and learning.

There are issues and experiences and moments that frustrate us throughout our lives. I hope to pick apart and begin to translate them here so that we can all experience more blissful messiness and less ick.

Please feel free to ask questions, suggest topics, and correct inaccurate information (appropriately and respectfully, of course!).

And check out my website - www.pattersoncounseling.com