GROUP THERAPY

"The group pictures begin with choosing a place to work, the shape and the medium. Each person is encouraged to voice preferences or even abhorrence.
What is acceptable becomes apparent, not usually quickly. Once the paint has touched we are focused, we move around each other to reach the spaces we are drawn to... the marks we leave are a record of a curious intimate dance of strength, dominance, respect, mutual interest, distress and amusement."

"In art therapy I have found a way to have a voice.
The longer I get to know and work with group members, the safer I feel putting myself on the page.
Occasionally I even put myself at the centre, finding a way to work co-operatively within the group."

"Painting is something that I really enjoyed doing but I was always disturbed emotionally by it. With art therapy I would like to become like a child painting. The experience of group painting was amazing. In the beginning, I was shy and frightened but after a few times I started to enjoy it, moving from my safe corner to the stranger territory of the others. I tried to communicate with the group, putting something of mine in the different creations. When a girl in the group started to be aggressive with her actions I didn't understand the reason for her behaviour, but I think that she gave a good impulse to all workers (I tried to modify the colour that she splashed on the paper)."

"I didn’t want to invade anyone else’s space, or try and change their images, so I worked in my own space. However, in order to interact with other members of the group, I felt I had to venture out onto their side and try to contribute to the overall picture. It was difficult for me, but seeing how all the other members of the group were freely coming into my space, it sort of directed me to do the same. Once I had overcome this I felt the experience was very beneficial and it felt good to actually communicate in this way and be part of the process, part of the whole group."

"Working on group painting was different depending on my mood on the day. An interesting experience and mostly enjoyable in a way. I felt I had to hold back somewhat because I didn't want to "step on anyones toes" but part of me felt like I needed to leave my mark in a positive way. Preconceived ideas of things hindered me in expressing myself freely."

"....I did not deal with my anger until another person involved completely destroyed my section, my corner! I took this personally and thought she disliked how I expressed myself. I felt really unhappy and stood back for a while - questioning. The hurt then turned to real anger, destructive anger and I found myself using black paint in big bold movements and now it felt really good. So something positive can come out of a negative reaction"


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All text and pictures have been reproduced with the consent of the participants