Art therapy and the changing brain
Christopher M Belkofer
Mount Mary University
Clara Healing Institute
This presentation will provide an introduction to how contemporary art therapy approaches align with theories of creativity and the brain. A particular emphasis will be placed on clinical approaches that emphasize neuroscience, mind/body dynamics, and the non-verbal qualities of therapeutic art making. To provide further context, Dr. Belkofer will reflect upon the theoretical and applied challenges, takeaways, and suggestions gleaned from his exploratory research conducted over ten and twenty years ago; the first published studies in the field of art therapy to incorporate qEEG measures. It is hoped that attendees will benefit from attending this presentation by 1. Increasing their understanding of how art therapy aligns with neuroscience research and theories bridging a divide between clinical and art-based approaches to treatment 2. Gaining a greater appreciation for the potential challenges of conducting, translating, and therapeutically applying human creativity research 3. Listing three suggestions for how to improve data collection and analysis of creativity and brain based studies
Psychotherapy as a Creative Process: Modelling Four Methods of Fostering Psychotherapeutic Change
Kirthana Ganesh or Liane Gabora, University of British Columbia
Defining creativity in terms of the newness and appropriateness of outputs is problematic; not all creative thought culminates in a creative product, and those who bring creative ideas over the finish line didn’t necessarily make the most formative contributions. Some advocate defining creativity in terms of the feelings of surprise or satisfaction it evokes. We suggest that creativity be defined and measured in terms of the cognitive change underlying those feelings, i.e., the extent to which mental contents transform to find new, more adaptive configurations. In this view, creative outputs are merely tangible evidence of the internal metabolizing of ideas and experiences that is the hallmark of creative thought, and psychotherapy is thereby seen as a collaborative creative process. We model how a therapists’ interventions strengthen positive perspectives and self-perceptions, and foster adaptive and beliefs behaviors in their client. Using a cognitive autocatalytic network framework enables us to model how new network structure emerges out of existing network structure, and how a stimulus can catalyze a sequence of changes that alter the overall configuration of the network. We use this model to illustrate four methods by which therapists ‘catalyze’ adaptive change: (a) challenging the client’s negative interpretations of events, (b) providing evidence that neutralizes the client’s distressing beliefs, (c) using self-disclosure to provide examples of strategies one can use, and (d) reinforcing the client’s attempts to assimilate such strategies. We discuss possible brain changes that may underlie these four kinds of psychotherapeutic change.
Coming to Engage Scientists Through the Visual Arts: A Personal Response to My Daughter’s Diagnosis
Geinene Carson, Visual Art, Studio Geinene
My journey as a visual artist unexpectedly veered into the scientific realm, a detour not due to knowledge or interest, but my daughter’s diagnosis of the rare genetic disorder 22q13. To understand the condition and provide support for her developmental challenges, I delved into the study of the brain, neurons, and neuroplasticity. The demanding world of caregiving disrupted art making as I had known it with life overwhelmed by hospital visits, therapy regimens and research initiatives. After a long survival season driven by our practical needs, I came to a point of decision – to determine this environment I now found myself in as a hindrance to my art making, or an unanticipated source of inspiration. I chose the latter. In the form of an artist talk, I share this personal journey, featuring my artwork in parallel. I will highlight stages of the creative process both artists and scientists can relate to: Perception, Discovery, Production and Engagement. I share similarities observed in how both approach their work and how combining our strengths can lead to new discoveries and innovative ways of understanding complex issues. As a traditional artist, not a scientist, my goal is not to recreate scientific illustrations, but contribute unique images sparking curiosity, offering encouragement and fostering connection. Where I am now as an artist inspired by neuroscience, collaborating with scientists and creatively advocating, is a direct result of the journey with my daughter. It has not only educated me as a caregiver and increased awareness of my own mental health, but generated a more creative career in the arts than I could have imagined.