Women with Cameras

From the Mar/Apr 2007 issue
Women With Cameras
A special approach to therapy aims to help a group of women overcome tortured memories of the past
By Benjamin Ryan“Let’s not set it up to fail; let’s set it up to work,” Basia Mosinski tells the women in the video art therapy group she leads. As a counselor specializing in art therapy, Mosinski is determined to highlight even the smallest examples of personal success. Anything to pose a contrast to the discouraging experiences her clients have had in their personal lives. Something of a brunet dead ringer for Diane Sawyer, Mosinski has both the newscaster’s good looks and her soothing, milk-and-honey voice. She seems to have an innate knack for gently coaxing women in her program into making productive decisions. “She has the patience of a saint,” says 60-year-old Chardelle Imani Lassiter, one of the group’s participants.The video art therapy program--called Women With Cameras--was conceived by Mosinski as a creative support group for women with HIV who are struggling with mental health challenges. Thanks to a grant from the Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, the five women currently in the program are provided with both individual psychotherapy and the resources to create a 20-minute video on a topic of their choice. Each woman is in the process of shooting raw footage with a mini digital video camera. Eventually they will learn to use editing software to produce a final product.Women With Cameras meets at Housing Works, an AIDS service organization that caters to the needs of indigent New Yorkers. The agency offers assistance with health services, housing, employment, and drug treatment. For this cross section of HIVers, the virus is but one amid a constellation of challenges that include poverty, drug abuse, and domestic abuse.“What we found is that a lot of the [clients] are suffering from post-traumatic stress, and a lot of the issues that they’re working through are trauma-related,” says Nunzio Signorella, director of mental health services at Housing Works. “These are memories that they have of traumatic events that cause a level of dysfunction.” Many participants center the content of their videos around challenges they’ve faced. Two of the group’s members are tackling domestic violence. Lassiter calls her video Invisible Women, and it mingles ideas about gender inequity, women’s mental health issues, and what she calls “head rag generals”: the underappreciated “mammy” caregivers of old. With a spitfire cynicism and wit, Lassiter sums it up with a quip: “Being black--it’s a bitch. It’s a real trip.”As the women each methodically make their way toward a finished product, Mosinski helps them stay on track and maintain realistic expectations. While some group members like Lassiter, a retired professional and an eloquent poet, have strong life-management skills, many of the women struggle with organizational tasks such as keeping appointments or maintaining a log of the footage they’ve shot. With gentle suggestions on topics ranging from time management to camera operation, Mosinski works toward empowering the women by proving that organizational skills are within their reach. In turn, the creative process can open doors within the minds of the women. “A lot of really difficult material comes up,” Mosinski says, but simply documenting the past is not the goal. “What often happens with people who’ve had trauma in their lives is they retraumatize themselves by telling the story over and over and over again without any transformation happening. So the beauty of this kind of a program is there are limitations even on how much of the story to tell. And then, when they play back the video to the group, they have the support of the other people. They get to look at it in little increments many times. They get to internalize the story. And as we know in trauma care, that’s the goal: to integrate the trauma. Healing is almost vicarious.”Mosinski says many of the women have experienced “hurt and loss within their immediate families.” Behind closed doors and within the safety of a supportive group of their peers, they’re better able to talk about their domestic struggles. Mosinski facilitates this ease by having the women draw what she calls “feelings drawings” at the beginning and end of each meeting. The process of expressing emotions visually--in color, order, and pattern--no matter how basic, may prove key in conveying feelings when words are frightening or outside of one’s immediate grasp. It’s particularly important for women to articulate these feelings when painful memories are limiting the scope of their lives. When reached for an interview to discuss her participation in the group, 53-year-old Delilah Howard was reticent, insisting she wasn’t good over the phone. She then canceled an appointment to meet in person. In the end she offered only a few restrained words in another telephone conversation. When asked how the group helps her, she said succinctly, “Coping skills.”Lassiter, who says she sometimes has trouble relating to the other women in the group, is skeptical that the program will help them all to overcome what for some seem like insurmountable mental health challenges. She wonders whether the discussions of personal troubles she listens to each week represent genuine healing or ongoing drama. “Sometimes I hear a little bit of nostalgia: ‘This is what was going on when I had the furs and the boyfriend and I was dealing drugs,’ ” she says, citing one of the common discussion threads. “There’s some place in themselves where they want more. But I think at this point in their lives they don’t think they’re going to get it.”Mosinski, on the other hand, sees promise and silver linings in the small but progressive achievements each group member makes. She recalls a particular woman with a very passive personality. On one occasion when she took charge and fully participated in the group’s activities, she got a standing ovation. “I would say a benefit is recognizing the impact they have,” Mosinski says, “but also, it’s a bonding. This group has bonded really deeply.”

Art Therapy among 10 top hot jobs in 2007

MEDIA ALERT—
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ART THERAPIST AMONG 10 HOT JOBS FOR 2007

CareerBuilder.com, one of the nation’s leading recruitment resources in printand web media, has identified Art Therapist as one of the top 10 “hot jobs” for 2007 by (seehttp://jobs.aol.com/article/_a/10-hot-jobs-for-2007/20060822125209990005).

Candace Corner,writer for CareerBuilder.com, says, “Demographic shifts, legislative changes, business trendsand consumer behavior factor into what’s going to be the next big thing.” A changing employmentmarket, longer life span, access to higher education, and later retirement are determiningwhat jobs are on the cutting edge.Art Therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improveand enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well being of individuals of all ages. It isbased on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life enhancing.Art Therapists use their knowledge of visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and otherart forms) and psychotherapy to help individuals manage emotional problems, develop interpersonalskills, reduce stress, and achieve self-awareness.The American Art Therapy Association, (AATA) Inc., was founded in 1969 and develops andpromotes educational, professional, and ethical standards for the practice of art therapy. TheAATA provides information to its members and the public regarding the field of art therapythrough publications, a scholarly journal, conferences, and a web site ( www.arttherapy.org).Paula Howie, President of the American Art Therapy Association and board certified Art Therapist,comments, “Employment opportunities for art therapists in healthcare, community agencies,education, and independent practice continue to increase for our members. It is excitingthat leading job recruitment services are recognizing the field of art therapy as a cutting edgecareer.”For more information, please contact Cathy A. Malchiodi, AATA Professional Relations, atinfo@arttherapy.org, call 888-290-0878, or visit the AATA web site at www.arttherapy.org.

Art Auction and Show

We're having another art show opening with a silent auction for First Friday's Art Walk. Hopefully we'll get people out to see us. We are doing better in our practice. I think we all made rent this month!! yeah!!!
Wonder what about the idea of art therapy or creative therapies puts people off. Why does it seem as if it is not real therapy? I practice both art therapy and traditional psychotherapy and art therapy is definately less emotionally invasive for the client to deal with issues. And it builds up self-esteem while it deals with pain and fears. Something the client can't get with traditional therapy that delves into one and expects reciprication and the development of insight. Art and other creative therapies do that as well but also give the client a safer and more creative avenue to express it in. The creation of art also provides a means to sublimate internalized fears and anger ... through the creation of a product in which to capture the expression. This capturing of fears, truamas, anger, etc. allows the client to face these issues as a mangable thing, something small enough to fit on a page.
But art therapy also allows so much more to get past the internal censors and so perhaps that is why it is scarier for people to participate in it. They know instinctively more of them will "show" so to speak. And so they dismiss it.

Memory Fabrics and Dirt Girls

Yesterday I went to Baltimore to the Visionary Art Museum and saw a neat show: Race, Class, Gender ≠ Character.
"Among humans, much is made of our many apparent differences—masculine and feminine, rich and poor, light and dark skin tone. Yet there is one profound and global constant that should shape our values: those attributes that we value most in ourselves and in others, and that transcend the strictures of religion, parentage, place, and time. In English, we call these desirables "character," but in every language and culture there is wisdom aimed at defining and championing attainment of these kindred and universal beneficent ideals."

Some interesting and expressive outsider art was in the show. There was an exhibit of "memory fabrics" by South Africa women living in apartheid. The instruction was for them to create out of fabric "A Day I Will Never Forget." The fabric pieces, resembling quilt squares, are beautiful and powerful.

This would be a great directive for an art therapy group.

Another exhibit was of small dolls by Linda St. John that filled the walls of the room. She had one group placed in a box in the middle of the room. The box had dirt for the floor with 100 dolls placed standing in the dirt. She titled this one: 100 Dirt Yard Girls. It was fabulous.

Making Masks

Today we had our mask making workshop in tandem with our neighborhood business association's block party. A few people came. It is mostly just us at these things! We are thinking about seeing if we can get the artists co-op going again and share a space with them. It would save on rent and hopefully bring us more business. It would be cool to have a joint space with them, having a gallery up front - a real gallery, not the almost gallery we have now - to complement the focus of art therapy. Even the name "But is it art?" goes with us. So to see if we can get it going in a month, before we have to give notice on our current space. It is so much to run an art therapy business, or any business I'm sure. I wish we could just offer it for free but we can't. The need to make money is a weight for us sometimes. Something to think about when we want to get something, do something, or try to expand. We are going to do it another year and hopefully it takes off some more or grows at least.

Back in Blogsville

I've been silent from the blogging for awhile. I've been busy finishing graduate school, another Masters degree. This one in counseling to fulfill licensure requirements in Virginia. So I'm licensed now too. I've been out of touch with the art therapy world for the most part. Except to keep working on getting the Virginia Art Therapy Association set up. This is done, or rather all applications are in. One to AATA and one to the IRS. Hopefully all accepted and we can be in business.
I'm excited to start reading about art therapy again. I'm starting: Art Therapy with Families in Crisis by Debrah Linesch. I've been getting more and more interested in family therapy. I love the dynamics that go on in a family. I've been continuing to work in my private practice. It's really nice to own your own practice. We've got a neat place with two studios. We're still doing the art walk events but music seems to be less and less a part of it. It's boring to have the usual but I'm out-voted. I was so interested in having experimental music as part of these nights. Perhaps I can start something else and link art therapy and experimental music/noise.
I've started an open art group for women in NA. It started by meeting women when going to my fiance's NA meetings. It's interesting and a different way to offer art therapy. I'm not really their therapist but offering a therapeutic space for their creative explorations. I hope it keeps going.
I'm also getting ready to present at the AATA conference in New Orleans this fall. I'm doing two. It should be a blast.

Experiments in Art and Noise

Well we got a few people who came to make art and listen. Some cool art got made. A friend's child made a neat piece of clay with a diamond, snakes, and a king as well as a colorful painting we'll put on our website. Rollo Barrier played with Kelly Harmstryker this time and it was beautiful as a threesome. I think she added something to their ensemble. Gutterwall then played as Richard and his son Eli. Wonderful and they had a great time. I didn't get to listen to the music as much as I was in the studios and bouncing from room to room. We may have gotten more interest in our center, a few new people came. A therapist I know from another CSB came and participated and will promote us. We did have alot of competition from another gallery/art space that had painted nude models. Oh well. But I am going to go forth with my interest in promoting the experimental art/music creation as a therapeutic tool. And hopefully our open studio workshops will generate more interest as time goes on. Very cool of the 804 Noise people to join with us and spend time playing. Thanks!

Something New In Town

Tonight my new art therapy practice is having it's first open studios night for art expression, with experimental/noise music. We are trying to bring the art-as-therapy or therapeutic experience of making art or the cathartic experience of art expression to the community. Hopefully we will engage whoever attends in making something interesting and finding the value in creative expression through art making without the pretension so inherent in the commercial art world. So many people have such judgements on what makes good art. And such judgements all seem to say that all art should fit the same mold, to say the same thing; at least here in Richmond. So many times I hear people say, "oh I'm not an artist" because their art doesn't look like what ever is being promoted as the current "thing." They fear their own artistic impulses because it may not be accepted by an art critic or a self-proclaimed art expert. Not that the study of art isn't of value, that people can't be art historians and therefore experts. Rather I am talking about the local critic/art expert who denigrates anyones artistic attemtps, works, expressions as uninteresting or imperfect or not important. I think they fear the varieties of expression any group of people, any community can have. I think they want to confine art to such narrow views because of their own inhibitions. So I hope people come out, risk their artistic souls to create something that is uniquely them. I hope they come and feel comfortable with their artistic voice, and recognize the value in the uniqueness of and the differences inherent in the individual.

Central VA Art Therapy Association Start-up

Art therapists in Richmond, Virginia are finally getting together to make a state chapter for art therapy. Check out our website and blog.
The Central Virginia Art Therapy Association (CVATA)
CVATA Blog

Open Art Therapy Studio and Experimental Music Night

My center is hosting a creative expression night as part of the local Art Walk event. An effort to put ourselves out there, get people to experience art-as-therapy through the studio art therapy experience. We are also haveing experimental musicians playing as well, an all-over creative expression night. Art Therapists in residence: Carol Olson, Sarah Thacker, Sarah Larsen and musicians: Rollo Barrier (Kenny Yates myspace.com/harmstryker and Marty McCavitt of Birds in the Meadow) and Gutterwall (Richard of www.etchingtin.com) View event: Open Art Therapy Studio Event

What is Art Therapy

Everyone is always asking me, what is art therapy? I always give relatively the same answer. The use of art in the counseling process, the use of creation of art for healing, communication, self-fulfillment, connection with others, etc. The creation of art in itself is healing, fulfilling, life enhancing, comforting, uplifting, terrifying, exhausting, unsettling. All the things needed to process feelings, issues, events, relationships, paths taken and not taken. So perhaps art therapy is more than art and more than therapy but can also address life, be a way of life, be a way of communicating with life, others, self. I wonder if because art therapy is more than art and more than therapy, that is why so many people (other therapists and artists) want to do art therapy, practice art therapy and yet don't really understand it because it is more than either of their fields. Psychology deals with healing the mind, art deals with expressing the soul, so perhaps art therapy deals with healing the soul along with the mind. It is ineffable I guess.

Noise, Rock, Art Therapy and a Grand Opening

The grand opening of my art therapy space went great. A couple of noise guys came and played: Kenny Yates from Harmstryker and Marty McCavitt from Birds in the Meadow - playing as Rollo Barrier. Richard's band: IMG played next - they played awesome but unfortunately really loud so we can't have them again. But the noise band was a great blend with art therapy. To me, it's really congruent with the tenet of art therapy expression: raw, complicated, juxtaposing different things to jar the ear or excite the mind. Just like what the person creating raw art for therapy, self-expression, immediate communication, and/or story-telling does. I was amazed at who liked the noise band - people I didn't necessarily expect to like it and surprised at who didn't like it. Here I assumed my older friends (older than me I mean) would not care for the noise at all, would find the improvisation of it disconcerting but they were the ones who appreciated the juxtaposition of different sounds, the use of an unusual instruement, the blending of a classically trained musician with a modern, self-taught artist. And the people I thought would appreciate the similarites of the creation of noise with the creation of art in therapy didn't. A person who has made noise in the past, is a trained musician also didn't seem to care for it as much. It's always amazing who strains toward the usual, the generic, the comfortable because it doesn't make you think. I suppose they are the same people who watch a lot of TV and get lulled into the blandness of a safe, generic world. The same people who want to deny the complications inherent in each of us. People are never who you think they are. I posted on Kenny's blog a comment regarding his despairing of the difficulty in getting a noise voice heard in Richmond. I think it is fear of what noise is saying, that noise, experimental music, experimental art, raw expression frightens people because it brings up the possiblity of such intensity in all of us: the violence that can be brought out of anyone, the fears that can immobilize a person, the alienation we can all feel from each other, even from the ones we love the most. We have more and more violence being brought to us and yet we want to retreat into music and art that puts a bland and shiny finish on. People want to gravitate to what they think is popular because it gives them comfort and validates their own avoidance of deep feelings. Within the happy, shiny music, people can pretend all is well in the world, all is the same and therefore valid, can tell themselves that if everyone else likes it then I must be okay too. We are afraid of ourselves.

Basic Info

Here is some information on art therapy if anyone is reading this....

Art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing. Through creating art and talking about art and the process of art making with an art therapist, one can increase awareness of self, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences, enhance cognitive abilities, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of artistic creativity.
Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and therapy and hold a masters degree in art therapy or a related field. Art therapists work with children, adolescents, and adults and provide services to individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities. They often work as part of clinical teams, in settings that include mental health, rehabilitation, medical and forensic institutions; community outreach programs; wellness centers; schools; nursing homes; corporate structures; art studios; and independent practices. Art therapists are skilled in the application of a variety of art modalities (drawing, painting, clay, and other mediums) for treatment and assessment and conduct research as well as provide consultations to allied professionals.
"www.arttherapy.org"