"Manchmal wär ich lieber ein Gemüse"

Körper- und Selbstwahrnehmung bei Jugendlichen im kunst- und ausdruckstherapeutischen Setting

The following paper examines the effectiveness of art-oriented and expression-orientated group therapy with adolescents in crisis intervention. It deals with the question whether working with expressive arts therapy with the emphasis on two-dimensional art and exercises for the body causes a change in terms of the body and self-perception of the young people. In the first part, the author is concerned with the topic of adolescence and the specific challenges this phase puts on art-oriented therapeutic work. In the second part, the meaning of body and self-perception in the therapeutic context in general and in expressive arts therapy in particular is examined. In the third part, the thesis project, which includes twelve group meetings, is presented. In this context, the so-called body cards are developed as a means to answer the question introduced at the beginning. A detailed case study completes this part.

Clearing the Way

Expressive Arts Therapy’s Capacity to Aid in the Preparation of New Parents for the Challenges of Parenthood

The following master's thesis explores Expressive Arts Therapy's capacity to help prepare new and expectant parents for the challenges of parenthood. The metaphor of hiking along a pathway illustrates the experience of the new parent. How can the expressive arts in therapy aid in parent's navigation of their pathway and its many obstacles? The work recognizes the importance of child rearing from a secure base; that being the healthy relationship of the parenting "team". We ask the question: What are the relational obstacles that couples must over come if they are to parent effectively?

The current field of couple's therapy is examined and compared to the practice of expressive arts therapy while also looking at the common concerns of today's new parents. Four case studies investigate in detail, how new and expectant parents benefit from an expressive arts therapy session. We see how through the practices of interviewing, decentering, inter-modal transfer, dialoguing with the image, and following the lead of the client; that relational and parenting issues can be addressed. We also see how the arts offer couples the opportunities to foster greater intimacy in their relationship as well as anticipate the challenges and joys of having a child.

Die Brücke

The Bridge is a diver's note of the importance and influence of intuitive, sensitive and subtle action in artistic work and teaching; from his work as artist, social thearapist and teacher it is a retrospective and analogical exploration of the immanent appearences and conditions of nurturing processes of human learning and growth. What he found in his submarine journey was coloured brickstones, from which this bridge was shaped: An image of school appeared, a lively place of encounter, which explains and determines less - and in which constant and living encounter takes place in the individual learning process and reflection towards community building.

Playing with the space of potential

Expressive Arts Therapy with children under six years of age and their parents can effect significant positive changes in their relationships and can bring them hope in meeting life's challenges together. Very young children can participate in the process of creating the art, are capable of responding phenomenologically to the emergent and can contribute to the effective reality of the session. They relate well to the art as an entity and encourage their parents to do so. Relationship among the parent, child, and therapist is of the essence. The therapist must hold the space for and relate to both parent and child with flexibility, sensitivity, and imagination. A thorough understanding of the capabilities of young children developmentally is important with this population. Play sparks the potential of this work.

Sinnliches Material lässt Orte entstehen

Erfassung von Veränderungsprozessen in der Anwendung von Materialien mit den Methoden der Kunst- und Ausdruckstherapie

This thesis analyses the influence of visual art materials on the mental state and on how methods of intermodal expression therapy can help support this influence. The theoretical part examines the results of art therapy up till today on the subject of materials and their characteristics. Apart from this it describes the characteristics and qualities of materials, as well as the process of sensuous perception, which forms the foundation of the effects and experiences caused by materials. For the practical part, several female participants created an artwork as an experiment with different materials, whereby low skill high sensitivity and decentering methods were used with phenomenological descriptions of the whole process. The play and event character was encouraged by way of focusing on the sensual experience and the perception of the materials and visual arts. Changing phenomena where captured by these sensual experiences with materials. Finally it can be proven that work with materials considerably influences the mental state of a person, thanks to the methods of intermodal art- and expression therapy.

Space - space to be

A fragmentary way of searching for space on different levels of being, like the concrete reality, or the symbolic imagination, was leading me to the desire for an overview. I chose the metaphoric interpretation for different kinds of spaces. I was interested in questions like, how can we train sensitivity in getting touched by visible and invisible spaces. As an expressive therapist I gave special attention to space in the therapeutic relation, the needs of protected and individual space in the clinical field. My conclusion in searching for spaces is the acceptance of changeableness. This acceptance may open spaces, from a tiny area to an endless dimension, but it needs longing for the right wave.

The Art of Expatriation

The thesis "The Art of Expatriation" presents a unique approach to the field of expatriate management with a specific focus on repositioning the individual at the centre of attention. The challenges and rewards of a multicultural lifestyle are revealed and also how the expatriates' perspectives on the world, on their career, on home and on their self-identity changed with their stay in a foreign country and what they had in common. Interweaving personal, artistic and psychological perspectives, the thesis offers a philosophical approach to the notion of "Heimat" (home). Combining philosophy, theory and practice, it provides new insights into critical aspects of the assignment process and offers strategies for supporting the expatriate throughout the expatriation cycle. Lastly, this thesis makes a significant contribution to the newly introduced concept of utilizing coaching and the arts in the field of expatriate management.

Veränderungen beim Patienten im Zusammenhang mit Interventionen der Psychotherapeutin im kunst- und ausdrucksorientierten Psychotherapiesetting

This dissertation looks at the analysis of data, which stem of individual case studies coming from ambulatory psychotherapy practice. The setting is a research project of the institute ISIS, (expressive arts orientated psychotherapy) in Zürich. The empirical research will answer the following question: Can changes of the patient be verifiable explained as the result of the therapist's intervention in an expressive arts orientated psychotherapy? The introduction talks about the scientific debate in the community of psychotherapists, which took place 2002 / 2003 in Switzerland. It shows the current professional influences on research in those days. In conclusion, the research model and the ethical orientation of this research project are presented. Part one shows a draft of an intervention concept and the theoretical concept of changes, using expressive arts orientated psychotherapy. Part two discusses the model and the methodology of the data analysis. This includes the acquisition of data from 1998 to 2002 in part A, the methodological concept and data analysis from 2003 to 2007 in part B and the documentation of the research process. In Part three, the results of the data analysis of each case report are presented in a comparative study and causal correlations between changes of the patient and interventions of the psychotherapist are demonstrated. It can be shown; that there is a coherence of impact in the expressive arts orientated psychotherapy. The dissertation concludes with the theoretical summary and suggestions for further research.

Veränderungsprozesse kunst- und lösungsorientiert begleiten

Specialist knowledge, sufficient understanding and empirical experience are necessary to be able to guide a process of change with an artistic solution. The author describes the theories of the initial stages of the artistic solution accompanied by practical supervisory examples. Intermodal Decentering (IDEC®), which is well explained, plays an important role in the artistic solution. The author shows the engagement of decentering using actual examples taken from her own supervising processes. She describes each phase of the supervision from the point of view of the supervisor as well as the supervised. The experienced cases are professionally connected and conclusions drawn. The author goes even further by asking herself if this knowledge could be employed in management.

What doors do the arts open in business corporations?

The aim of this task is to find out what expressive arts can achieve in economic fields, and how open humans are towards the arts in processes of change. My studies concentrate above all on practical case studies in the daily business world. The examples show that art-based coaching opens doors to new perspectives and that often surprising solutions are found. Many people are open to the arts. The principle of "low-skill-high-sensitivity" creates an open-minded frame. Art-based work contributes to empowerment and leads to important realizations. Realizations, for example, about one's personal style of leadership, the way one communicates, a more conscious relationship with oneself and others or about one's personal situation. I compare the method of expressive arts with my present way of working within the business world. Concentration is specifically put on new aspects, differences and similarities. The artistic work and its beauty, the "theme-far decentering" as well as the importance of the process of shaping, crystallize as significant new aspects. The arts not only widen professional competences, but also lead to new horizons on a personal level as well as on a relationship level.