Shannon Deets Counseling LLC
Expressive Therapies
The Power of Expressive Therapy
Bessel Van Der Kolk M.D. advocates that "the body keeps the score". This means there are specific neurological patterns that our body adapts to help us respond to trauma and stress. While these patterns help to immediately remove us from a dangerous situation, long term enactment of these patterns often keeps us in a state of dis-ease and can disrupt the natural process of healing. Expressive therapies help to connect the body and the mind and thereby help us to experience full healing.
What is Expressive Therapy
Expressive Therapy is a multimodal process that incorporates the creative process into the healing factors in psychological therapy. By incorporating art, music, dance, chanting, writing, poetry, or acting/ drama into the psychological healing process we can better reach those internal states and feelings where trauma may resist change when utilizing strictly "talk-therapy". ​
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For more information please view the following webpages:
Expressive Arts Therapy | Psychology Today
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Do I need to be an Artist or Dancer?
NO! All of us are born as creative beings! All children dance, sing, draw, and create art. It is only after years of experiencing judgment of our art or failed external validation attempts that make us stop recognizing ourselves as artists when we are adults! The goal of expressive therapies is not in creating marketable art but instead of learning to love our creative selves again and to be able to enhance our ability to express ourselves in the world. Mindful Walking is Dance! Appreciation of beautiful colors and shapes is art! Hearing our own voice speak our truth out loud is song, poetry, and art!
