Creative Techniques In The Psychotherapy of Depression
Journal Title: Journal of Experiential Psychotherapy - Year 2015, Vol 18, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: Psychotherapy research has followed mainly two directions: one dedicated to the efficiency of certain psychotherapeutic programs, and the other to the psychotherapeutic process itself. Somewhere between are the efficiency studies based on the meaning model which has appeared as a reaction to the clinical trials based on the medical model. Process research has revealed especially general aspects related to the psychotherapeutic success like the therapeutic alliance, the perceptual and experiential processing, and characteristics of the psychotherapy session. Objectives: In the present article I focus on the use of expressive-creative techniques in the psychotherapeutic process involving persons with depression organizing them by the four phases followed in the experiential psychotherapy of unification. Methods: Studies concerning the empty chair or two chairs techniques have helped indentify markers of the moments when the psychotherapist may introduce them and their effects. Fewer studies have been dedicated to the creative attitude as a psychotherapeutic mechanism, to the moments when creative techniques may be introduced, and their specific effects. Even though the effect of relieving the emotional tension of the expressive-creative techniques has been known for a long time, or Jung has described the possibility offered by the creative attitude for personal development and fulfillment, a discussion on the interplay between the creative tasks and working on the person's concrete life problems is necessary. Results: By creative means, the expression of emotional tension or pain turns into problem solving, focusing the person on herself, new aspects of self-image, possible resources that may help her to cope with real life challenges. It is a complete process of expressing a personal meaning and re-discovering it by reuniting conscious and unconscious messages, reconnecting the person with her ”wholeness”, with her Self (as the archetype of totality) a truly unifying experience. Conclusions: Creative-expressive techniques, even though their efficiency in working with people with depression has been less studied, help achieve important goals in this line by developing the creative attitude of the person, but also serving as a support in solving life problems or in dealing with interpersonal issues.
Authors and Affiliations
Nicoleta Răban-Motounu
Keywords
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