ART THERAPY, WORK-RELATED STRESS & NEW WAYS OF THINKING Dr Val HUET (PhD), Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Art Therapists. ART THERAPY, WORK-RELATED STRESS & NEW WAYS OF THINKING

The Adamson Collection/Wellcome Library (paintings and drawing) Artworks courtesy of Paintings in Hospitals The Adamson Collection/Wellcome Library (paintings and drawing) The Adamson Collection Trust (sculptural objects)

WORK-RELATED STRESS IN HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE A growing concern: Unprecedented levels of cuts Unprecedented levels of change Evidence of rising levels of conflict Playful, imaginative, reflective space disappears Creativity disappears Impact on client care (see the Francis report for the worst outcomes)

Creativity ? A profoundly human attribute The act of giving shape to something new (an idea, a concept, and object) It is relational – inspiring others to take up and develop ideas, concepts, etc. Can make us joyful and engaged as well as anxious and confused Is about risk-taking Is an optimistic act

Creativity? Elitist concept of creativity (only special people need apply!) whereas ‘ordinary’ creativity denigrated Myth of creative genius sticks to art in a very unhelpful way Art, in the widest sense of the word, was part of our development Part of play and making sense of the world (Winnicott) For adults, art can provide permission to play Within the current work context, art may offer a way to unblock thinking, decrease stress and re-connect with personal creativity

The art therapy - based groups Developed at Tate Britain with Carers and Staff from a Forensic Unit for people with Learning Disability Expanded to be used within the work place All organisations have pictures on their walls Three phases in a session that replicate art therapy practice

The art therapy - based groups Looking at and discussing artworks Making an art response Discussing own artworks and process MAIN FOCUS IS ON WORK & WORK ISSUES AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO THESE ARE VALUED AS A HELPFUL INDICATOR OF REAL CONCERNS Lucy Pashley

Telling the story Introducing the story of artworks and the artists’ lives, and not just the academic aesthetic context, supported participants’ engagement with artworks. Art is relational (Bourriaud, 2012) and people need the human, personal stories of artists to build a connection.

Getting to play Participants invited to develop stories from the artworks. Enjoyed developing imaginative stories and listening to each other’s narratives, supporting positive playful relational processes in the group.

OUR STORY WITH ART IS NEVER NEUTRAL Although a few participants had positive associations with art and were actively involved in it, many were not. However, by end of project and up to 1 year afterwards, most were.

Getting the personal art story Participants’ personal stories with art often reflect painful childhood experiences of feeling ‘no good at art’ that still have a vivid emotional impact. Many had never talked about this experience to anyone, or had not thought about its lasting impact Given them a space to do so opened up a path to connecting with art

Art-Viewing & Processes of Joint Attention Part of infant development – child and adult pointing and looking together at a joint attention point (Scaife & Bruner, 1975) Socially embedded, emerging before language Other people have minds, separate from one’s own Capacity to orientate to the other’s point of view

The art-making experience Initially dreaded by many Art-viewing helped to overcome fear – imagination and playfulness engaged Safe in a staff team (I can paint it and know it’s there but I can control how much I say) Revelatory in terms of true feelings towards work Helped to understand and address work- related stressors