Saturday, January 28, 2012

... art therapy in the philippines ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, manila, quezon city)


Life Change Recovery Center recently held an art exhibit at the SSS Museum and Library.  Entitled "Mindscapes," it proudly showcased the art works of our psychiatric inpatients who, despite having schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, addiction, and other psychiatric disorders, were able to produce masterpieces.  Guests of honor included master fiddler John Lesaca, daughter of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo- Sylvia Amorsolo-Lazo, and master healer Dr. Tom Kurz.  


I was tasked by Ms. Agnes Agbayani, Executive Director of Life Change, to give a brief talk on Art and Emotional Healing.  I shared to the audience that it was in college, as a psychology student in U.P., that I first learned of art's potential to heal.  It was back then when I learned how to administer the Draw-A-Person Test and I observed that some people would spontaneously cry when I asked them to describe their drawings.  Later on in life, I did a lot of art therapy for myself and produced a lot of what I call "healing images" or "prayers in pictures."  And despite the passage of time, I discover that they still have a healing effect on me until now.  As a student of hypnotherapy in my post-graduate studies, I also learned that our mind thinks, not in terms of words, but in terms of pictures.  In fact, part of the creative challenge in doing hypnotherapy is coming up with appropriate healing images for the client.  


































I hope you enjoy these pictures.  They are a testament to the creative genius that remains vibrant despite psychiatric affliction.  

2 comments:

  1. Hi Sir Randy,

    I just bumped in to your site and it's so inspiring! By the way, I am Jem Benzon dito rin po sa Pilipinas nakatira. I was wondering if you know any school na nag-ooffer ng art therapy course dito sa Manila? We are really hoping ng friend ko na makapag-aral ng art therapy. We are Fine Arts grads po, but alam po namin hindi po yun enough. Maraming salamat po sir :)

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  2. Hi Sir Randay,

    I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I am into making art, writings, singing blogging and the like for my self therapy I wish to know where can I join art exhibit that my art can be featured as an artist with bipolar disorder and also like sir Jem Benson I wish to know where I could possibly study art therapy as well.

    Thank you,

    Amor Ranosa

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