When I tell people I am a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner most immediately think I am an Art Therapist and while both roles have similarities, they are not the same. I loosely compare the difference to Nurse Practitioners vs Family Doctors. A nurse practitioner is trained to observe what is happening in the moment, advocate for patients, and provide wound care. A family doctor works with the patient on treatment plans and can perform medical procedures.
As a therapeutic arts practitioner I work with individuals by exploring what is happening for them in the moment with the goal of gaining clarity and feeling nurtured by the end of each session. If an individual is in crisis, navigating trauma, or needs to dig deeper into past events in order to move forward then Art Therapy or other services would be a better fit. Here are a few examples of experiences that could benefit from therapeutic art - lack of motivation, stress or anxiety, grief & loss, lack of confidence, burn out, or general feelings of being overwhelmed. When an individual’s needs move outside my scope of practice, I work with them to find services that are a better fit for their needs. Reach out if you have any questions or check out my website to learn more.
While beach days with the kids are some of the best days of summer it can be stressful getting there…am I right?! Getting everyone dressed, putting on the sunscreen, prep some snacks, don’t forget any of the beach toys (kids never take just one, lol), etc. then you get there and everyone is content playing in the sand but your body energy is still running in high speed!!!
Try this…sit down and smooth out a small bit of sand next to you. Then let your finger make lines in the sand, let it move wherever it wants. Feel the tension and high energy release. Now you are set and ready to fully enjoy that Beach Day! Mark making on the go has become a game changer for me! I lead a busy life just like many of you and I know that mark making supports my emotional health. I feel a difference in myself after each time I create a piece that means something to me. A year ago I was not making this a priority, something would always be more important and my self care would be set aside. I decided to create a mini mark making kit that I take with me almost everywhere. It has a mini sketchbook, a water brush, a Micron pen, pencil, white gel pen, paper towel, and a mini watercolour palette. All of these items fit in this little bag and it fits easily in my purse, beach bag, and travel bag. Now I find many small moments to care for my emotional health - on a bench, on my lunch break, at the beach, the coffee shop, or when I take a break along a hike. Reach out if you'd like more ideas on how to make mark making on the go work for you.
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Liz MccurdyTherapeutic Arts Practitioner Archives
February 2024
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