CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY INTERNATIONAL FORUM ARCHIVE, 1999
public inspiration as opposed to therapy
tara ennis-reddick · 1/15/98 at 9:04 PM ET
I am a professional photographer that has always sought a 'purpose' for the medium, both with my own images and those images that inspire others.
I have aspirations of becoming a professional speaker/story-teller utilizing my images to map my story for personal insight, as well as providing a non-verbal aspect to the 'telling' for the audience.
I believe that photographs and sentimental collections that are dear to us, are invaluable in helping one discover who they are, who they've been, and the importance of their relationships and experiences up to and including the present.
I respect the dedication and training required for any vocation, including that of Art Therapy, and more particularly, PhotoTherapy, and am pleased that such high standards and ethics are stressed by qualified A.T.'s. Working with individuals and their emotions is a process to be tackled only by the professional therapist, and Art Therapist when those mediums are utilized.
Having stated my respect then for the profession, I ask...to what extent might I encourage and direct others ( in a non-theraputic group environment) to explore their cherished collections of photographs and analyze their meanings (both inside and outside the images' borders), in an effort to learn about themselves as I have done? I would not conduct this process with individuals, nor do I believe that anyone should push their interpretations of a piece of art on to anyone else. However, suggesting that individuals cherish their memories and explore their 'frozen frames in an effort to learn more about themselves'...; does this approach of 'encouraging personal exploration through photography' concern the members of the Art Therapy profession?
Respectfully
tara ennis-reddick
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