Liesl’s pioneering approach to working with images.

When the person-centred therapeutic approach of Carl Rogers is brought together with art making as complementary processes, it becomes a very powerful, yet gentle therapeutic model. Liesl developed a way of being able to combine the two and develop and effective therapeutic model.

A person-centred arts counsellor works non-directively, empathically, without judgement or interpretation with the language of images.

Working therapeutically with creative arts in this way can enable deep emotional work that can lead to meaningful insight, healing and growth.

A deeper therapeutic process can develop through dialoguing with your art. Working with the person centred approach, non-directively noticing and reflecting aspects of the creation or image such as the colour, positioning and use of materials a creative arts counsellor creates the opportunity for clients to connect with and make a bridge between the image and the self.

In a sense art creates a bridge between the unconscious and conscious.

Images offer immediacy, they can enable the client to be less self-conscious and more spontaneous. The creative therapeutic process can be a visible, keep-able, insightful way to work, one that promotes self-awareness and autonomy.

The therapeutic use of art is an important creative mode that taps into the world of imagination, inspiration, insight and intuition. According to Liesl it can give the brain a rest from the cerebral, verbal, judgemental processes we can become over reliant on. Often by thinking less, we can find that we know more.

Images can be a useful way to express what needs expressing when words are too hard, or not enough. Working with materials like clay, or stones can provide an additional tactile and 3D dimension to explore. Even working with existing images can be an effective way to tap into our right brain, intuitive, subconscious material.

Images and art creations are often extensions or aspects of the self, made visible in art form. By making our internal images visible externally, we can tap into material from the subconscious.

Through working therapeutically with these images, messages can emerge from the unconscious and be brought into conscious awareness leading to growth, healing, self-awareness and greater integration.

Bringing the person-centred approach to working with images is key, for two reasons, firstly by going at a clients pace it enables a safer process. Secondly when clients are able to lead and direct the therapeutic process themselves they generally make better progress, often much faster.

This model was developed by Liesl Silverstone with Carl Rogers supervision in 1984. It can be used with adults, couples, groups, children and young people in a variety of settings.