Last Week | 1/20/10

Saying goodbye at the Islandia site (where we run a program with mentally impaired adults) was smoother than I'd expected. The clients did express that they would miss me verbally, as well as with gifts of art work - which I am very touched by. They did not express the sense of abandonment that I noted with the Fancy Free group in Farmingdale, or even the core group of autistic children. The clients at Islandia were often in a more stable mood than the other groups and were perhaps more able to handle the news of my departure.

During supervision today I had the chance to discuss the entire experience with my supervisor Ed Regensburg. I was thrilled to hear that he thought my enthusiasm, sophisticated questions and genuine interest in art therapy would make me a great candidate to study art therapy at the masters level. We were able to discuss m anxieties regarding departure, and he reminded me that most of these clients have experienced at least 100 different care givers and even family members coming in and out of their lives - not that it lessens the impact that I made, or how they will react to it - but just a reminder that they will react like they have with all these caregivers that came before me - so I cannot take to heart to seriously if they are anger or hurt at my departure. Ed reiterated that we announced my presence as one that would be temporary, and have been reminding the clients of this throughout my time there. He advised me to fully process how I felt about leaving to avoid any emotional break downs on my part while saying goodbye to the Fancy Free group and the Helping Hands group tomorrow.

Lauren joined our session towards the end and provided me with feedback as to how I had done. I was very happy to hear what she thought, as I hold a great respect for her as an art therapist. I truly enjoyed working by her side and learning from her. Lauren congratulated me for my enthusiasm, and dedication. She told me that she was impressed with my openness and ability to communicate with all the groups, something that is not easy or comfortable for many people. Lauren felt that I was able to follow her lead very well, while asserting myself and being an active presence in every group. She believe that I have a natural inclination for therapeutic work (whether I choose art therapy or not), and agreed with Ed that my questions and interest would make me a positive candidate in a graduate degree program. In terms of critical feedback (which is so important) Lauren noted that I would have benefited from deflecting personal questions from the clients, as it is suggested that you do not reveal too much personal information to the clients. She also explained that many of the clients attempted to latch onto me for extra attention. She was understanding and related to her past experience saying that it is easy to become involved in a conversation about how the client feel, or to ask "do you want to talk about it", but as art therapists, and especially with the particular client population we have (who are prone to behavioral and emotional outbursts) it is responsibility to contain the expression of these emotion in the artwork - and to allow that to serve as their outlet.

Lauren thanked me for my help over the last month and ensured me that it was going to be a hard transition to doing all the work alone. Lauren has been an amazing mentor. I am happy to have her as a contact in the world of art therapy!

I am so thankful to both Ed and Lauren and all the groups I worked with, for this truly fulfilling experience!