« i found i could say things with color and shapes that i couldn't say any other way. - things i had no words for. » ~ georgia o'keeffe
great is the diversity of theoretical and practical models united under the term 'art therapy'.
caroline maby's approach finds strong support on the currents of jungian and buddhist psychology, on a deep knowledge of symbolism, of the arcanas of the creative process, and the practices of attention (zen).
a certified art therapist and a member of the american art therapy association, caroline maby opens her studio to individual consultations, by appointment only.
art holds the power to transform our life in depth.
' when words turn out to be in vain, we use images and symbols to tell our story. putting the creative process in motion through artistic practice provides access to the path to health and well-being, emotional healing, regaining the self and ultimately, transformation.''
in order to improve or stabilize the physical state, mental health and emotional well-being of a person, art therapy offers the opportunity to express oneself through the use of artistic mediation: drawing, painting, sculpture, writing…
by allowing access to the unconscious through drawing (or other artistic mediation), art therapy considers the process of creation as an outpouring of the psyche. to create is a unique opportunity to venture on the side of the imagination, in an authentic and spontaneous way.
"la chevelure" - interprétation
[henri matisse, 1952].
widely recognized in anglo-saxon countries (notably u.s.a., canada and australia), the humanistic approach is still relatively innovative in france.
'humanistic art therapy offers a positive vision of the person, recognizes that each human being is unique, worthy of respect and has the right to self-determination. this approach emphasizes skills and the potential of deep change and enhances the actualization, the realization and the development of oneself. in a humanistic context, art therapy considers the psychological well-being of the person and is committed to treating him or her as a whole and not as a fragmented being.'
[extract from "découvrir l'art-thérapie, des mots sur les mots" de j. hamel et j. labrèche, ed. larousse]
it is essential first to recognize the human being as a whole.
it is not a question of suppressing any symptoms but of welcoming everything in order to strengthen the healthy parts of the body and the psyche.
in this work, creation appears as a revealing image of what hinders the development of the person or slows down their life dynamics. through collaborative analysis, the image (or writing or sculpture) is understood and then transformed in an uplifting perspective, becoming an irreplaceable tool for progress, growth, and liberation. giving meaning to one's sufferings, encouraging the renewed friendship with a benevolent image of oneself and inviting to experience of positive emotions such as confidence or joy… are the common threads towards greater resilience.
the development of loving kindness is part of the whole process towards the recognition of one's qualities and the field of possibilities, and a setting in motion towards a responsible and creative commitment of one's life and the life of others.
the continuous artistic practice of caroline maby as an artist safeguards her link with the creative process. her ongoing training in meditation colors her relationship to others, to phenomena, to space and to form.
the depth of these complementary foundations is the signature of her specific integrative style.
caroline maby is also the founding director of the npo elovution. elovution is promoting art therapy and art practice to support the most vulnerable people , especially children in nedd.
