Touch. The Most Fundamental of Human Experiences with Cornelia Elbrecht

For the last several years Guy Macpherson has dedicated himself to the study of trauma, post-traumatic growth, and most recently, the intersection of trauma and psychosis - specifically assessing and treating signs of early psychosis. He holds a Doctorate in clinical psychology and with The Trauma Therapist Project brings together resources for clinicians and therapist of all kinds who are starting out on their trauma-informed journey.

In this interview Cornelia Elbrecht and Guy Macpherson discuss the hands-brain connection and how at the Clay Field we are able to treat early developmental trauma through an inter-relational touch experience.

Phenomenology as Curiosity in the Clay Field

The Philosopher Husserl (1931) formulated phenomenology as a theoretical construct. His interest was to learn what the direct experience of the person is and what meaning they attach to their experience. Husserl recognised that reality is always played out in the present tense, not the past and not the future. That if access is gained to sensory input of a person’s original experience in the here and now, then we would be able to view that person’s subjective reality. By substituting ‘how’ and ‘what’ questions instead of ‘why’ questions he posited that we could avoid interpretation and explanation; rather to be open and aware of the given data and see the client as he is and ‘what is happening right now?’

The study of phenomenology has evolved from the theoretical construct of Husserl (1931) with more ongoing developments in both physical sciences and social sciences (Van De Reit, 2001). The phenomenology of today is a sensory based moment to moment process that is uniquely my own as I interact with and I am impacted by the wider field in the here and now. At the Clay Field this plays out in every session. This interest, curiosity and tracking of my client’s experience in the Clay Field in the here and now supports to deepen the awareness and experience of their reality. There are moments when as a therapist I silently retract, giving minimal encouragement to the client’s action patterns in the clay and as they explore the field...

Creative Healing Strategies for Victims of Natural Disasters

When the earthquake shook an area the size of Portugal in southeast Turkey and northern Syria, at least 56 thousand people died, 126 000 suffered non-fatal injuries and at least 2.6 million people were displaced. I was asked by the Psychology Department of Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul to speak about trauma-informed strategies to support large groups affected by a natural disaster. An event such as this earthquake is overwhelming for all involved, even the news were overwhelming to watch. And while the world by now has turned elsewhere, the aftershocks for those millions directly affected will last for years, if not a lifetime…

Recently I stumbled on a collection of studies by Dr Jess Bone, a Research Fellow in Statistics/Epidemiology in the Department of Behavioural Science and Health (UCL) and a member of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health. Bone has conducted extensive research with colleagues on the arts and well-being.

These studies include all the arts and not necessarily arts as therapy…

An Initiatic Art Therapy Journey

Sometimes training to work with vulnerable and historically adversely impacted people is perplexing. This is why after 30+ years in the Community Services sector my eternal curiosity was focused on how to best support my clients; how could I assist them to embrace the healthiest and safest version of themselves?

Then I discovered the world of Art Therapy - and specifically Sensorimotor Art Therapy. Through my work I had already trained in numerous modalities and intervention-based options, however I still remained somewhat frustrated. Finally I realised that in my personal practices I had been utilising these methodologies to varying degrees. It was time to start some consolidation…

The Black Madonna

The Black Madonna is a powerful symbol of the woman as divine. She represents the archetype of the wise old woman, a conveyor of ancient wisdom.

Arriving at Therapy - and Self

Children arriving in a new space need to orient to feel safe in the environment. Children literally need to connect to themselves, then their relationship with others and then the environment (Elbrecht, 2012).

Young children are not in charge of their lives and they do not often get a choice when they are presented to therapy. They enter a strange space and are then asked to follow instructions with someone they have not met before. This can be very overwhelming as children take in the whole situation as one stimuli: that is you, your energy, your room and all the other activities that you offer (Elbrecht, 2012, p.272; Winnicott, 1964).

Neuroception at the Clay Field

Students all over the world learn theory in large, anonymous lecture halls, but then need to practice in small group tutorials. No junior doctor would be allowed to treat patients without the hands-on experience gained in practice sessions. The extensive use of PowerPoint presentations tends to dominate all conferences as a way of managing large groups, and it is the preferred teaching medium online. Zoom has made it possible to facilitate international tutorials over the past 18 months in ways unimaginable not long ago.

Much theory can be communicated in this way; however, our emotional brain craves the connection with others, and our brainstem needs the action patterns of practical application in order to integrate insights. Emotional connection, sensory awareness and the practice of new action patterns all benefit from small group learning.

Embodied Learning - Clay Field Therapy, Guided Drawing and Sensorimotor Integration

Students all over the world learn theory in large, anonymous lecture halls, but then need to practice in small group tutorials. No junior doctor would be allowed to treat patients without the hands-on experience gained in practice sessions. The extensive use of PowerPoint presentations tends to dominate all conferences as a way of managing large groups, and it is the preferred teaching medium online. Zoom has made it possible to facilitate international tutorials over the past 18 months in ways unimaginable not long ago.

Much theory can be communicated in this way; however, our emotional brain craves the connection with others, and our brainstem needs the action patterns of practical application in order to integrate insights. Emotional connection, sensory awareness and the practice of new action patterns all benefit from small group learning.

The Psychophysiology of Touch: Haptic Perception

Haptic perception is the perception through touch. Our hands are superbly fine-tuned perceptual instruments. They play a far more important role for art therapy than has been acknowledged so far…

I am woman, hear me draw!

When I first came to Sensorimotor Art Therapy over 10 years ago it was with the intention to find new ways to support clients to find a pathway through their troubles. As someone who has a leaning towards lifelong learning and deepening knowledge of various options, I had long wondered about the ways that Art Therapy could be utilised with children, adults and in particular at that time, with people impacted by family violence. It has been through the unfolding my own learning journey since those early days that I discovered that many of the tools and techniques I had been using over the years had a definite ‘art therapy’ quality to them.

We Need Touch to Regulate Our Anxiety

Another COVID lockdown, quarantine requirements, back to working remotely and the ensuing social isolation have again highlighted the profoundly human need for embodied contact and touch to regulate our nervous system.
In a London hotel room a few years ago I came across an essay by filmmaker Sebastian Junger where he discusses his experiences as a journalist in an outpost in Korengal Valley in Afghanistan in 2007. He describes war from a neurological perspective stating that while no one wants war, the majority of veterans long to go back because combat gives soldiers an intense experience of connection…

Being in Touch

Touch is the most fundamental of human experiences. It is also likely the most under-researched of our five senses. Most art therapists have little awareness of its importance being overly focussed on the optical experience. You can live a successful life being blind, deaf, lack smell and taste, but without touch, we most likely die…

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