IEATA's 14th Annual International Conference

This presentation will explore Liesl Silverstone's Person Centred approach to art therapy. Central to the person-centred approach is the belief that' the client knows best' and that they can reach their own potential when met in a climate of unconditional positive regard, congruence and empathy. 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. Supporting clients in becoming more self-directed and owning their power is a major aim of this approach. However, due to our familial, educational and cultural conditioning many of us resist becoming autonomous. The presentation will offer a discussion of the way in which the Association for Person Centred Creative Arts (APCCA) trains counsellors, coaches, educators and social workers in person centred creative art therapy skills, enabling students to experience for themselves the challenges and successes in becoming person-centred. We will explore how student's own experience of the person centred approach deepens as they work with image. An experiential and demo will be part of the session.