(Apologies if you are coming to my blog for the first time. This one entry was filled with wonderfully descriptive images, but did not transfer over from the previous platform. If you would like to read and see the original entry, please email me at michellehaydenart@gmail.com and I will happily forward you the original! THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE :)).

You Are the First to Know!

As we begin 2022, I have BIG NEWS that I've been chomping at the bit to share with you...

(Soul collage card I made during training—fitting for spilling the beans now ;))

✨✨✨ I have completed training and am now certified in Initiatic Art Therapy from the Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy in Apollo Bay, Australia!! YIPPEE!!! ✨✨✨

(above image from www.instituteforsensorimotorarttherapy.com)

Beginning in August 2020, I "gathered" online with professionals around the world to learn under the expertise of renowned Founder and Director of the Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy, Cornelia Elbrecht, and senior faculty art therapist and co-leader, Chris Storm. We met “live” for a whopping 108 group hours over Zoom (a feat in, and of, itself, not to mention that much was during the night hours for we Northern Hemisphere folks! 😅).

Between each of the live 3-day modules that were interspersed over the course of 18 months, we engaged in intensive outside study and practice. Initially, I had no idea what initiatic sensorimotor art therapy was; I soon learned that it is its own unique form of art therapy—quite different from traditional art therapy, whose focus often is on creating representational images and talking about them as means for healing.

(Sensorimotor guided drawing, done with both hands simultaneously drawing the same “felt sense” shapes while my eyes are closed)

Describing the foundational differences, Cornelia describes her distinct process (paraphrased), developed over more than forty years of practice and extensive study with pioneers in several fields of art therapy and trauma study:

"Sensorimotor art therapy has emerged in recent years to describe body-focused psychotherapies that use a "bottom-up" approach-- encouraging an awareness of the implicit "felt sense" in the body: how the muscles and viscera, the heart-rate and breath shape our sense of being... With this heightened awareness of the embodied self, as we move and connect with the materials, we are also moved.

This sensory feedback is how we learned about ourselves and developed our relationship with the world. Love and safety, but also violence and abuse, are communicated through touch in this sensorimotor feedback loop. Early childhood experiences are embodied in this way and often, these memories can't be reached with words, as the part of the brain that expresses these things may have not yet been developed, or went "offline" during the trauma.

The purpose of the sensorimotor art therapy process is to create a safe and trusting environment so that when bodily-held memories are tapped into through movement, new sensorimotor experiences can communicate a felt sense of self-value, self-esteem, and self-empowerment" (C. Elbrecht).

(Soul card made during my own exploration time between training modules)

We can experience this implicit "felt sense" when we are still and tune into our bodies. As children, all of our experiences were imprinted on both physical and emotional levels as we grew and many of us learned to distance ourselves from this awareness for coping and survival. When we develop a sense of safety in the present, we can slowly reconnect with our bodies and access the innate healing abilities we all possess (Isn’t that hopeful?!❤️).

Allowing our hands and bodies to connect with art materials while giving ourselves permission to move as we contact paper and table, we directly tap into energy that is waiting to be expressed— creating new felt sense experiences that help to heal parts of ourselves that have been hurt.

In this way, sensorimotor art therapy is a very gentle and non-threatening approach for healing trauma of all kinds. The art therapist acts as a guide to witness, support, and encourage ways of exploring materials, and gently elicits and affirms the inner knowing that resides within the client. As a session nears its end, the client is encouraged to put their newly formed awareness into words on their drawings/paintings, solidifying and integrating the positive messages gleaned. This gives them something concrete to carry within as they go back out into the world.

I witnessed a particularly incredible transformation when viewing a filmed session with a new client. It contained very little verbalization, but the expression of many feelings as they were expressed on the woman’s face and in her movements as she made marks with crayon, pastel, and paint on paper, and even on her hands and arms as she fully connected with the paint. It is truly powerful what can happen when our minds and bodies are given nonverbal means, permission, and support to "speak" what has been held inside, even through a single experience!

(End of session drawing in which experience and emotion were transmitted onto my paper— the movements made to create many of the lines were those of empowerment, creating safety, and releasing)

Every exercise taught was practiced personally and deepened through small and large discussion groups, presentations, and oodles of outside content-rich reading, reinforced through testing, virtual meet-ups with other participants for processing and practice, and opportunities for individual work and supervision.

This hands-on holistic way of learning aligns with my history of using art to heal, which I implemented as a social worker and more personally, for my own healing for as long as I can remember. A vital resource for gaining insight into health issues that have emerged in the last 7 years, art helps me go beyond what Western medicine has been able to offer and to open to my own inner knowing. I have no doubt that sensorimotor art therapy will continue to deepen healing for me and for those with whom I will have the privilege to travel.

(Another end-of-session drawing of mine that is completely covered by painting and a few words to remember)

Discovering the intersection of neurobiology and sensorimotor art therapy blew the lid off of what I previously knew about the brain, trauma, and the healing arts (which I have been self-studying my whole adult life). My understanding exploded in all directions as I took in the material on cognitive, emotional, bodily, and spiritual levels, giving me more hope than any modality I have ever encountered—professionally or personally!

It has helped me explore inner work in places without words, offering a safe, gradual, powerful means of experiencing (small bits at a time), releasing, and creating new ways of seeing myself and moving forward. Odd as it may sound, I have felt immense joy and relief in connecting with deep parts of myself which have long been difficult to access and heal... what a gift!

(End of Hero’s Journey, when we created a mantra that embodies our process)

Having guides to accompany me has been invaluable; what I did not anticipate was being able to carry forward these exercises on my own-- whenever the want or need arises-- tis empowerment at its finest! Certainly, we can all benefit from having more tools in our back pockets (and hearts) to help us safely open, release, and transform what has caused us pain, freeing up that energy to more fully embrace life and new possibility. And to do so without needing to utter a word makes the process all the more nurturing and inviting… allowing the choice to arise from the client, whose self-determination is always at the root of the work.

Being offered diverse choices-- something that most have not experienced abundantly, strengthens the sense of self. From guided visualizations, to choice of colors and paints, whether to put fingers, hands, or brushes into paint, or to use pastels, crayons, or clay for mark-making,… to create collage, use natural materials and miniature animals to tell an old story or create a new one with a different ending-- every step of the way is chosen by the client. I could feel myself smiling ear to ear as I slowly opened to these simple, yet profound, permissions.

(Genogram exercise with clay, reflecting transformation and growth)

(Symbolic Animal Exercise… creating a story of safety, connection, and wisdom)

As each new exercise was introduced during the training, I could hardly contain my eagerness to personally explore and express before returning to the group to share and support one another in our vulnerabilities and strengths. Being witnessed in this work brought unexpected balm and growth.

(Stone meditation journey)

(Chakra meditation animal guides, each appearing with their own message)

(The Hero’s Journey, depicted with guides and natural materials)

Every single time a new tool or technique was learned and put into practice, powerful ripple effects would emerge over the days, weeks, and months that followed. And I am still changing! Healing is an accumulative process, after all, building upon the layers we have already worked hard to assimilate.

(An embodied emotion, as expressed through hand-torn colored paper)

As I enter into the next six months, I will be implementing sensorimotor art therapy work with specific individuals and groups, supported by a federal grant that I am honored and grateful to have just been awarded— the Kentucky Artist Rescue Grant Program was created to provide funding for artists affected by the COVID pandemic. Completing my training enabled the perfect opportunity to create a plan to utilize these skills and apply for the grant. It is a wonderful way to begin this new leg of my journey…

My goal is to offer individual and group work after the grant period, so please stay tuned for upcoming opportunities as they unfold. I am ecstatic to be able to continue growing my healing work practice alongside my art practice, my mission from the time I left social work to stay home and raise my children. When I decided ten years ago to build my art career and find a way to use it for healing, I could not have imagined a more beautiful way to do so. What a privilege! I hope you will join me as I continue to blend this new branch that integrates many good things into one.

(Mandala exercise after a transformative embodying experience— this is 24 x 36” and I still ran out of room!)

As I wrap up this attempt to capture the full essence of what I have learned, I want to thank Cornelia Elbrecht and Chris Storm from the bottom of my heart. They bravely stepped into creating this world-class intensive online training in response to the pandemic and showed up (in every sense of the word) as we students from around the world gathered from all time zones to learn and support one another through this challenging and amazing modality— no small thing when it was both hands-on and technically-dependent at the same time! Cornelia and Chris showed tenacity as they shared their compassion, expertise, patience (with tech!), sensitivity, and courage when sharing their experience with us and carefully monitoring the well-being and boundaries of the group dynamics. The team of assistants certified in Intiatic Art Therapy were wonderfully engaged and supportive, wise, and skilled, as they widened the circle of care and learning.

I am grateful for the relationships that developed with the other trainees as we shared ourselves and learned from each other, holding space for one another as we explored tender histories and new beginnings. I will carry each of them with me as I continue using these beautiful teachings. Special thanks for Jono, the tech guru who managed six modules worth of large groups, seamlessly managed break-out rooms, and did all of the filming and formatting of the training videos. My head swims when I think of the amount of work and commitment that was poured into this offering by all involved—truly a labor of love. As I have said to many since the training began, I am convinced that this will change the way the world deals with trauma. Let us ripple it out! 🌊💗🌏

I am excited to begin this new and hopeful adventure with you. Watch for announcements in my email newsletter for upcoming topics and dates (either message me or follow this link for sign-up). As we move forward together, I welcome your questions and feedback… I would love to hear your thoughts and connect with you!

Love, Michelle ❤️

(Soul card created on my own, towards the completion of the training course)