Movement:
Defining a direction seems to follow me wherever I go in life. The persistent pressure to choose, to make a choice in a fleeting moment, and to be fully all in can be overwhelming. These are the myriad pressures I have felt across many different areas of my life. It’s no wonder I have often felt consumed by these expectations. From a very young age, we are programmed to make choices—both good and bad. As a result of this programming, we often find ourselves facing punishment for our bad choices. If we are never taught the valuable lessons that come from making mistakes and learning from them, how can we ever feel the comfort and freedom to genuinely become who we are meant to be, instead of merely conforming to the identities that others impose upon us? Learning to look to others to define who I am has sadly been deeply ingrained in my personal belief system. There is little freedom in that approach, as it restricts opportunities to explore, reject, and redefine our identities throughout life. As I continue to examine my own self-concept, I have come to realize that in order to truly build a sense of self, I have had to dismantle the rigid system within which I often discover and define myself. This newfound curiosity, which allows me to explore and rebuild my identity, greatly enriches and defines my practice as an art therapist. However, there remains a significant pressure to define who a person is based solely on the limited knowledge gleaned from initial intake sessions. As I navigate through this internship experience, I feel a strong compulsion to be mindful of how I am attempting to define another person. Once again, the pressure to make a choice, to define, and to move forward looms large.
The process of accompanying a client on a journey of healing is not simply a platform to convince anyone of how much we know or understand, but rather an open road that warmly invites one to move steadily at their own pace and comfort level. Carl Rogers (1995) implores the clinician to practice stillness and to elevate the client to the role of expert in their own experience, stating, “It began to occur to me that unless I had a need to demonstrate my own cleverness and learning, I would do better to rely upon the client for the direction of movement in the process” (p.12). This perspective highlights the importance of fostering a supportive environment where clients feel empowered to guide their own healing journey.
This week, I find myself reflecting on the concepts of movement, pace, and the various patterns of belief that have significantly defined who I am. What if we were truly given the freedom to grow at our own individual pace, without external pressures? What if we created a space where clients could fully immerse themselves and bring their authentic selves to each session, with the controller in hand and ready to explore? As I examine my own journey, I seek to understand under what specific conditions growth feels most dominant and vibrant. What are the elements that enable me to continuously cultivate that sense of curiosity and exploration in my life?
References
Rogers, Carl R. 1995. On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Journey Through Curiosity, Original collage by Carrie Occhino