My recent experience at the International Art Therapy Practice/Research Inaugural Conference in London has highlighted how instrumental good quality art materials are for the outcomes of our work. When working with a focus on the body, Sensorimotor Art Therapy requires tables and chairs. Even the height of the table is important, ideally at or approximately 5 cm below the navel of the client. Chairs should be high enough that the knees are slightly lower than the pelvis, and the feet touch the ground. It is important that one sits comfortably upright while drawing, as it is an exercise of body awareness. A starting position that allows a relaxed upright body posture is important, which is not possible when crouched on the floor.

EssaysCornelia ElbrechtJuly 29, 2019art therapy, therapy session, Guided Drawing, haptic perception, Art Therapists, Art Therapy, Cornelia Elbrecht, Sensorimotor Art Therapy, sensorimotor, expressive arts therapy, institute for sensorimotor art therapy, School for initiac art, Initiatic Art, iniatic art therapy

Haptic Perception: As I Touch the Clay, the Clay Touches Me

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.

EssaysCornelia ElbrechtMay 23, 2019Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapyhaptic perception, art therapy, complex trauma, bottom-up approach, therapy session, sensorimotor, Clay Field Therapy, Art Therapy, cornelia elbrecht, expressive arts therapy, Sensorimotor Art Therapy, sensory level, Heinz Deuser, somatic experiencing, ISAT

Clay Field Therapy: Work at the Clay Field®

The Clay Field is a flat rectangular wooden box that holds 10 – 15 kg of clay. A bowl of water is supplied. This simple setting offers a symbolic “world” for the hands to explore. There will be no art work to be taken home. The hands enter the Clay Field and move in it; in their ability or inability to “handle” the material they tell the client's life story.

EssaysCornelia ElbrechtMay 9, 2019Claerwen RetreatClay Field Therapy, complex trauma, art therapy, haptic perception, bottom-up approach, therapy session, sensorimotor, Art Therapy, Art Therapists, cornelia elbrecht, Heinz Deuser, Sensorimotor Art Therapy, sensory level, institute for sensorimotor art therapy

Clay Field Therapy as a Sensorimotor Art Therapy

Work at the Clay Field is a sensorimotor, body-focused, trauma-informed art therapy approach. It is not necessarily concerned with an image-making process, but supports the awareness of body memories.

Essays, Therapy Sessions, CoursesCornelia ElbrechtMarch 29, 2019Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy & School for Initiatic ArtClay Field Therapy, art therapy, complex trauma, sensorimotor, bottom-up approach, haptic perception, Sensorimotor Art Therapy, sensory level, institute for sensorimotor art therapy, ISAT, somatic experiencing, cornelia elbrecht, claerwen retreat

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