Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.59014/DBSR4148
Openings in art therapy or „I don’t know how to draw”
Mia Janković Shentser
orcid.org/0000-0001-9435-1861
Abstract
The paper explores the experience of the beginning of the therapyprocess as experienced in the moment emotionally, physiologically, mentally,and relationaly.In research about openings in psychotherapy noticable amount of space is dedicatedto emotion regulation due to shame, anxiety, and attachment complications.Resistance is not solely attributed to the beginings of the therapysessions, but in its intensity it dominates the beginning of the process.These issues emerged in art therapy process with Wendy (pseudonym), whosecase will be presented in study of this theme. 83-year-old Holocaust survivorwith complex trauma, sturdy and sensitive, expressive and gentle woman bravelyimmersed herself into abundance of insights, consciously making decisionto change, which supported the therapeutic process of transformation fromresistance and shutt-down to curiosity and action.Attending to the physiology of the person with polyvagal informed art psychotherapypractice, Somatic Experiencing and Sensori Motor Psychotherapy, arttherapy process was excelled in understanding, regulating, and controlling theautonomic nervous system response.Using immense human ability to generate image through the embodied experienceof the perceived reality and meaning making of these images, layed a pathto working through the emerging emotion, thought, and behaviour patternstowards an awareness and subsequently - a change.
Keywords
art therapy; polyvagal theory; somatic experiencing; openings; resistance
Hrčak ID:
341133
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2025.
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