This article is from page 34 of the 2009-07-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
MICHELLE Bradley is putting art and soul into a new venture for Kil- Tatts ep
The qualified psychotherapist has opened a space “Art & Soul’ in Place de Plouzane to encourage people to become involved in art therapy.
In her final year in her Masters in Art Therapy at the Crawford College in Cork, the Dublin-native has plans to introduce as many people as pos- sible to the process, and encourage other qualified practitioners to bring the therapy to smaller towns and vil- lages around west Clare and beyond.
For now however, Ms Bradley, who moved to west Clare 11 years ago, is keen that as many people as possible experience art therapy, which she de- scribes as “a healing tool’.
Michelle, herself discovered the therapy when she did a work shop a number of years ago. With an interest in art and as a qualified psychothera- pist, she decided to study the therapy and joined the MA course.
She did her first college placement with the Kilrush Youth Centre where she saw the benefits of the therapy first hand.
“It is instantaneous. If I was doing talk therapy with you it could take me a long time to get to that point, because you are all the time going to talk about what you think the issue might be, or what you think I might want to hear.
“With the art it 1s direct. I don’t interpret your artwork; you do that
yourself, because everyone has their own symbols. It is for you to interpret it, we can talk about it, and we can do a one-on-one and talk about it. Or you don’t have to talk about it. You are getting it out,’ she explained.
“It is like the most intelligent part is going to lead the way. It is a very gentle process.”
The process can be used with any age group from toddlers to the eld- erly, and people with all abilities in- cluding anyone with a mental, physi-
cal or educational disability.
Everyone is invited to take part in the creative process to work through issues, merely find out more about themselves.
If it all feels a bit too much the Slate, or in this case the white board, can be wiped clean and you can start eNeee HOE
Parent and children, teenagers and adults all use the space. Michelle also works with groups, and one on oiler
The charge for the therapy is €10, and Michelle is already working to- wards getting sponsorship to retain that reduced rate next year.
She argues that therapy such as this is beneficial to the community and should be available to all. Therefore she is hoping to gain sponsorship or a grant to help keep is accessible to “Ne