The most challenging aspect of my internship thus far has been the problem solving and the multiple tasks I have taken on. At home, I have been working on a mailing list for the studio and going through magazines to find appropriate images of people, animals, words, and “miscellaneous” objects for patients to use in collages. I also have been reading Brainstorm by Daniel J. Siegel, a book about “the power and purpose of the teenage brain”. In the studio, Jamie and I have been doing a lot of organizing. We wanted to make the art space clean and accessible to patients– we have been considering the best way to do so for most of the week.
It also has been challenging to comprehend a lot of the work that we have been doing. In order to understand the art therapy exercises, I have been doing many of them myself.
Furthermore, it has been challenging to be patient in the planning of the SOS group. Obviously, I am not as experienced as Jamie is– she says she was expecting the group to not fill up immediately, while I had other expectations.
I have learned about the immense amount of planning and research that goes into the art therapy field. Though I wanted to be working with the SOS group from the beginning, I am glad that I have had the opportunity to do some more research before truly beginning the group. Having the proper background and materials has helped further prepare me for the groups and what my work will entail.
