2.2 Build and maintain effective relationships Flashcards
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
In the child and adolescence art therapy course at TATI the readings, writing assignemt and presentation from the Monica Carpendale Kutenai Art Therapy Institute Manual explored the essentials of being an Art therapist. The key aspects included; mirroring, grounding centering, boundaries, containment and empathy. Boundaries are not meant to be punitive, they are for the well-being and protection of your client and yourself. Maintaining healthy boundaries is essential for the therapeutic process. Client interactions are to be goal directed and for the purpose of establishing a therapeutic relationship that does not extend beyond the therapy. When dealing with children it is important be mindful of the desire for nurturing and the dangers of becoming a better alternative mother figure. Boundaries recognize the power inequity of the relationship, they provide a structure, predictability, consistency, reliability.
Recognize & address conflict in a constructive manner
When conflict arises in the therapeutic relationship it is important to reflect on the origins as transference or counter-transference maybe at play. We explored transference in the readings and coursework in Psychodynamics. During our course work in Group Art Therapy the reading Practice Guidelines for Group Psychotherapy identifies ways to manage conflict within a group dynamic in a constructive and beneficial way for the group. In class discussion we explored the conflict resolution tool, The IDEAL Model
I dentify the problem and the feelings of everybody involved in the conflict.
D etermine possible alternative solutions.
E valuate the alternative solutions.
A ct, choosing the best solution.
L earn from what you did to solve the conflict.
Demonstrate personal and professional integrity.
Integrity combines moral and ethical aspects and is present in an individual in their personal and professional lives. In my capacity as a business owner with dealings with the public, parents, children and my staff I maintain professional relationships. I conduct myself honourably and am trustworthy and dependable. This commitment to professional standards has been recognized in my award-winning studio practice and will be a cornerstone to my art therapy practice. Toronto Life magazine listed my instructional art studio Picasso’s Garage - in “Top 5 Cool Things To Do With The Kids” 2016
& Best In The ‘Hood: Kids At Play In “The City’s Top 300”
Professional integrity in research was also covered in the Research Methods coursework and readings.
Contribute to a collaborative & productive atmosphere
During our Peer Supervision, we listened to clinical case presentations and discussed issues that arouse in our various practicums. We contributed by providing insights and discussing solutions. As an additional assignment I presented to this group “Effective ways to run a supervision group”
During my placement at Hincks Dellcrest we participated in monthly clinical case presentation and worked as a group to explore possible approaches. Also as part of the family therapy team we provided single session counselling as a team. We rotated being in the room or observing through the two way mirror the sessions were 3 hours long. After about an hour and a half of meeting with the family to establish the challenges the family retired to the waiting room and as a team we discussed the issues established goals and set a course of action to follow which was then presented to the family. Letters of recommendation were created by myself or the other MSW student placement member and edited and revised with a senior member.
