art therapist
Rawan Bajsair is a Saudi art therapist, artist, and author. She
studied Art Therapy for both her Bachelors and Masters degrees,
gained a board-certification, and has been practicing Art Therapy
for the past seven years between New York and Jeddah.
In an exclusive interview Rawan talks about all things art therapy.
What got you interested in the sector of art therapy?
My road to art therapy has been loopy. I have been curious about
humans, fascinated by psychology, and passionate about
creativity. In many ways, the process of art making has been an
unavoidably significant part of growing up. Art has continuously
been a visual diary to the experiences I am encountering as a
young observer. I started out studying design and fine arts then
coincidentally stumbled upon this course during my
undergraduate studies where I learned about the intersection of
art and psychology. Since then, I have been committed to
advancing my knowledge and expertise in the field.
How would you describe what an Art Therapist does on a
daily basis?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy where we use the creative
process to help clients gain insight and awareness about their
psychological health and of course help them heal and cope with
the issues that brought them into therapy. The role of an art
therapist shifts depending on the setting and client’s needs. In a
typical art therapy session, the art therapist would guide the
client in both dialogue and creating art to achieve therapeutic
goals.
And what makes this field different from other forms of
therapy?
Art has been a way of communication since cavemen. So, using
art and creativity in therapy has been natural and universal.
When we go through life, our bodies register experiences that
sometimes our minds are not conscious of. It reveals what our
subconscious is holding, and it allows our bodies to express what
we are carrying. Alternatively, art therapy is a non-threatening
approach to tap into our psyche and offers a playful and creative
twist to expression and problem-solving.
Is there a population that is more affected by art therapy?
All populations can benefit from art therapy. Sometimes, I find it
more receptive by individuals or groups where their verbal
expression is limited. I believe that in our culture, art therapy can
serve as a safe mode of expression for traumatic and difficult
experiences.
What kind of art do you like to employ in your work?
As an art therapist I utilize the full range of art materials. We use
art in all the traditional and non-traditional ways, from finger
painting to even sewing. Ultimately, the focus is more of the art-
making process rather than a finished artwork.
In my private art studio, I often work with mixed media and
sculptures. Most recently I have been gravitating towards
watercolors and ink; where I feel like balancing between the fluid
and controlled mediums.
Can you tell us more about some of the workshops you
organize
I have organized and conducted workshops in various settings
and with diverse clientele. For example, large to medium-sized
corporations, schools and universities, as well as rehabilitation
facilities and cancer patients and survivors.
Having worked abroad, do you think the Middle East is
embracing the concept of art therapy?
Generally speaking, yes. What’s cool about Arabs is that they are
open to adapting to new ideas. Now of course there are many
misconceptions about art therapy and have an inaccurate idea
about the field. For example, many people call some coloring
books “art therapy”, which is totally wrong. Part of my role as an
art therapist in the Middle East is to continue educating and
spreading awareness about art therapy through my practice and
even on social media.
How can we know if art therapy is right for us?
Art therapy serves everybody. You just need an open mind and
the courage to try.
In a few words, how would you describe the power of art…
I can talk about art all day long, but nothing would be able to
describe it more than experiencing it first-hand. I’ll tell you an
example. Imagine a black cat. Now tell me what popped in your
head? An image of black cat, or the word black cat? For most of
us, an image pops up. So whether you consider yourself a visual
person or not, we all store life experiences and associate things
with images and all of our five senses. When you make art, you
use your body and it’s a sensory experience.
Text by Victor Gee.
