Art in Therapy

Since I am a potter, I am pleased to offer my students and clients an opportunity to experience the hands on work of clay therapy in my studio. As a potter, and a therapist, I have found that art making can be an adjunct activity used to foster insight.

Types of Clay Work

I encourage hand building. This includes making pinch pots, sculpting, creating planters and sculptural wall tiles. Sometimes people are interested in working on the wheel but I do not do this in this context because it is time consuming to learn and takes over the session. Although I have taught pottery in the past, these sessions are not thinly veiled pottery lessons. Our effort is self discovery and the work with our hands is another way to discover ourselves. In this way our art work resembles our dreams. We seek what is revealed in the process, the imagery and the associations our art work suggests.

Expenses

A $25 surcharge per session is required for materials and associated tasks. This fee also helps maintain the studio. Like your co-pay, when you have one, it will be paid at the time of the session.

Objects and Space

One of the deterrents I have found when inviting clients to with clay is the accumulation of items in my space. My studio is my own retreat space and I share it gladly, but carefully. With that in mind, I am requesting that you transport your work home with you at all times unless it is ready to be fired. Please bring a simple plastic tub with a lid (and a handle if you prefer) so that you can store and transport your work. This will also be the place where you can keep your personal tools, or any found items that you would like to use to texturize your work.

Resources

Paul Berensohn's classic book, Finding One's Way With Clay, Pinched Pottery and the Color of Clay has been an inspiration to my work. I recommend it to everyone interested in integrating clay and self-seeing.

hand formed pottery

raku fired orchid pot with slumped glass base

unfired hand formed orchid pot

raku fired pinch pot with glass frit