Angela is an Occupational Therapist who has spent her career supporting children and families affected by severe and complex mental illness. After having her own children, Angela has been captured by the intricate world of how different sensory experiences shape a person’s worldview and ability to cope with trauma. Her personal and professional development led her to study art therapy.
Angela’s research, titled “Painting the Inside of the Bubble”, explores the use of art therapy through a self-exploratory case study. As the shockwave of COVID-19 became apparent, Angela chose to examine the use of art therapy to relieve her own professional stress levels while supporting complex clients. During the time that Angela was requiring to support clients using telehealth, she used a brief art therapy intervention at the end of each workday. Alongside this daily work, she further explored the use of art therapy in a weekly canvas and journaling activity. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative information, she hopes to see if patterns emerge in her professional stress levels with the use of art therapy.
Angela’s artworks use a range of media to consider the impact of change. Initially themes of fear and bravery common to any research project were portrayed by two-dimensional water imagery. As the research shifted with the emergence of COVID-19, the exploration of the barriers begins in a more tangible manner. Her ideas for pieces would often be influenced during discussions with clients and peers about the impact of transitioning to telehealth on their own stress levels. The artworks began to mirror the metamorphosis through real-world, tangible objects used in therapy such as paintbrushes, PPE items and computer parts. Her pieces transition from themes of nature, fluidity and journeys, to connection, healthcare, and technology. The pieces explore natural, organic imagery and the contrasts of man-made items. Her search for ways to fully convey powerful emotions led to trialling use of new media such as wire and epoxy resin. Whilst originally intending to curate a traditional, two-dimensional painted exhibition, Angela’s creative voice changed as drastically as her environment.