STORY - "Art for life's sake"
By Angela Maley

Lois Parish

Lois Evans set out to be a textile artist, and so she is, but she is also much more. When studying for her visual arts degree, Lois went to a weekend workshop on art therapy and discovered there was a way to combine her love of art with her desire to help others. Lois pursued her goal to London where she began a Master's Degree in Art Therapy, finishing it at the University of Western Sydney when she returned.

The focus of art therapy is on exploring the unconscious content of artistic expression and the psycho-dynamic processes which take place during creative activity. Feelings about life and experience can be expressed without talk, at times or in situations where words cannot come, or are inadequate. To express deep and difficult feelings through art can be less threatening than to confront them directly. The art therapist gives clients a way of recognising and coming to terms with what may perhaps lie beneath the surface in their lives.

Locally, as well as in England, Lois has used art therapy in working with a range of people, young and old, with all sorts of problems and challenges. Lois spent three years with terminally ill patients in the Mater Hospice, giving them an opportunity to resolve and reconcile their life experiences.

She loves to work with children in hospitals and schools, particularly with young people who have been withdrawn from ordinary classes because of emotional and behavioural difficulties. Children and adults in situations of domestic violence can be supported, through art therapy, in coming to terms with the trauma in their lives.

Working in a safe and contained environment, Lois' clients are given a choice of materials and the freedom to use them in any way. Some painting may be fragile and delicate, some strong and powerful. Clay may be the choice and modelling the activity. When the client decides that the work is finished, the therapist will offer the option of verbally exploring their creative work, but it is the person's choice to respond or not. Sometimes it is enough to creatively explore their issues in a therapeutic context.

Lois says it is very satisfying to see gradual change in the way clients understand and clarify their problems and develop in their ability to deal with them. In some cases, children find themselves in difficult family situations which they cannot change, but even so, art therapy can give them a voice, a way to express their fear and anger safely.

Unfortunately, art therapy is not an avenue of help used routinely by schools and other institutions locally. When programs are established, they may end through lack of funding. Otherwise, the client, in discussion with the art therapist, can choose how long to continue. It may be that a person needs a break, or it can be that a level has been reached beyond which the client is unready to go at that time.

At the moment, Lois is working with young people with disabilities who are preparing to enter the work force. Art Therapy is another option for learning to express themselves as they prepare for the challenges ahead.

Whatever the future holds for Lois as an art therapist, she will certainly be bringing healing and hope to many who need her skills and understanding. She has chosen a richly rewarding profession.

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