2-day PhotoTherapy Workshop and Conference Plenary in Russia!!
Posted by Judy Weiser on 4/10/2010, 9:57 am
I am very much enjoying teaching PhotoTherapy techniques in Moscow this week!
Invited by Dr. Alexander Kopytin (Russian Psychiatrist who has long specialized in using art and photos to assist healing), I have done three things since arriving here about a week ago:
a) taught a very exciting 2-day Workshop for therapists to learn PhotoTherapy and Photo-Art-Therapy techniques --
and then
b) gave the Invited Plenary Presentation for the Russian Art Therapy Conference -- titled: "Introduction to PhotoTherapy and Photo Art Therapy and Their Difference From Therapeutic Photography" --
and then
c) gave a 2-hour experiential Workshop in "Photo-Projective" techniques.
I was pleased to find a lot of interest in PhotoTherapy (and Photo Art Therapy) techniques in Russia -- and will likely return to do more work soon...
Re: 2-day PhotoTherapy Workshop and Conference Plenary in Russia!!
Judy Weiser PhotoTherapy Workshop held at the Institute Paracelsus" in Moscow, April 7-8, 2010. This was Judy's first visit to Russia. There were 15 participants. On the first day, participants were asked to choose a photo from among many brought by Judy -- and then they discussed these and the emotions and memories that happened in viewing them. Most participants said that the photos they selected reflected something powerful about the current moment in their life. Judy explained that phototherapy involves the use of photography in the context of traditional psychotherapeutic session and how pictures can help clients to tell about themselves. I also found it interesting the definition of personal photos as a "trace", such as "footprints of the mind", as well as the idea that each newly-created snapshot continues the story without words. In the Workshop we learned many tools, and many ways to use photographic technology. Judy gave many great handouts and structured the material in a way easy to learn from. Judy shared some of the secrets of working with pictures, such as: "We take pictures of what is most important to us, often unconsciously". Many thanks to Judy Weiser,for her sincere interest in all participants, for her willingness to dialogue with us all, and most importantly, how to apply all this information. I would like to highlight the excellent atmosphere during workshop! In my practice, I have over 5 years using the elements of PhotoTherapy, and so I am very glad to get acquainted with Judy(although I met her earlier through her book, 3-4 years ago!). She is very nice and very charming! For me this Workshop serves as a kind of symbolic point, the completion of a phase of my life. This stage was for me a platform of knowledge, a new step, and simultaneously a push in both personal and professional development. To all reading this message, I wish you every success in your professional activities and projects related to using PhotoTherapy techniques in your practice. Good luck!
