Endorphins From Art

Hilary Keating explains how The Windows Project uses art therapy to help combat stress and long term illness.

The Margaret Thompson Medical Centre is situated in Speke, which has been identified as the second most deprived area in the country.
Preliminary research showed that low self-esteem and depression contribute significantly to the ill health and slow recovery rates of some patients at the practice.
The Windows Project was invited to work at the medical centre with a group of patients who suffer from a mixture of stress related and terminal illnesses. The group meet monthly at the centre to receive counselling and relaxation sessions from Diane Evans. The group is mixed but predominantly female and the ages range from 35 to 70years. Numbers vary according to their well-being. Some members have terminal illnesses.
The first of five creative writing sessions took place at the centre in November 2004 and finished in May 2005. A further five sessions started in September 2005. The sessions have been led by two writers and one book maker from The Windows Project, Hilary Keating, Susan Phillips and Mairie Gelling respectively.
After consultation with the medical practitioners at the centre the writers devised a programme of workshops which focused on the positive aspects of the patients' lives emphasising self worth and self-confidence. It was agreed that as part of the journey and as a permanent reminder of their personal achievements, each patient would create their own book. All original work would then be recorded in the book along with mementoes and future aspirations. The positive nature of the book would then provide a source of inspiration and a tangible reminder of their own success.
The workshops have proved to be very successful. The patients work collaboratively and individually in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Group poems and individual pieces have been written and a number of patients have already created their own books. The workshops provide opportunities for patients to draw inspiration from past and present and create a legacy for the future. The therapeutic aspects of writing are physical, mental, social and lasting.
These writing workshops have created a positive, friendly atmosphere in a safe environment for people to create a work of art, which is also a legacy of the good things they have experienced or would like to experience. The work is collated and placed into a handmade book, which they have also made themselves. This then serves as a permanent reminder and eye opener in some cases, of the positive aspects of their personalities, experiences and lives. In many cases things long forgotten have been remembered and recorded, bringing smiles to their faces and a very valuable insight into their personalities for friends and relatives. By working together these experiences are shared and spark off other positive thoughts from group members. The great thing about working in this way is that we all genuinely value each other's contributions and this in itself builds our self-confidence. The experience works organically, each positive aspect encouraging the growth of another.
Our workshops have replaced a number of therapeutic, relaxation sessions as members said the workshops fulfilled those roles and more! Shared experiences spark lots of laughter, which releases the right endorphins too!
By the way, some members of the group did not at first think they could actually write anything at all due to lack of writing skills, age and dyslexia. We proved that they all could of course - it was just a question of confidence!

For more information visit: www.windowsproject.demon.co.uk