Collaging through chronic illness
Living with chronic illness is often such an isolating, overwhelming, and confusing experience! Our bodies moving in and out of different sensations and levels of ‘ability.’ Our sense of self, our passions, and dreams constantly in flux while we are trying to learn how to decode our bodies needs in present time. Feelings of guilt and shame might show up in our relational dynamics. The nonlinear swirls of grief, the constant protocols, the practices of radical acceptance, and the desires and yearnings that continue to fight for space within our hearts, our muscles, and bones all swirling around us.
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When I began exploring thesis topics for my Master’s program, it didn’t surprise me that the felt experience of chaos was calling out to me. I realized just how much of my life was influenced and inspired by my own relationship with chaos.
I share this because navigating chronic illness can be like navigating chaos.
So without getting too metaphysical on y’all ;) Ill just share that I see chaos as having two different types of embodied experiences:
On the one hand our experiences of chaos might feel overwhelming, isolating, and fragmenting.
In other moments, chaos can feel spontaneous, playful, and move us towards interconnectedness.
What separates the two is the way in which we are able to move with the felt sense of chaos and lean on the structures and resources that support us through it. When we are able to find an ‘anchor’ to ground us within chaos, we are able to harness its powers and gifts. We can embody new narratives and belief systems. We re-define who we are from a place of empowerment and agency. We play and explore, expanding our capacity for flexibility, curiosity, and creativity. We give our creative selves permission to express themselves fully. One of the ways that I have been able to find stability and 'anchoring' in overwhelming moments of transition and frightening unknowns is through the practice of collaging.
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Multi-media collage is a powerful art therapy intervention known for its accessibility, affordability, and non-threatening medium for people who may also struggle to see themselves as creative (Babla, 2020). The natural fragmented nature of the collaging process is one that uses different pieces of material to create something new, which creates a powerful access point to working with trauma (Babla, 2020; Chilton & Scotti, 2014; Tripp et al., 2019). It is an opportunity to transform what may be disconnected scattered pieces of oneself into an integrated and cohesive sense of self.
Furthermore, the process of collaging itself is deeply somatic and invites the person who is collaging into their parasympathetic nervous system (Babla, 2020). Collage may serve as a powerful resource to remind people with chronic illnesses of different forms of embodied knowing, which can increase inner agency, self-exploration, and resilience. Collaging can also support emotional regulation that in turn allows people access to deeper parts of their subconscious experience (Chilton & Scotti, 2014).
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In other words, collaging is not only a fun way to connect with yourself. It also is an incredible medium to explore and integrate scattered parts of your Self (the 'who the fuck am I' moments,' the 'omg I dont know what I'm doing' overwhelm and/or the 'what makes me happy' thoughts). It is also deeply somatic, and a powerful healer of attachment wounding and traumatic experience.
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Collaging allows us to meet us where we are and be with the unknown inherent in the creative process. It acts as a *portal* into our embodied sub-conscious, taking the pressure away from needing to ‘find the right words’ and instead allowing us to begin with visuals. Creating space for our body to guide us to hidden messages, desires, longings, and unprocessed emotions that want to be told. No previous background experience in the arts is needed! Just you, some simple materials (old magazines, papers, recycling, leaves, etc.), and an open heart!
Below is a list of potential materials that I often share with clients :)
MATERIALS (lists are suggestions):
Paper options:
- newspaper
- old used books, journals, planners
- white copy paper
- mixed media paper or any art paper
- colored paper
- origami paper
- wrapping paper
- index cards
Text / Imagery options:
- newspaper
- magazines
- catalogues
- print outs from online (if there are digital pictures you would like printed out to use...Unsplash and Pinterest are great sources as well as your own photographs ;))
- old photograph duplicates
Misc options:
- buttons, thread,
- recycling packaging
- leaves, flowers, twigs, feathers, shells,
- brown paper bags
- glitter
- pastels
- markers
- crayons
- sharpie
- watercolors
- truly ANYTHING that calls to you, and that might be glue/tape-able...play and explore here ;)
Cutting / Adhering Tools:
- Scissors
- tape
- Exacto-Knife (if using exacto-knife make sure you have a cutting board or thick magazine under to protect surfaces and make sure to cut away from your body)
- Glue or Glue sticks (less messy than glue).
***You do not NEED to have glue to begin collaging. You can always cut out your images and assemble to glue together at a later point...I sometimes even recommend it as it gives you time to add / layer collage in between sessions.
References:
Babla, A. (2020, May 29). Putting the pieces together: Collage as a mode in the treatment of trauma. Collage Research Network. https://collageresearchnetwork.wordpress.com/2020/05/29/putting-the-pieces-together-collage-as-a-mode-in-the-treatment-of-trauma/
Chilton, G., & Scotti, V. (2014). Snipping, gluing, writing: The practices of collage as an arts-based research practice in art therapy. Art therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 31(4), 163-171. DOI: 10.1080/07421656.2015.963484
Tripp, T., Potash, J. S., & Brancheau, D. (2019) Safe place collage protocol: Art making for managing traumatic stress, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 20:5, 511-525, DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2019.1597813.
