Drew Bird

The workshop will introduce a/r/tography, a practitioner led research methodology, that offers a fluid orientation to understanding our shifting identities as artists, researchers and dramatherapists (Leblanc, Davidson, Rhu and Irwin, 2015). The philosophical position of a/r/tography is that knowledge is not static but dynamic and created in relation to self and others. An evolving identity is dependent on our creating new narratives and wisdom from our past memories and experiences, so that they are culturally appropriated into present day relationships. We need to keep re-authoring new narratives about our identities and memories that empower us to find new relationships with the artist, researcher and therapist (White and Epstein, 1990) so we remain receptive to the co-creative encounter within the therapeutic alliance. Engaging with our art form as dramatherapists facilitates emotional health, but failure to develop ourselves as artists can result in losing our soul and becoming stagnant (Allen, 1992). McNiff (1989) argues that the effectiveness of our practice as arts therapists is dependent on the relationship with our art form. The workshop will explore our unique epistemology of the imagination using play, dramatic improvisation and storytelling in order to develop our special intelligence as dramatherapists (McNiff, 1998). Using a living inquiry, participants will develop a deeper understanding of themselves as artists and therapists and the importance of a non-dualistic orientation so we can more fully attune to our clients.