Diane Hovey, PhD, LAMFT, CPT

PhotoTherapy & the use of PhotoTherapy Cards

1st Session (1:45 to 3:15)• What is PhotoTherapy – and what are phototherapy

cards?• Theoretical basis• Why the need• How they are used

2nd Session (3:30 to 5:00)• Hands on – practice using the phototherapy cards• Alternative uses• Participation required!

Workshop Overview

PhotoTherapy techniques  are therapy practices that use people's personal snapshots, family albums, and pictures taken by others (and the feelings, thoughts, memories, and associations these photos evoke) as catalysts to deepen insight and enhance communication during their therapy or counseling  sessions (conducted by trained mental health professionals), in ways not possible using words alone.

Judy Weiser -- www.phototherapy-centre.com

PhotoTherapy Techniques

Visual Anthropology/SociologyVideo TherapyPhotographic and Cultural StudiesPhoto Art TherapyTherapeutic Photography

Fields of Study Related to PhotoTherapy

Presentations – conveying lived experience to those without similar outside

Group therapy & workshops

Research

Individual, family & couple therapy development of PhotoTherapy Cards

Use of PhotoTherapy

What is a child’s life enmeshed in a service

delivery systemfocused on body parts?

Therapies, braces, equipment, medications, medical appointments,educational needs and

personal cares – prescribed by professionals –

appropriated by gate keepers.

But the child -- where is the focus on my child?

A healthy child needs to be part of a communitythat can celebrate with her

and for her.

Group Therapy – Writing the Rollercoaster

Workshop – Illuminating the Fog

Research – meanings of living with disability or chronic illness

I have to smile when I look in our “snack” cupboard. I spend time looking for the highest fat content on each box and bag of snacks I buy. The higher the better. How different from the way my friends think . . . . than the rest of America.

Why Cards? – when the other techniques are so rich

Ease of useCan use when needed without prepCan be used when in a pinch to change dynamics, get out of a

rutBased on research – offers possibilities (ideas & feelings) that

may not otherwise be exploredOffers a new language for expressing feelingsA convenient tool for engaging clients in reflective thinking and

expression of thoughts and feelings typically difficult to express

PhotoTherapy Cards

PhotoTherapy Cards:Development & Theoretical Foundation

Idea for the PhotoTherapy Cards stemmed from the uses already mentioned – communicating lived experience, meanings research and use in workshops and group therapy.

The selection of the specific images are based on: ongoing collection of data

What is it like to live with an ongoing health condition?List five words . . . _________________

Stress and family systems theories Meanings research

Boss Contextual Model of Family Stress

MEANINGSsituational

family identityworld view

-

DEMANDSstressorsstrains

daily hassles

CAPABILITIES resources

coping behaviors

FAMILY ADAPTATION- +

MEANINGSsituational

family identityworld view

-

-

+

FAMILY ADJUSTMENT

CAPABILITIES resources

coping behaviors DEMANDS

stressorsstrains

daily hasslesAdju

stm

ent P

hase

Adap

tatio

n Ph

ase

crisiscrisis

CRISIS

The Family AdjustmentandAdaptationResponse(FAAR)Model

What is your primary concern or worry related to the current issue? Worried about the effect we will have on the children whether we stay together or split apart. I don’t want to walk on eggshells anymore.

 List five words that describe your thoughts and feelings related to your primary concern?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Intake Information - excerpt

WorriedTiredNumbIndifferentuncertain

Five Wordsafraid/scared angry/mad appreciation betrayed/cheatedblah/bored blessed

appreciationbrave bummed

depressed, disappointed

burden(physical or financial)

care challengeddifficult, struggle

confused/ puzzledcomplicated, uncertain

chaos curious cursed determined/strongeager enlightened

educated, fascinatedexhausted excited - fun

gifts, new people

gratefulthankful, rewarded

grumpy happy/gladjoyful

hassleddemands

helpless hopeful humbled hurtinspired jealous lonely lovemiserable numb optimistic odd /out of kilter

time altered

pain protected proud overwhelmedout of control

resigned restless resentful ridiculous/sillysad spirited stressed shockedtiredsleepy

tortured unique uncomfortablevulnerable weird wizened worried

concerned, nervous

Assist in moving beyond language bound barriers

Opens a new way to convey experience WITHOUT the preconceived notion that the therapist and the youth are speaking the same language

Actively engages individual in discovery process

Individual feels better understood and more engaged in their own healing process

Photo Therapy Cards

express complex feelingstalk about guarded thoughtsthink multi-dimensionally get out of a rut or move beyond a plateaurecognize salient aspects of an issue not previously

seengive a tangible way to express feelings unpack multi-level meanings that impact livesinterweave contradictory thoughts and feelingsmake the chaos of emotions more comprehensible

The PhotoTherapy CardsTM help make it possible to:

Consider an issue or concern that is currently on your mind.Family challenge (child or partner’s ongoing illness)Work demands (to move office or not)Client issue (do the needs of the demanding client reflect my

own needs)Personal reflection (am I doing the work I need to be doing?)

Select one of several of the images and use them to reflect on your current concern.Jot downs thoughts

Sample Exercise

Sorting & narrowing the selection

Discussing the selectionTell me about your selection.

Do not assert your personal interpretations

Build discussion based on client’s comments

Photo Therapy Card Selection

There are no right or wrong selections

A good selection is one that honestly reflects ones current thoughts and feelings

The therapist should not make assumptions about the selections

Using the Photo Therapy Cards

Weathering Your MarriageOn-line quiz

Weathering Your Relationship

http://aheartt.limequery.com/26761/lang-en

www.aheartt.com

On-line quiz

Weathering Your Relationship

http://aheartt.limequery.com/26761/lang-en

www.aheartt.com

Weathering Your Marriage