Therapeutic Photography
“Therapeutic photography is the name for photo-based activities that are self-initiated and conducted by oneself or as part of an organized group or project, but where no formal therapy is taking place, no therapist or counselor needs to be involved.”
- Judy Weiser, pioneer of the therapeutic photography
We all use photography for a therapeutic reason, consciously or not. Outspread of the need to visually represent ideas is visible in the popularity of digital social media. Photography fosters dialogue, understanding, connection, and the sense of the self. When used with awareness, intentionally and programmed, it can reduce stress, increase motivation and creativity, and improve confidence, self-efficacy, and resistance. Through photography, we can explore self-image and relationships, express emotions, beliefs, and attitudes, and enhance communication.
The ability of photography to elicit hidden premises of our conscious beings originates from the times when we didn’t have words to express what we experienced. The sight was a dominant sense of the world around us, and images were the prevailing bridge between the inner and outer Universe. They were and still are a matter of our intimacy.
For our clients, we create different programs for reviewing diverse aspects of contemporary living and one’s position in one’s own life. The conscious exploration of buried and active emotions through photographic tasks, guided and freestyle reflections, and sharing experiences within the group make this program therapeutical at the core.
