Mock Client Sam: 6: Significant Loss & at Age 75

Draw a picture of a significant loss you have experienced

SAM: A significant loss is the respect I used to see in my son's eyes.   I used to feel like the sun up in the sky when he looked at me.  Now all I see is disappointment.

Draw a picture of yourself at 75 years old.  Where are you?  Who are you with, what are you doing?  Are you able, disabled?

SAM: When I try to picture myself at 75 I just draw a blank.  Here are my worst-case best-case scenarios.

Worst case: I am in the graveyard, cold and alone, dead.  Nobody visits my grave.

Best case: I am well, the cancer is in full remission.  My wife has forgiven my past indiscretions.  We live a quiet, happy, and healthy life together.  Our son is also happy, forgives me, has a family of his own; they visit us regularly for family dinners. 

Personal Art Therapy: Health / Medical: 1

4/11/2012 Created in response to doctor appointment that went completely off-course.  Appointment was with Endocrinologist- wound up having an ECG and meeting with Cardiologist.  Returning again next week for echocardiogram and to have some halter put on to monitor my heart rate for 24 hrs.  

4/12/2014 Very aware of my heart....wondering if I'm being a drama queen or in denial.

Mock Client Sam: 5: Hardest Thing & Non-dominant Hand

What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

SAM: The hardest thing I have ever had to do was tell my wife I had betrayed her and our marriage.  I felt like I was nothing, like I was garbage that should just be thrown away.  I wanted to just jump into a hole and die.

Using non-dominant hand, draw a happy memory

Sam- I have happy memories of a fishing and camping trip with my wife and son when he was a teenager; it was one of those rare trips where everything just goes right.  Great weather, beautiful setting, the fish were biting, and we all just got along peacefully.  It was one of the few times where we could all just be together and not fight or argue. 

Personal Art Therapy: Friend / Enemy

Name your enemies, the things that prevent you from being your best

Name your friends, the things that bring out your best

Mock Client Sam: 4: Positive Childhood Memory & Moving Away

Depict a positive childhood memory

SAM: My earliest positive childhood memories are of hanging out at my Grandparent's house in the country.  Grandma was so sweet and cooked the best food.  Grandpa and I would have a fire at night and roast marshmallows and just hang out quietly.

Depict how you would feel about moving away from your family and friends.

SAM: If I think about moving away from here and from everyone, to be honest, my feeling is relieved. I've made such a mess of things here. I know it's just a fantasy. Thinking I could start over; away from my cancer and my disappointed family, but it's a very tempting fantasy nonetheless.

Materials & Media Art Response: Self Image

This piece was created for a Clinical Art Therapy unit examining the strengths and weaknesses of various media when working with different populations in art therapy.  We were directed to create a self-image, post the image to our discussion board, and explain why we chose the particular media we worked with.

Media used for this piece: graphite pencil, watercolor, acrylic, stick pastel, pastel pencil, liquid ink with quill pen.  I tried to keep this piece "loose" and cheerful.  We are in depths of a horrible winter, and things are grim; right now the mode is survive rather than thrive.  I wanted to create a piece that touched the joy somewhere inside of me, hidden away from all this cold and illness.

I enjoy starting pieces on paper by taping them down, it's become a ritual for me that puts me in my "art space" mentally, even though I am still at home physically.  In this instance, I worked on soaked water color paper, so the taping part also prevented buckling as the paper dried.  I started with a loose sketch, the worked wet-on-wet watercolor trying to keep things loose and relaxed.  When the watercolor dried, I glazed over the image with acrylics, then added some loose stick pastel for additional texture.  I tried to keep the fine detail work with the pastel pencil and ink to a minimum.

Mock Client Sam: 3: Greatest Accomplishment & Animal Family

What is your greatest accomplishment?

SAM: My greatest accomplishment has been earning respect and a living as a professional sculptor, which is NOT an easy thing to do.   I provided for my family; my wife got to stay home and raise our son.  Sometimes I wish they would give me a little credit for that.  I probably should have been more focused on being a husband and father, but it is what it is.  I cannot undo the past.

Create a collage depicting your family as animals

SAM: My family is from the canine group, we may fight to protect you or be loud and dangerous.  I am the lone wolf, watching and protecting, but not always 100% there.  My wife, tireless foundation of our family, is an Australian Shepherd.  Our son, (in our hearts he’ll always be a pup) is a Pit Bull; fiercely loyal and stubborn.  Our home is a lovely mountain, recently damaged by fire.