JELLYFISH
Imagine you are a jellyfish (if you are now instead picturing Marissa Tomei saying “deer”, you are my people).
You are a graceful, transparent entity that can exist in a deep, high pressure place. You can change your form and float and surrender to the tide. You are a captivating, ambiguous figure that can sting at the same time you are dancing. You can be a light in the darkest places. Your whole being is symbolic of quiet instinct. These characteristics and this instinct makes you accepting and faithful. You are a magnificent creature.
I ask you to imagine being a jellyfish because what a jellyfish embodies is quite similar to what we ask of people that are seeking mental health treatment. I am not saying dive down deep into the depths of the ocean immediately. I am not saying to live a salty life with no backbone. And I am definitely not saying you should go out and sting someone in the leg and then laugh from a distance as they ask their friend to pee on them. What I am saying is:
Jellyfish explore their surroundings.
Therapy allows us to look into the depths of ourselves. We are not here to tell you what you should be feeling, or how you should handle yourself. We are here to offer a light onto other areas of yourself that you may not be looking at. We are here to swim with you and guide you through the murky parts. Whether it is through conversation, art making, music, dance or brain-based exercises, it is possible for deep rooted feelings (such as fear, guilt, anger and shame) to be examined. A benefit specific to creative arts therapy is allowing yourself the chance to create something in your own image. When we use a creative project and/or process to communicate difficult topics, our brains are able to face the issue in a safer, more manageable manner. Symbolism and metaphor (such as imagining yourself as a jellyfish) can be used in songs, artwork and body movements. Symbolism is our mind’s built-in defense mechanism that allows us to shoulder our anxieties. With the arts, we can represent our current environments and then create new ones.
Jellyfish trust the process.
If the journey to a new place were easy, we’d all already be there. Starting counseling or therapy brings up a lot of thoughts and emotions. Throughout your mental health treatment, we follow a treatment plan that we design together based on your struggles, needs and wants. There will be difficult days. Sometimes the old saying of “it has to get worse before it gets better” is true. If a jellyfish wants to move into new waters, they have to go through some strong currents. Even while feeling uncomfortable, the jellyfish surrenders to the water. They are able to let go and have faith that the actions they are taking are worth it.
JELLYFISH ARE DEFENSIVE (and protective).
If you have ever been stung by a jellyfish (or have seen Finding Nemo), you probably never forgot this. The reality is, their sting serves as both a defense mechanism and to capture prey. Therefore, this characteristic represents mental health treatment for two reasons:
We are hard-wired for resilience. Our brains and skeletons are structured to protect ourselves from harm. We have our own instincts that take the wheel in times of danger. However, sometimes you may “sting” someone in self-defense when it is not necessary; the person you stung may even have been trying to help you. We work to recognize these instances and develop alternative methods of defense and communication.
Hurt people hurt people. You may act as a predator sometimes. If humans are feeling threatened and/or living in a consistent state of danger, trauma or fear, it is much more likely that they will lash out at others. This is particularly the case with people who observe this type of behavior throughout their life. Breaking negative cycles (such as addiction, abuse, etc.) can start with you.
Either way, living a life constantly defending yourself or attacking someone else is exhausting and isolating. Getting help often results in decreasing these behaviors and trauma reactions. However, it requires hard work, honesty and trust. The first priority of any service should be safety. In settings where we feel safe, we can then dedicate attention to our struggles. Often this involves identifying the defenses we have either consciously or unconsciously put in place. This is yet another reason why the creative arts is successful in mental health treatment: creative processes help us to relax so that we may lower our defenses and be vulnerable.
A little note
Therapists are also jellyfish. We make noise and move our bodies and make patterns in the water too. We simply are jellyfish that have trained and specialized our mental health practices. We are jellyfish dedicated to helping other jellyfish realize how great it is to be jellyfish.
“I wish for a heart you can see straight through,
For a voice that glows in the dark
And a few really good friends to skip moon rocks to.”
AUTHOR: Lindsay Reynolds, MA, LCAT-P. For visual examples on how creative arts therapy are used for mental health treatment and self-care, visit www.sayreynoldsdesign.com.