The therapist’s view
Simone Crowley is a certified counsellor who is a passionate believer in the therapeutic benefits of photography
AP What are the biggest ways in which photography can help people with mental health issues, particularly those with depression and anxiety disorders?
SC Photography makes us stop and observe for that period of time – being present in that current moment. The encouragement to focus on the here and now is facilitating mindfulness, which can be successful in stress and anxiety reduction. Photographs can also be a way of communicating. Sometimes it is difficult to verbalise or even find the words to represent how we feel. Traditional talking therapy may not be something someone with mental health issues feels able to engage with. Photographs can be a means of showing our internal world. Through exploration in a therapy session, photographs can be used to reflect on emotional wellbeing.
AP Do you recommend photography to clients who have not done much before, or does it tend to work best for those who are already interested in photography anyway?
SC I have worked with clients that have no previous interest in photography through to professional photographers. Each client will use the tool in a way that is comfortable to them. The therapeutic nature is in the meaning of the image to the individual and the feelings that are evoked while taking the picture.
AP Is there a risk that clients will turn photography into another stick to beat themselves with, when they start having thoughts such as ‘I’m not good enough’, ‘I never win competitions’, and so on?
SC Like all arts, photography is subjective, so what appeals to and connects with one person may have no inspiration or value to another. I [tend to] focus away from the end result back to the here and now, and what the image means and represents to the client. It is not about the technique or quality. I am not creative at all, but have found it a very useful tool to help me reflect on my emotions for awareness.
AP Do you think the benefit is about people expressing their feelings, or is it as much about the experience of being out in the fresh air with your camera and thinking about how to take a good picture?
SC I feel there is value in being outside and away from the hectic world. Many of us live in a fast-paced society where the phone is always with us, the emails [keep] coming through and social media [is only] a click away. To be able to spend some time just being is often a huge benefit. In that moment you can just be you. Not be an employee or employer, a partner or parent.
Being outside and taking exercise – walking to a location – releases chemicals in your brain that help towards making you feel good. This can also help with sleep, which is often an issue when individuals are having difficulties with their emotional well-being. To then be able to focus on the felt sense and create something that is representative to the moment and to express ourselves is a further benefit. In a therapeutic relationship, we would then explore this image to explore feelings, working towards adjustment. Talking about your feelings, being heard can help you understand, feel less alone and supported. Thinking about settings and technique for those who have an interest in photography, again, could be a positive [thing]. Enjoying yourself can help with stress and can also stop you from focusing on worries for a while and effect positive changes in your mood.
AP Any other insights?
SC Photography allows people to express feelings on any subject through creative work rather than with speech. I have found it particularly helpful for those who feel out of touch with their feelings or when a person is having trouble discussing or remembering painful experiences. The creative part of our brain is different from that which we use when talking. It allows us to access protected and subconscious parts of ourselves, which are often where the psychological distress is originating from. So the power of the whole process of photography should not be underestimated.