Thursday, April 21, 2022

Book EXcerpt/Giveaway - The Art of Self-Supervision by Laurie Ponsford-Hill

The Art of Self-Supervision

Studying the link between self-reflection and self-care

by Laurie Ponsford-Hill

 

 

GENRE: Self-help, Non-fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

At last, the field of relational therapy has a technique for the art of self-supervision. Everyone agrees that supervision is essential, however the ultimate goal of supervision is to provide a tool beyond supervision for self-supervision. This book captures the primary ingredients of self-supervision and proves the link between self-reflection and self-care. No matter where you are on your journey as a professional, The Art of Self-Supervision: Studying the link between self-reflection and self-care will lead you to a process to tune into your own expert guidance and a greater capacity to help yourself.

 

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EXCERPTS:

This section offers an overview of the previous research using self-portraits as a method, and the different elements that comprise the self-portrait.

 

Recent literature reveals an increasing amount of evidence concerning art therapy research. Allen (1992), Brown (2008), and B. L. Moon (1997) discuss the strengths and stressors of art therapists, and Glaister (1996), Hanes (2007), and Smith (2008) suggest the usefulness of self-portraiture in helping clients connect with past and present aspects of themselves. Bryce-Smith (1992) offers an historical view of the self-portrait in western culture. Chilvers (2003), Platzman (2001), and Schilkraut (1999) suggest that the self-portrait offers the opportunity to: heighten self-awareness; construct identity; and discover different aspects of self. Carr and Hancock (2016) explored the role portrait therapy plays in helping people living with life-threatening and chronic illnesses to explore and heal childhood trauma. Carr (2015) explored resolving self-identity disruption using portrait therapy as an art therapy intervention in her doctoral dissertation and book Portrait Therapy (2017) on the subject. Becerra (2018) studied the emotional and physiological impact of creating self-portraits using mandalas and human figure drawings and found that the process of drawing generally reduced state anxiety and pulse rate.

Kenworthy (1995) suggests that the act of creating the self-portrait and reflecting on the image are an expression of self; revealing internal and external hidden entities and interrelatedness. Morin, Pradat-Diehl, Robain, Bensalah, and Perrigot (2003) examine the physical body of the self-portrait indicating that erect self-portraits with the absence of facial features, lack of clothes, and/or hands could indicate a sudden handicap such as a brain lesion or speech disorder. Backos (1997) studies the use of self-portraits with rape survivors, and finds self-portraits are an effective modality for improving body image. Further, several articles have been written concerning the use of the self-portrait with health conditions, such as: chemotherapy (Koufer, Arbel, & Barak, 2004); head and neck cancer (Gilbert, Lydiatt, Aita, Robbins, McNeilly, & Desmarais, 2016); transitioning in motherhood (Scotti, 2016); narcissism (Thompson, 2013); personality disorder (Thorne, 2016); stroke (Morin et al., 2003); and memory dysfunction (Hendrixson, 1986). The general conclusion of these studies is that the self-portrait provides deep insight into self-image, physical and emotional issues that were previously hidden or difficult to express verbally.

Several studies (Craddick, 1963; Nasinovskaya, 2008; Welkener & Magolda, 2014) have been conducted with students engaged in the creation of a self-portrait. For example, Welkener and Magolda (2014) conducted a study using self-portraits, free writing and interviews to identify student’s meaning-making, self, relationships and knowledge. The authors surmise that “Perhaps it is the element of freedom afforded students in the self-portrait creation process that enables deep insight into their developmental journeys” (p. 580) and suggest that additional research is needed.

 

 


 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Like many therapists, Laurie Ponsford-Hill began as a newly graduated therapist feeling like she could provide her services all day, every day. She realized at a certain point in her career that this was simply not true, and this fueled her determination to understand everything about the need to maintain balance in her life.

Laurie earned a Master of Divinity degree, and directed her work towards pastoral care, later earning a Master of Counselling Psychology degree and furthering her Registrations to that of Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist, Social Worker, and Art Therapist. Her career led her to a greater understanding about herself and her relationships. Laurie continued to broaden her education and went on to complete a doctoral program in Human Relationships at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

 

Laurie feels fortunate to have attained balance in her work and home life and empathizes with many others engaged in their own personal struggles to attain balance. She has dedicated her career towards helping others on that journey, designing the Self-Supervision program, which was meticulously tested in this clinical research study. The Art of Self-Supervision: Studying the link between self-supervision and self-care chronicles the remarkable findings of this study: that professionals can overcome burnout and improve their health and life balance by focusing on their self-portrait.

Laurie is currently the Clinical Director and Supervisor at The Counselling House, in both London and Woodstock, Ontario, an agency that focuses on the supervision of counselling interns and newly graduated therapists, and their development of self-supervision. Laurie maintains a private consulting practice specializing in the development of maintaining healthy relationships with self, work, home, others, God, and the world.

 

Connect with Laurie Ponsford-Hill

 

WEBSITE http://www.thecounsellinghouse.ca/

 

GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18861141.Laurie_Ponsford_Hill

 

Get your copy of The Art of Self-Supervision                       

 

AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228806283

 

AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228806283

 

INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-art-of-self-supervision/9780228806301-item.html

 

BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-self-supervision-laurie-ponsford-hill/1130528139

 

BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Art-of-Self-Supervision-Laurie-Ponsford-Hill/9780228806288

 


Laurie Ponsford-Hill will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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