Working with words: A heuristic study into the companionship of visual art-making and intuitive prose

This article delves into a heuristic research exploration through art-based inquiry examining the symbiotic relationship between art-making and writing, revealing profound insights into the author’s creative synthesis as a reflection of self. The study explored how the interplay between words and images might facilitate an enhanced art therapy experience, particularly relevant for trauma resolution. Outcomes suggest that using ‘intuitive prose’ writing, a method developed by the author, alongside expressive art-making appeared to foster recognition of the authentic self, integration of previously hidden emotions, connection with transpersonal awareness, the ability to re-enter art-making more seamlessly and an improved tolerance to a both/and mindset. Self-study gleaned three implications for practice: pairing art-making and writing deepens the noticing of unconscious emergent themes, prolongs the staying with and revisiting of emotional states, and supports the integration of meaning-making. Ethical approaches in further research and potential applications to therapeutic client work are noted.