Jean Chopping
Project title: A heuristic inquiry into the experience of concealed stigmatised identity as a Christian art therapist.
Jean’s professional background is in counselling. Over the past several years, Jean has used an integrated person centered, strengths based and solution focused approach to counselling in the areas of grief, crisis intervention, and bereavement after suicide loss. Jean recognised through her work that “talk therapy” did not suit all clients, with many experiencing difficulty verbalising traumatic experiences, and/or identifying their feelings.
Jean is a self-taught artist, and through her own creative art making recognised that creating art enhanced her mood, and provided an overall sense of well-being both during and after art making. Jean had acquired an understanding that art therapy offers a non-threatening, non-verbal means for clients to explore their experiences. As such, she enrolled in the UQ Masters of Mental Health Art Therapy program, with the aspiration of becoming a qualified art therapist who is equipped with the skills to facilitate creative art making interventions in trauma recovery with future clients.
The motivation for doing heuristic research into the experience of concealed stigmatised identity as a Christian art therapist was based on Jean’s past personal and professional experiences, where identifying as a Christian had negatively transpired into social and workplace exclusion. Therefore, she had learned that the concealment of faith worked to avoid discrimination, being misjudged or excluded from peer connection. However, Jean’s authentic identity encompasses Christian Biblical faith-based beliefs, values and principles. Becoming fully authentic to self in the personal and professional environments that Jean lives and works in has become the central focus of importance for her.
As a first-time researcher, beginning the research process was challenging and there was an initial sense of overwhelm hidden behind a mask of confidence. Each artwork presented in this exhibition symbolises the personal experiences of joy, sadness, darkness and light, internal struggles, challenges and achievements. As the research progressed, identity, spirituality and faith became common themes in each artwork.
Water colour pencils & acrylic marker on paper
A4 (21cm x 29.7cm)
As a first-time researcher, my journey began with the unknown and a sense of overwhelm. The struggle was real, and it hid behind the mask.
Acrylic paint on canvas
46cm x 46cm thick edge canvas
Through the research process, I felt like I was drowning. With hard work and the copious amount of reading required, I was able to rise above and out of the sea of literature and breathe again.
Acrylic paint on canvas
40.6 x 50.8cm
The incubation phase of heuristic research process involves rest from intense focus, which allows for the inner working and intuition that continues to clarify and extend understanding outside of conscious awareness. Stop and smell the roses.
Mixed media on canvas
65cm x 30.5 cm
The research journey is difficult and seemed never ending. It took leaps of faith while seeking to understand meaning. The outcome is those lightbulb moments that brings it all together.
Mixed media on canvas
30.5cm x 40.6 cm
I am a woman, a Christian and an emerging art therapist. My personal self, my spiritual self and professional self are not separate identities. Faith forms a large part of my identity that will merge into the art therapist self.
Mixed media on canvas
30.5cm x 40.6 cm
Stereotyping and negative beliefs in Christianity leads one to conceal faith. Faith does not fit in a box, just as we know that one size does not fit all.
Mixed media on canvas board
30.5cm x 40.6 cm
It takes many parts to come together and create one whole. Within the containment of the mandala are the parts that are both the personal and professional self. Each part continues to grow throughout beyond this container.