Inspired by contributions that are coming in for the Art Therapy & Technology Time Capsule, this week takes a look at what art therapists dislike & enjoy about technology in their 2020 lives:

Dislikes

• Constant checking of email, social media and its impact on being truly present
• Lacking mindful use with intention & purpose
• Frustrating issues with connecting
• Cyberbullying
• Trolling
• Cost
• Concerns about the impact on mental health, especially for youth
• Impact on anxiety, depression, suicide?
• Feeling lost or immobilized without access to the Internet
• Reliance on the quality of wifi
• The time & energy it takes to learn, re-learn & navigate new technology or changes
• Disclosure anxiety, digital permanence, its impact, safety concerns
• Limited screen size/frames for interacting
• Beliefs that teletherapy is less effective
• Others that still do not understand how to use technology wisely
• Lack of means to make envisioned tools & ideas come to life

Likes

Applications & Digital Media:

• Available ways to create, especially via smartphones
• Augmented reality (AR)
• Virtual reality (VR)
• Immersive environments
• Taking photos of personal art & sharing this art on social media
• Saves time

Accessibility to:

• New ideas for self care, art therapy directives
• See clients or supervisees not able to physically come to their office/studio
• Support network
• Collaboration
• Professional training opportunities

Inspiration, Aspiration & Hopes:

• Technology’s potential
• Expanding possibilities
• Growth opportunities
• Innovation
• Possibilities and interest from clients

Connection with:

• Colleagues
• Art therapy information & resources
• Community
• People worldwide, near & far
• Hearing about other art therapists
• Seeing other people’s art
• Having conversations with other art therapists no matter where they live
• Communication across physical distances

At the beginning of this new year & decade, the idea of creating an art therapy & technology digital time capsule seemed like it would be a fun and collaborative project to invite current art therapists and future art therapists to participate in! This digital time capsule is an opportunity to document our relationship and activities with technology in 2020 as art therapists and re-visit the responses 10 years from now in 2030. Feel free to contribute your own response in the comments below. You can also connect to previous posts in this series here.