I came across this video on YouTube and wanted to share it as it resonated. It has been made by a photographer, Rick Bebbington, and he talks about using photography (and other methods) to help make sense of who you are…lots of connections to what we do in therapeutic photography.
Del Loewenthal has an new book out about his experience of using therapeutic photography and phototherapy. In this article, Betty Romani offers a very positive review of this publication.
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/JTD2JHS4PAADSQQVFF8N/full?target=10.1080/13642537.2023.2278990
and the book can be ordered on Amazon here:
This short article summarises the experience of presenting a workshop at a medical humanities conference in Aberdeen in June 2023.
In July 2023 six graduates visited Aberdeen to collect their Post Graduate Certificates in Therapeutic Photography from Robert Gordon University. From left to right: Adrian Flint, Neil Gibson, Jean Philippe Gauvrit, Maria Chalari, Vangelis Kalos and Rebecca Rowan. They are amongst 16 students who completed the course which is the first of its kind in the world.
Here’s a recording of the Community Seminar series podcast where Dr David Smith interviews Dr Neil Gibson on Therapeutic Photography…and check out the Video/Media section of the website for more recordings.
Therapeutic photography is the practice of using photography in order to explore issues and reach defined outcomes with people who use services. It has been deemed to be an accessible tool which can have a positive impact on self-esteem, self-efficacy and empowerment. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, this research analyses observations and focus group feedback from a group of participants receiving support from a third-sector organisation for mental health issues. Specifically, the data were analysed to look at how a therapeutic photography programme contributed to group dynamics, exploration and outcomes. Three inter-related super-ordinate themes were identified, these being (1) exposing the self; (2) searching; and (3) developing the self. These themes centred around the identity of the participants as they explored their photographs and associated narratives. The results suggest that the medium of photography contributes to enhanced self-disclosure and social bonding through the familiarity of engaging with photographs. The photographs also enable participants to feel in control of the information shared, facilitating the level of exploration and personal learning around identity and roles and could be beneficial in social work with groups where these outcomes are sought.
To read the full article, follow the link below:
Rebecca Rowan, founder of Mindful Photography UK, explores how wild places, wellbeing and photography come together to create moments of connection for World Photography Day in this article published on the johnmuirtrust.org site.
This beautiful short film was made by a French student called Bondil Fabien who I met in Finland. He attended one of my workshops on Therapeutic Photography and has incorporated some of what he learned in the video…enjoy!
On Friday 26th April 2024 Ruth Davey and Neil Gibson will host the 2nd International Therapeutic Photography Symposium. This will be held online and recorded for anyone who cannot attend in real time. Tickets will be available from December 2023 (Free).
This years theme will be “Phenomenological Photography – focusing on you to develop the self”
We are now inviting submissions for presentations. We have had some excellent submissions so far so this promises to be an eclectic and interesting mix of presentations. If you would like to give a 10 minute presentation at the symposium on a project you are working on, a technique you have used to good effect, or you just want to share good practice, then please submit a very short proposal (no more than 200 words) outlining your presentation idea. Every proposal will be considered, and we are really looking for variety, so please use this opportunity to celebrate the diverse approaches that these techniques encourage. Proposals should be e mailed to Neil Gibson at n.gibson@rgu.ac.uk by the end of November 2023.
We will inform successful applicants in due course and the expectation would be that presenters would pre-record their submissions for playing at the symposium, and be present at the event to answer questions for the live audience.
We look forward to hearing from any eager presenters, and are happy to answer any questions via e mail (n.gibson@rgu.ac.uk) and support you through the process.
Therapeutic Photography 