judy_weiser

<p>Without going into too many words, I'd like to simply answer you "YES, photography can be very therapeutic, as can also be simply viewing or discussing (or just remembering or imagining) photo images. Professionally, when photos are used by therapists trained on how to do this (called "PhotoTherapy") it can connect people with memories, feelings, attitudes, expectations, etc etc, that are very helpful in the therapy process when words alone are not sufficient to help. Used by people for their own self-insight, or to improve communication with others, the same sorts of techniques are called "Therapeutic Photography". <br /><br />More information about these can be found at: http://www.phototherapy-centre.com -- it's like a small book about all aspects of both fields -- have a look, and hopefully also enjoy the reading of what you find there! <br /><br />There's also a Facebook Group for those interested in sharing/discussing more about such topics:<br />"PhotoTherapy, Therapeutic Photography, Photo Art Therapy, and VideoTherapy", at:<br />https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhotoTherapy.and.Therapeutic.Photography<br /><br />Hope all this is useful/helpful to you and those who commented!!<br /><br />Judy Weiser, Director, PhotoTherapy Centre, Vancouver, Canada<br />jweiser@phototherapy-centre.com</p>

<p>Amy, I think you need to begin by clarifying the difference between the way Jo Spence used the word "phototherapy" and the way it is more commonly used throughout the world for a few decades now. <br /><br />Jo was a good friend of mine (she passed away in 1992) but after finding out the formal terminology, she began (in her later years) to call it either "therapeutic photography", camera-therapy" or "photographic therapy" (depending upon when you look). You can get all this verified by contcting her Archivist, Mr. Terry Dennett (email: Dennett@GMX.net).<br /><br />If you will go to this website (see ** below) you will be able to view the definitions (and explore the similarities/differences) of all these photo-based healing techniques and read a LOT more about Therapeutic Photography (which is where Jo's work is best situated).<br /><br />**"<em>PhotoTherapy Techniques in Counseling and Therapy</em>":<br />www.phototherapy-centre.com<br /><br />If you want to read more about the "why" of Jo's work, along with the what and how, please read her book "<em>Putting Myself in the Picture: A Political, Personal, and Photographic Autobiography</em>", which chronicles her important work from its very beginning.<br /><br />To learn more about all of these things, please see the various pages of the above-mentioned website and also consider reading the book "<em>PhotoTherapy Techniques: Exploring the Secrets of Personal Snapshots and Family Albums</em>", now in 3rd printing; more information on the same website...<br /><br />ALSO, since you are in the UK, please see this website run by Mark Wheeler, a British Registered Art Psychotherapist working in a Child & Family Therapy Clinic... He was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society for his work examining the psychological dimensions of making and viewing photographs:<br />>Hope all this helps you get you off to a good start! ;-)<br /><br />Judy Weiser, R.Psych., A.T.R., <br />Founder/Director of the PhotoTherapy Centre in Vancouver Canada</p>