Abstract

My project demonstrating excellence presents a clinical philosophy-art-clinical philosophy continuum, which inspires, illustrates, and evaluates our lives. This thesis is a phenomenological approach and an artistic process to illustrate the value and meaning of this continuum and to investigate the universal issues and basic essences of human existence through my experiences. ;Clinical philosophy gives structure, meaning, and organization to examine those basic issues which often stand between people and their creativity; art expresses the experience of the philosophic truth of the person at the time of the art experience. The phenomenological model of being helps to clarify the polarity of the artist to the art work . ;Art therapy is a creative process which allows the expression and fusion of inner and outer realities. It is a method that may be used to clarify and bring to awareness how the individual creates her life conditions and how she may better understand her thoughts, feelings, and actions. She is better able to see patterns she has created in her life and how her inner explanations partially determine the outer events that happen to her. ;The exploration of deep structures using art is the action part of clinical philosophy. Exploring art and using deep structures is what allows the artist to become in touch with her nature as a human being and with her anxieties. ;A philosophically oriented counselor provides an atmosphere where the client can create freely and work with the basic issues which will turn his or her life into a meaningful existence. This is the healing process and the therapeutic process of both art and clinical philosophy