Starting with Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT)

This week, I’m attending a 4-day intensive course on Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT). It’s basically a foundation course on this modality, which was introduced and developed by New Zealander Russell Withers in the early 90s. Withers, apparently was an architect by training who ended up doing counselling work. Hence, he started using diagrams and drawings in his work. This practice then became the beginnings of Interactive Drawing Therapy.

Although IDT has an official web site and has some search returns on Google, it doesn’t have an extensive online profile. And, I can’t find anything much on Mr Withers.

Anyway, when I first heard about IDT, I became immediately attracted to it because of my interest in art. In fact, once upon a time, I even considered taking up art therapy to compliment my practice in psychology. However, I realised that I couldn’t spare another 2+ years to study, just to take on art therapy merely as a modality of my practice. So, I simply learned as much as I can about art and expressive therapies in my own time (buying books, reading information, etc.).

Well today, I started with the first session of this foundation course on Interactive Drawing Therapy. And, so far, so good. Day One was jam packed with background information, interspersed with some “practice counselling work” (with an equal chance of being the client too). As a practitioner, I find these types of workshops helpful and energising. I’m hoping that I’ll learn more in Days 2 to 4. As it stands, while I don’t think I’d be working strictly in this modality (I tend to use “the best of” several modalities), I’m already looking forward to see how I can incorporate IDT in my practice.

Will try to post an update as soon as I’m able.

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