‘Gold goggles’: The myopia of institutional transference

Abstract

This piece considers a myopia, which develops from professional identity and our relationships with institutions. Drawing from the experiences of facilitating a three day small experiential group at the 2016 Art Therapy Conference, I consider how ambivalence between institutional transference and training bias can lead to myopia, and I consider how this can be identified and be valued as part of a creative dialogue.

I played a small role in the conference organising committee - made up of the 12 person tutor group on the Goldsmith’s MA art psychotherapy. I am speaking as a new member of the staff team, who trained at Goldsmith’s and whose attendance at the last conference, in 2013, was as a delegate.