December 8, 2010

Presenters: Lisa Mersky, LCSW, CGP and Mandy Blott, PhD

Topic: 'Expanding: The Parallel Process
Between Personal and Clinical Creativity'

 One of the pathways to creativity in our work as psychotherapists is through creativity in our own personal lives.  In this presentation we will offer definitions of creativity as they apply to enhancing clinical work.  Through synthesizing theoretical, clinical, and personal material, we will offer suggestions to guide participants in pursuing their own creativity.

Lisa Mersky, LCSW, CGP has been in private practice in Austin since 1985, treating individuals, couples and groups.  She also leads weekend workshops to help a wide variety of people connect with their innate creativity. A founding member of the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society, she has served on the board twice, and created their newsletter, The Voice. Her recent clinical interests are focused on the intersection between authenticity, spirituality, and creativity.   Over the past 5 years, she has deepened her commitment to exploring her own creativity through collage, painting, and photography.  This has led to her interest in working with her patients to learn to access their own creativity in how to approach daily life and the challenge of making meaning.
 
Mandy Blott, PsyD launched her private practice in 2009, where she provides interpersonally-oriented individual, couples, and group psychotherapy.  She also offers emotional support services for clients struggling with infertility and pregnancy loss.  Mandy has presented at the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, the Association for Women in Psychology, and the Society for Phenomenology and Human Science.  Her presentations often include a practical focus, exploring topics such as bridging the research-practice gap, innovative approaches to teaching, making use of collaborative assessment, and managing existential conflicts.  In her personal creative work, Mandy enjoys making painstakingly detailed paintings, as well as spontaneous, messy, abstract art.
 

*Free parking is available in the Seton parking garage across Medical Parkway next to Austin Medical Plaza.  You may park in the main Seton garage for a fee.