Catharsis Application Program (CAP) — of which Planet-CAP is the on-line version — is an original and revolutionary therapeutic process which combines graphic expression under musical induction. The program was inspired by a Expressive Arts Therapy, a multimodal discipline that combine one or more creative disciplines such as music, drawing, painting, story, theater, dance and movement as a therapeutic tool for positive and healthy change. The concept of "catharsis" was introduced by Dr. Lucien Duclaud, neuropsychiatrist and member of our advisory committee, who has used this method in his psychiatric treatment clinic, for more than 25 years. In 2002, he expressed that this therapeutic tool "sets favorable conditions for the emotional return to previous experiences, mostly traumatic…" but also "favors associations necessary for any psychotherapeutic work." The characteristic of our methodology as a “therapeutic tool” was introduced by Dr. Jacqueline Verdeau-Paillès, neuropsychiatrist, during the "Creation and Madness" conference in 1988. She expressed the following reflection: : "…Listening to this music through a rigorous methodology has helped many patients to reach a therapeutic response. The music, played during the sessions, triggers the right moment, for one to come into resonance with their inner music, facilitating communication and emotional emergence of repressed emotions and memories which can be explored during the psychotherapeutic process. Even in some cases of severe forms of neurosis, it is undeniable that such a technique has helped some patients take the next step in their evolution. This technique is so much more than a projective test. This is a therapeutic tool." During the 30 years of clinical observations we have shown that the programmed music utilized in our program facilitates the emergence of emotional experiences often repressed and pave the way for their potential resolution.
The program consists of 10 sessions of drawings under musical induction (one hour over 10 weeks), two sessions of drawing without musical induction and a final assessment.
The music used in the program is original musical compositions designed by Dr. Alain Amouyal from France. This music has been used for three decades by many practitioners such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and speech therapists, with the purpose to encourage the emergence of repressed experiences and the healing of emotional wounds.
You can self refer to participate in the program. A referral is not mandatory to participate in the program. However, if you are engaged in therapy with a medical or mental health professional, you must inform your therapist/doctor of your participation in the CAP process.
You will be assigned to a licensed professional that has been trained in the Catharsis Application Program methodology.
We encourage all participants to share their experience with their medical and/or mental health professional. Our professional facilitators are available to communicate with your personal doctor or therapist upon your request.
After you confirm your commitment to the 12 week program, you will schedule an initial consultation by phone with your facilitator. During the program sessions you will be communicating with your facilitator by Skype video on your computer.
At this time we are offering sessions for individual and couple. A parent is required to be present during all sessions with children under 10 years old.
Ideally, all sessions should be conducted weekly on the same day and at the same time to create a pattern and allow for integration.
You can participate in the program more than once. We require that there is 6 weeks before you repeat the process to allow for an integration of information from the previous sessions.
All vour information is kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with anvone without vour verbal and written permission.
CAP belongs to the field of experiential therapy. It is a therapeutic intervention firmly grounded in current neuroscience research, trauma theory, and in the use of emotions for positive transformation. CAP helps to process emotions in a constructive way and provides an emotionally safe environment to allow the release of deep-seated emotional blockages or emotions. In our everyday lives we tend to avoid difficult emotions in order to protect ourselves from pain and discomfort. With CAP a person can transform these challenging emotions into powerful and creative energy.
