Therapeutic Photography: The Self-Portrait

 A self-portrait in therapeutic photography is more than just a visual representation; it serves as a powerful tool for self-knowledge and exploring emotions and identity. Through self-portraits, we can explore inner facets that may be hidden or repressed, engaging in a process of introspection that connects both body and mind. I invite you to explore how to create a self-portrait, challenging the conventional notion that it must include the face or the body. We will reflect on the importance of our personal narrative in self-portraiture, as it can help us reimagine and transform ourselves, fostering self-acceptance and emotional growth.

Self-portraiture is a valuable therapeutic tool that can trigger meaningful reflections in therapy contexts, helping people explore and redefine their identity over time.

The concept of portrait

The word “portrait” derives from the Latin re-traho. Its etymological journey derives from por-traho, used with variations in most languages. In both cases, the literal translation from Latin conveys the action of “bringing out.

Could it be that, through a portrait, we can reveal what lies within?.

Aristotle said that the representation of a person should reveal the movements of their soul and express their emotions rather than being confined to mere external appearance.

The aim of art is not to present the outward appearance of things but their inner significance; for this, not the external manner and detail, constitutes true reality.

Aristotle

While part of a person’s nature is reflected in their external appearance, a portrait does not aim to merely reproduce their looks or face or to be entirely objective. A portrait, whether literary, pictorial, or photographic, aims to capture and express something immaterial: an internal sense, an attitude towards life, a psychological state, an experience…

What happens when we turn the camera around, and the portrait looks at us?

Is self-portraiture a form of therapy?

Therapeutic photographyis a comprehensive practice that promotes health, well-being, and personal growth through creating and analyzing images. It is grounded in the premise that human thought is essentially visual, where our past experiences, future imagination, and fantasies are formed as mental images. By creating and reflecting on photographs, we can access these internal representations, allowing emotions, memories, and thoughts to be explored and processed. This practice covers various forms, from phototherapy to social or participatory photography, and is applied in both general and specific contexts—for example, supporting people at risk of exclusion or improving mental health. Thus, therapeutic photography becomes a powerful tool to foster creativity, introspection, and subjectivity, promoting healing processes and personal development.

From the Self-Portrait training. Patricia Gómez Campillo – @patrizen79 – Spain

The self-portrait as an intimate gaze

Daring to take a self-portrait and then reflect on it involves self-judgment. That is why going through this process offers the opportunity for self-knowledge.

Taking a self-portrait prompts us to reflect on who we are and compels our conscience to question our authenticity. The word “authenticity” comes from the Greek authentikós, meaning “one who has authority.” We can understand the expression “being authentic” as having authority over oneself, with firmness and internal coherence. This prompts us to question who we are at that moment, whether we like who we have become, and if we want to continue being that way.
Angélica Sátiro

Our interests, passions, quests, fears, desires, and concerns drive every decision we make in life. When we take a self-portrait, it is impossible to escape that drive. In some cases, an interest in a particular aspect of a person’s image representation is clearly expressed, revealing their most intimate concerns.

“The face is the mirror of the soul,” said Cicero, and perhaps that is why we can intuit the mood of those closest to us. Similarly, when encountering someone unfamiliar, we instinctively try to understand not only how they are but also what they are like through their physical appearance.

Self-portrait in body and soul.

Aristotelian physiognomy is based on the idea that the soul and body share mutual influences: the state of mind transforms the body’s shape, and changes in the body’s shape, in turn, affect the state of mind.

Today, scientific evidence supports how posture and body movements reflect emotions and mental states. Therefore, adjusting body posture can directly impact a person’s emotional and mental state.

He who has eyes to see and ears to hear can convince himself that no mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips; betrayal oozes out of him at every pore.
Sigmund Freud

Clearly, many psychological traits are linked to physical characteristics: mental faculties are deeply influenced by physical ailments, just as the body reflects and shares the suffering caused by emotions such as love, fear, pain, and pleasure. Now, there is scientific evidence that correcting posture while telling a story can shift the narrative toward more positive outcomes.

When an emotion lingers for a certain period, it shapes our way of being, thinking, living, and approaching life. Our face and body reflect this, offering a glimpse of what is happening within us. Our muscles and bones change along with our life experiences, revealing the kind of life, love, suffering, and health we have had, as well as the degree of hope or happiness we have held and still hold. Curiously, through mirror neurons, we can capture, possibly unconsciously, the physical expressions of others’ emotions without them verbalizing them.

Almost everyone initially refuses to take a self-portrait. Some feel shame, fear, or estrangement from their own image, while others, like Narcissus, fall in love with themselves. In both cases, self-distancing reveals an image to be explored and deeply examined.

It is not about knowing myself but seeing myself from the outside, as if I were someone else.

Is this possible? My supreme effort must be this: not to see myself as “me,” but to be seen “by me”—with my own eyes, yet as if I were someone else, that other person everyone sees except me.

Pirandello in “One, None, and a Hundred Thousand”

What happens when we do not recognize our body?
We cannot run away.

Let us break stereotypes about self-portraiture:

1. It is not necessary for the person being photographed to take the picture. We can use a remote trigger, a timer… or simply the help of another person.

2. The face does not need to appear. If the artist chooses to define the photo as a self-portrait, it can still be considered one.

Zapatos dorados (Golden Shoes), from the Carneada project. Nicola Costantino

3. It is not necessary for the body to appear. The space we occupy can also serve as a self-portrait. This is how the training “Photography to Get to Know Yourself” begins—with the Portrait of Absence.

From the training “Photography to Get to Know Yourself.” Mariana Villen – @marianvillen – Argentina

In the beginning, I was very present in the image, likely because I was not yet aware of myself. Now, very aware of myself, I am absent from the image.
My journey takes me from representing my body to representing the city where I was born.
Lorence Chevallier

4. A portrait of another person is also a self-portrait. A portrait reveals more about the photographer than the subject, no matter how much one might believe photography is an objective technique. While some think a portrait can capture a person “as they are,” we now understand the significance of the photographer’s gaze in shaping an image. The creation of a photograph reflects the artist’s personal, unique point of view and their choices in timing and framing. You already know it. “You are what you look at.“.

I have always wanted to know what lies beyond people’s profiles and uncover the secret behind their faces. I believe my photos capture something essential about people and, in that process, reveal something about myself as well.

Diane Arbus

5. The self-portrait is also what is left out. While photographs explore the presence of things, they also reveal absence. You decide what is inside or outside the camera frame, what will appear in your self-portrait, and what will not. And this applies not only in a physical sense, but also to the hidden aspects of the self. Which face have you chosen for your self-portrait—the official one or the one you do not want anyone to see?

6. Any image you look at is your self-portrait. If we look at an image with everything that we are. If to analyze an image, I draw on my memory, education, visual culture, and personal history, then when I talk about that image, I am likely talking about myself. This in psychology is called projection. There is no objective assessment. We explore, but in doing so, we reveal our own vision and perception—doesn’t that make it a self-portrait?

A self-portrait is any work that, whether or not the artist’s image is visible, uses photography to reflect on their own identity—through their body, emotions, and the place they occupy in the world—whether the body is used as an element of communication or not.

From the training “Photography to Get to Know Yourself.” Estele Leite – @este.fotos – Uruguay

The self-portrait as art and a gaze toward the world

Art and creativity are intrinsic to being human; they foster personal development and integrate the bodily and emotional dimensions.

Creating art is always therapeutic, but its healing power is understood only in relation to each person or group capable of grasping the meaning of the work and restoring balance. The self-portrait begins as a mental concept, an idea; it is an act of communication in which the body engages with all the senses, acting as both the sender and receiver of the message.

The symbolic communication that a self-portrait develops, often unconsciously, can lead to a process of introspection for the artist, both before and after the work, fostering self-knowledge. The resulting works do not necessarily need to be beautiful to us—sometimes, they can be quite the opposite.

We think in images. The image precedes the word. Every artistic creation begins as a thought in the artist’s mind—a way of interpreting their world.

How can self-portraiture be used as a therapeutic tool?

Self-portraiture has the potential to be a powerful tool for self-exploration and personal development. You already know this: you can explore emotions and discover your identities through self-portraiture, paving the way for self-knowledge and well-being.

1. The self-portrait as self-exploration

Self-Portraits offer a unique opportunity to explore identity in a visual way. Looking at our own image, we can reflect on aspects that often remain hidden, confronting parts of our identity that are difficult to explore otherwise.

2. The self-portrait as an expression

Creating a self-portrait allows us to express and process emotions visually. Most of the time, complex or painful emotions are difficult to articulate with words. Self-portraiture reaches where words cannot, offering an alternative form of expression.

3. The self-portrait as individual transformation

Self-portraits also allow us to reimagine and transform ourselves. By experimenting with different styles, costumes, and perspectives, we can explore multiple facets of our identity, finding all our versions. This process is liberating because it allows us to give ourselves permission to explore aspects of ourselves that were previously unseen or unaccepted, leading to emotional growth and freedom.

What if a self-portrait is a mask, a product of the image we want to give to others? Adolescence is a time of frequent insecurity, which comes from personal uncertainty. The struggle to define one’s personality and gain confidence—or to appear confident—will be a key personal objective during this time.

It is a time when we try on many different costumes, searching for the one that best fits our environment. Compensating for insecurity, we tend to adopt self-affirming poses when creating a self-portrait. Becoming aware of those poses and encountering vulnerability is valuable work.

4. The self-portrait as a professional therapeutic tool

Self-portraits allow access to deep emotions and explore identity. Expression and visualization facilitate meaningful discussions, reflections, and analysis within a therapeutic context.

The process of creating a self-portrait can develop greater self-acceptance and confidence. Facing one’s own image reveals vulnerabilities that impact life, qualities, and strengths. Additionally, making art can be inherently rewarding, offering a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

5. The self-portrait as a narrative

Narrative therapy, developed by Michael White and David Epston, suggests that our identity is shaped by the way we narrate our lives. Images, particularly self-portraits, can convey full stories and experiences. Through a self-portrait, we can discuss how we appear and how we wish to be seen, facilitating the adaptation of narratives and integration of identity.

6. The self-portrait is always evolving

Jung talks about the ‘I’ as a dynamic construction. The ‘I’ is not a fixed entity but an evolving construct. Therefore, our representations, including our self-portraits, always evolve, and our identity is not always stable. I am not the same as I was 10 years ago; I will be different in 5 years, and I am also different in every life context. It is essential to recognize that self-knowledge is an ongoing process and that we can portray ourselves at every stage of our lives, discovering different aspects of ourselves along the way. Furthermore, when I look at my self-portrait from 10 years ago, I will discover myself through the lens of my current narrative

Photography allows me to explore my own identity and how others perceive me. In my self-portraits, I embody characters who explore various aspects of the human condition and my own self.

Cindy Sherman

A self-portrait in therapeutic photography reveals itself as a profoundly transformative tool, capable of connecting us with our most intimate emotions and our constantly evolving identity. By exploring and reflecting on our multiple facets through images, we not only discover ourselves but also become empowered to reimagine and redefine who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. I invite you to grab your camera, face your reflection, and throw yourself into self-portraiture.

Allow all your versions and your immense ability to be whatever you want at every moment in your life.