Profile Carrie Heller, circus arts therapist
July 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm by Candace Wheeler in News, Profile
Carrie Heller, a born “circus person,” fell in love with the trapeze as a child, after being introduced to it at summer camp. After earning a master’s degree in social work, she combined her two skill sets, offering training on the trapeze (and other circus activities) to help clients juggle life’s problems.
How did you get started in your career?
As a child, I grew up doing circus stuff. I actually did not have the intention of using it as a career. I got a masters degree, planning to be a full-time therapist. When I came to Atlanta, I ended up teaching a [trapeze] class and it turned out to be very popular. I started seeing the therapeutic benefits of using the circus as a tool with kids and families, so that’s when I began developing the concept that I could use circus in the therapy room.
You said you grew up around circus arts, tell me more about that.
When I was a child, my parents sent me to a summer camp they had a circus rig set up. I saw the trapeze and pretty much fell in love with it, and I spent all my time at that camp doing circus stuff. I learned everything.
Have you ever joined a circus as a performer?
I made a choice in 1993 to start a circus camp here in Atlanta, and when I made that choice I chose not to join a circus and travel. I had followed this track in my life where I was going to be a therapist. The circus was a hobby for me, but I performed for corporate gigs instead, and I was hired as an independent artist to fly out to places and be a part of a show. When the Super Bowl was here in Atlanta, I performed at several Super Bowl parties
Describe a typical day of work.
I usually see clients for three to five hours in the afternoon. I see individuals, couples or groups. I also intersperse those clients with fitness lessons. People to hire me as a therapist or a fitness trainer.
What are the needs and disabilities of those you work with?
I work with children who are on the autistic spectrum. I work with children who have attention challenges and hyperactivity, as well as children with behavior challenges, emotional challenges and physical challenges.
In what way do you feel circus arts specifically help to address these challenges?
With children who have attention challenges, it’s helpful to do what’s called “brain balancing” activities. Juggling is a very good activity that helps some children focus and helps them bring their attention back to center.
What is the best thing about your job?
It is seeing people transform. I literally get to see people change before my very eyes. They change physically and they change emotionally, and it’s so rewarding.
When you first started doing circus arts therapy, were there other therapists using these methods?
Nobody that I know of has tried to use this idea therapeutically. Those who are using it are mostly in contact with me and are interested in learning it. I pretty much stumbled upon a new technique.
What is your favorite thing about being on the trapeze?
I personally get into a meditative state when I go on the trapeze. I really love the sensation of swinging. Exerting the kind of strength that I have to exert and making it look pretty and artistic is the most fun for me — being able to use my physical strength and combining it with grace and art.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
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