Art Therapy for Adults

This one day workshop introduces you the therapeutic uses of art in individual and group counselling. The stages of setting up, facilitating and processing art therapy exercises will be explored in a way that maintains respect and safety for clients and group members. Ideas and activities for both non-directed and more structured and directed art therapy work will be considered. This workshop provides practical, useful and interactive opportunities to expand your practice and confidence with using a range of art therapy methods and media. Consideration is given to the types of art media relevant for different ages and issues being addressed through examination of case studies. This workshop would be relevant to counsellors who wanted to incorporate art media into their counselling or therapeutic groupwork.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Identify the theoretical basis of working with art media
• Consider the evidence base for art therapy
• Build skills in communicating and contracting around art therapy
• Practice person-centered empathic counselling skills
• Learn non-directive art and directive techniques in using art in therapy
• Appreciate when not to use these methods in therapy settings
• Consider practical ways to start to build art resources in your own practice

Who should attend?

Psychologists, social workers, counsellors, pastoral workers and case workers who have a counselling role or run groups for adult and adolescent clients and wish to incorporate art exercises (no artistic experience or skill required)