Introduction to Art Therapy

Art Therapy: Symbol and Language
Course Dates
One day course on Monday 13 February 2017
One day course on Monday 3 April 2017
This short course gives students an opportunity to explore the therapeutic use of art through practical and experiential workshops. It gives an understanding of current practice and the context of art therapy as well as an insight into how and where art therapists work in the public sector today. The art therapy process is linked to theory on the art therapeutic relationship and art as an alternative language.
On this one day introductory art therapy course, participants will engage with art-making as a means of personal feeling and worth. Time will be given for reflection on the art making process and an introduction to basic therapies of art therapy practice will be discussed
No previous experience of art making is required.
Art Therapy: Expression and Meaning
Course Dates (Two Day Duration)
Two day course on Monday 26th June and Tuesday 27th June 2017
This two day, short course gives participants an opportunity to explore the therapeutic use of art from a personal perspective while gaining an understanding of the contexts in which art therapy is currently practiced. Through experiential workshops students are encouraged to use art materials freely to explore feeling and meaning. Having engaged with art materials students will and have the opportunity to reflect on the potential meaning of their imagery. The lecture provides a basic understanding of art therapy practice giving an insight into how art therapists work with a range of clients. The art therapy process will be linked to relevant theory on therapeutic boundaries and art as an alternative expressive language. There will be time for discussion and reflection throughout the two days. Information about art therapy as a profession and a recommended reading list will be provided.
Day 1: Experiential Workshop 1 & 2 will focus on the benefits of art therapy as an expressive, creative and meaningful language. Time will be allocated for group discussion and reflection on image-making for vulnerable people. Relevant theory that underpins art therapy will be embedded in the learning process.
Day 2: Experiential Workshop 3 & 4 offers an opportunity to learn from personal art making, using a variety of mediums both individually and in groups. The focus will be on the therapeutic properties of art materials and your own art making process. We will consider visual art as a language for individual expression as well as a
All the courses are aimed at arts practitioners, teachers, nurses, social care workers or educationalists wishing to develop a career in art therapy, early level professionals or others wishing to update their skills base. Previous art making experience is not a pre-requisite.
Courses take place in the Postgraduate Art Therapy Studios situated in the School of Creative Arts and are run by an experienced art therapy educators and practitioners.
Bookings for all short courses are to be made online through the universities online booking system before a course commences. Students are therefore not permitted to enrol or attend a class on the day the course starts without prior arrangement.