This art psychotherapeutic approach explores research, theoretical approaches, developmental theory, and the practice of AT with children with special needs. Current trends in understanding children include Gardner, Goleman, Hillman, Watkins. Psychological and medical responses to adolescence will be considered, including normal and stressed adolescent development as expressed through art-making and appropriate art therapy interventions and treatment. Adult Art Therapy Reviews the challenges that adults face, developmentally and historically, and introduces Art Therapy interventions to resolve conflicts, relationships, childhood loss and trauma, and to orient and create lives which allow more presence and fulfillment. Art Therapy Research Introduces qualitative and quantitative methodologies for creating and implementing art therapy research projects.
Dialogue provides communication with the imagery encountered in art-making.
Through investigating dialogic processes with images, the revitalizing potentials of imagery is recovered. Aesthetic, psychological and transpersonal facets of the creative experience will be addressed as well as therapeutic and active listening principles. Lecture, discussion, reading, slides and creative arts processes to deepen experience and knowledge of archetypal patterns and the role of mythic story in constructing personal and cultural reality. Singing and chanting different parts of ourselves to go beyond the spoken word into rhythm, repetition and at times pure sound. This is an opportunity to move through fears of using our voice in new ways with the support of the group and to find our authentic voice.