WHAT IS ART THERAPY?
Art Therapy is based on engagement in artistic activities as means of creative expression and symbolic communication, aiming to restore a sense of well-being in times of crisis & chalenge when even language fails to us. Art therapy can help us express ourselves beyond words through the creative process and the use of a methaphoric language.
The Expressive Arts are an intermodal approach to Art Therapy, developped by Paolo Knill, co-founder along with Ellen and Stephen Levine of the European Graduate School. This intermodal approach translates into offering a various amount of art disciplines and sensory modalities to the patients so that they can express themselves freely. This approach is also resource-oriented, which helps people practicing it find meaning and direction with the difficulties that they initially presented.
“Whenever illness is associated with loss of soul, the arts emerge spontaneously as remedies, soul medecine.”
Shaun McNiff, PhD Proffessor of Expressive Arts at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachussets, and author of several books, including “Art as Medecine. Creating a Therapy of the Imagination”.
ART THERAPY STUDIES
After finishing my Masters in Expressive Arts Therapy (IATBA), I studied Grief Counseling (AVES) and graduated as a Death Doula.
Since then I have been interested into applying Expressive Arts Therapy in the context of life crises, as a tool to guide us in the midst of the storm and a way to help us transform the narrative of our own lives.
ART THERAPY PROJECTS
As a member of Fent Cercle, I currently create and facilitate activities that search to break the tabou surrounding death in our society, as well as offering creative means to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of the grief process.
Along with Anna Tamayo (Cia Candida) we created a course that combines art therapy and theater skills to support artists through their creative journey, transforming their own life stories into a final performance.
WORKSHOPS
ART & DOL
Bi-weekly workshop | Where art opens a space to hold your grief and loss.
Find a spot in this creative cercle that welcomes you to explore and transform your loss and grief process through art.
Inscriptions here.
MUTA!LAB
Monthly workshop | Creativity lab.
A nine month long journey to align with your creative fire and rescue that story that needs to be shared on the stage.
Come to transform your life memories and create a unique performance.
Inscriptions here.
TUPPER DEATH
Coming soon | Gather at home with your family or friends to dive deep in the topic of death.
You will get clear and useful information about our current funeral culture. We will use art as a way to prepare for our own death and the death of our beloved ones.
Planting seeds. Art work by Justin, Kimberton Hills, Camphill Village, United States.
“Art-making encourages self-exploration and expression. It encourages more vulnerability simply through art being an expression of oneself. By externalizing their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through art, they may feel less judgment and/or shame toward themselves. Art making may give clients an increased sense of control over what they disclose.”
Natasha Green, MA, ATR, art therapist in private practice at Green Amethyst Art Therapy.