What is mindfulness-based art therapy?

Mindfulness-based art therapy is an integrated approach combining mindfulness teaching and art psychotherapy practice. The approach can be applied to group or individual work.

Mindfulness-based art therapy is a relatively new area and many art therapists are interested in integrating mindfulness into their work. Before using this approach, it is recommended art therapists develop their own personal practice of mindfulness meditation and also attend further training to ensure safety in professional practice.

Interest in mindfulness has been increasing since the Covid-19 pandemic. This may be due to the potential for mindfulness practice to help both client and therapist to regulate emotions, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, and foster resilience. Mindfulness practices also help foster compassion, awareness of emotions, and being less reactive.

Aims of mindfulness-based art therapy include enhancing and elucidating mindfulness practices; encouraging embodiment; soothing the nervous systems; discharging and transforming challenging states of feelings through art making.

What you will learn

This course outlines the basics of mindfulness-based art therapy and also gives pointers for further training for art therapists.

On completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Better understand the rationale for integrating mindfulness and art therapy
• Draw on the theoretical framework and several practice examples
• Identify next steps for developing your practice to include mindfulness

How you will learn

Taught presentations will focus on:

• A background understanding of mindfulness
• Mindfulness-based versus mindfulness-informed therapy
• Case examples of mindfulness-based art therapy
• Clinical considerations, client’s needs, and contra-indicators
• Potential structure of sessions
• Recommended reading

The day will also include guided mindfulness meditation, small group work, reflective art-making, and group discussions.

Tutor:

Nicky Roland