Art in Therapeutic Practice

This series of fall and winter workshops is not directly related to the Dharma Studio, but may be of cross-interest to some Dharma Studio or GRAM meditation class participants. Art Therapy workshops for therapists and social workers, or anyone wanting to learn some ways to introduce art as tools in their therapy practice. These workshops are offered through Grand Valley State University for continuing education credit for social workers, but can be taken by anyone who practices in the field. See this page soon for registration details. Team taught by artist and art educator and Dharma Studio Buddhist teacher Jill Eggers, and Expressive Art therapist Steven Edelman.

Art Sessions

for Continuing Education Credit

Jill Eggers and Steven Edelman

“We suspended time, we isolated space, there remained only the play of glue, scissors, paper, paint: the play of shared creation.”  ~Elena Ferrante, The Story of a New Name

 This is a series of four sessions for social workers and other human service professionals who seek ways to engage the power of arts learning in therapeutic practice.   These sessions examine motivations and reasons for engaging art practices in the therapy setting, and its power and potential.  From opening doors to new ways of looking, to opening to the subconscious, and learning how different art materials can serve your practice, this sequence of courses will provide you with the knowledge, means, and insights to incorporate art into the therapeutic setting in meaningful ways.   No art experience or skills are required—we cannot stress this enough. 

 Each session builds on the previous one, but they can also be taken independently.   Taking all four sessions will provide the fullest foundation for incorporating art therapy methods and techniques in your professional or personal art therapy practice. 

Taught by seasoned artist and art educator Jill Eggers, and Expressive Art Therapist Steven Edelman.  All sessions are limited in size to support group dialogue, individual attention, and hands on learning.

Session I

3 hours, Nov date TBD

Grand Rapids Art Museum

Meanings and Metaphors

Jill Eggers

This session is an introduction to ways we can look at and relate with art in the therapeutic process.  Art can bring vitality and meaning to our practice, for ourselves as therapists, and for our clients.  This session introduces some methods of art viewing relevant to the  therapeutic context: using art to elicit stories, projections, and associations, and encourage dialogue in open, non-judgmental ways.    Learn the practice of Visual Thinking Strategies™, practice a guided meditation on looking, and work in partner pairs in metaphoric exploration with art works.

 Bring: a journal and pencil (no pens allowed in the museum); dress comfortably. 

Session II

3 hours, Dec date TDB

Location: Grand Rapids Art Museum 

Steven Edelman and Jill Eggers

 Aspects of Making: Materials and Techniques of Art Therapy

Different art media contain different therapeutic potentials for emotional and behavioral expression, communication, and exploration, based upon their sensory aspects.  Learning and experiencing these potentials will prepare participants to make effective therapeutic choices based upon their clients’ treatment needs and goals.
In this session, we will explore the sensory aspects of visual art media, relative to their potential in various therapeutic contexts.  Working in the beautiful GRAM art studio, participants  will play with and develop familiarity with a wide variety of artist media, in a relaxed, stress free context.  Exploration of impacts of media choices, scale, material aspects on expressive potential;  examination of “skillful means”—making appropriate and sensitive choices of materials and methods for different individual and groups.  No art experience or background necessary.

 Session III
Storymaking, Improv, and Visual Image Making

3 hours, Jan date TBD

Location: Grand Rapids Art Museum

Steven Edelman and Jill Eggers

 This session addresses skills in

·      Collaborative therapeutic approaches

·      Accessing and integrating aspects of the subconscious

·      Cultivation of empathy for self and others

·      Empowerment and actualization in creativity

·      Therapeutic attunement

 Working with paintings in the GRAM museum exhibitions, we will generate fairy tales from paintings, and do some improvisational imagining with the characters in the art.  Following this we will move to the GRAM art studio and create individually, collectively, and playfully, with the ideas we have generated, bringing it all together with a group discussion of therapeutic applications.  No art background or experience required.

 Session IV

3 hours, Feb date TBD

Grand Rapids Art Museum

Steven Edelman and Jill Eggers

Struggle and Joy: Using Art to Transform.

How can art practices truly transform us, and bring motivation and presence alive, for us and our clients?  This session explores use of art to transform through narrative.  Subtly beginning to bring things into the therapeutic session that are story or narrative based can help make struggle meaningful.  Engaging with Jungian notions of archetypes, myth, and journey, we will explore through art making and discussion.  This session will engage with art in the galleries as well as art making in the GRAM art studio. 

Bring: notebook or sketchbook.  Dress comfortably.  All art materials provided.  No art experience or background required!