Introduction to Art Therapy (Online)

About the course

A creative and explorative workshop series involving therapeutic art making, group learning and reflection. The series comprises of three day-long workshops over one semester. You may wish to attend one day or the whole series.

This workshop series provides you with an introduction to art therapy through the areas below:

Workshop One

Introduction to Art Therapy: New Growth - This day provides an overview of practices and theories in art therapy

Workshop Two

Introduction to Art Therapy and Mindfulness - This day introduces the integration of art therapy and mindfulness

Workshop Three

Art Therapy – Groups and Widening Circles - This day widens our focus to include groups and systems

You will learn through an experiential process, including self-expression with art materials and sharing in small and large groups. Learning includes taught presentations and discussions. During each session, you will be given support and guidance by the facilitator. Suggested themes will be offered on each day and you can choose to explore.

You will find more details about the content of each workshop below.

Who is this three-day series for:

  • These courses are open to anyone over the age of 18 who has an interest in finding out more about Art Therapy and previous experience is not a pre-requisite.
  • You may be interested in this area for your own personal development and wellbeing or for professional development.
  • As a first step in future training in this area (e.g. Foundation, MA programme)
  • Previous participants have included: teachers, care workers, artists, mental health professionals, social workers and counsellors.
  • You can sign up for one or all three sessions.
  • Information on further training opportunities on our University’s Art Therapy and Wellbeing Foundation course, and/or Art Therapy Masters Professional Training will be provided at the end of each session.
  • A willingness to engage in art making is helpful.

You can enrol for one or all three sessions. There is a discounted rate when you enrol for all 3 sessions. NB: Discount is already applied to course price.

What will I study?

Learner hours: 15

Introduction to Art Therapy: New Growth (Online) - Workshop 1

On this one-day course we will introduce an overview of art therapy practices and key theories. To provide a rich illustration for our learning points, we will be considering our capacity for ‘new growth’. This will include meeting our experiences in relationship with another, and through creative expression. Learning will be through a participatory experience. The optional theme for art making will be ‘trees, plants and the natural world’. (Or you can simply see what emerges for you on the day).

Learning Outcomes:

  • An introduction to key art therapy theories
  • A brief history of the development of art therapy as a profession
  • Where art therapists work and with which clients
  • Importance of the relationships and therapeutic alliance
  • Understanding expressive processes and art making
  • Ways to communicate regarding the art image
  • Potential benefits of art therapy
  • Further resources and reading
  • Recommendations for next steps (personal and professional development)
DatesDayTime
04/02/2025Tuesday09.30 - 15.00
06/06/2025Friday09.30 - 15.00

Introduction to Art Therapy and Mindfulness (Online) - Workshop 2

On this day we will introduce the developing area of the integration of art therapy and mindfulness. To provide a rich illustration for our learning point the session includes: art making as a mindful activity, guided mindfulness practices, mindfulness of the body, compassion-focused practices and group reflection. We will be exploring themes of mindfulness and ‘heartfulness’ in the art making. Learning will be through a participatory experience.

Learning outcomes:

  • A background understanding of art therapy and mindfulness
  • Examples of context and client groups with mindfulness-based art therapy
  • The theoretical background of mindfulness-based art therapy
  • Potential benefits of mindfulness-based art therapy
  • Further resources and reading
  • Recommendations for next steps (personal and professional development)
DatesDayTime
04/03/2025Tuesday09.30 - 15.00
13/06/2025Friday09.30 - 15.00

Introduction to Art Therapy: Groups and Widening Circles (Online) - Workshop 3

On this day we will be widening our attention, to include groups, communities and systems.

To provide a rich illustration for our learning point the session includes considering an optional theme through art expression of natural networks. This may include mycelium, plant roots, and systems in the animal and plant worlds. (Or you can see what emerges for you on the day). This will include awareness of the personal and collective challenges we currently face, including social and racial injustices and climate crisis. Learning will be through a participatory experience.

Learning outcomes:

  • Examples of Group Art Therapy
  • Contexts of group art therapy and client groups
  • Communication through art making, and imagination, including engaging with  personal and collective challenges
  • Art Therapy as a way to process feelings and understand systems, to potentially participate in positive change
  • Benefits of art therapy (as a collective process)
  • Further resources and reading
  • Recommendations for next steps (personal and professional development
DatesDayTime
01/04/2025Tuesday09.30 - 15.00
20/06/2025Friday09.30 - 15.00

Looking for a CPD Course in Art Therapy or an alternative face to face Introductory Art Therapy Course?

Where will I study?

Mode of delivery: Online

All our online courses are taught remotely using Zoom. The classes will be delivered live giving all students the opportunity to fully engage in the lessons with the tutor and other students.

You will need a pc or mac laptop.

Log in details to join the course online will be provided after enrolment.

Materials

You will need some basic art materials and further information will be supplied on what you will need after enrolment.

Key Staff

Course Tutor

Nicky Roland

Booking deadlines

Bookings for all Creative Arts Short Courses will be reviewed 2 weeks before the start date of each course. This will allow the Short Course team to determine whether a course has met the minimum number of students needed for the class to run. If a class has failed to recruit, the class will be re-scheduled and you will be informed. Where relevant you will be offered an alternative class. If the course has met minimum numbers, bookings will stay open to the course start date or until it has met maximum numbers.

We encourage you to book early before the deadline to avoid disappointment.

Bookings for all short courses need to be made online through our online booking system, before a course commences. You cannot enroll or attend a class on the day the course starts, without prior arrangement.

Cancellations

If for any reason you change your mind about joining us after you have accepted the offer, you have a legal right to cancel your contract to study with us within 14 days. This cancellation period therefore ends at the end of 14 days after the day on which you accepted our offer. Find further details of our cancellation terms here.

How to apply?

WorkshopStart DateDayTimeCostLink
Introduction to Art Therapy: New Growth (Online) - Workshop 104/02/2025Tuesday09.30 - 15.00£150Apply online
Introduction to Art Therapy and Mindfulness (Online) - Workshop 204/03/2025Tuesday09.30 - 15.00£150Apply online
Introduction to Art Therapy: Groups and Widening Circles (Online) - Workshop 301/04/2025Tuesday09.30 - 15.00£150Apply online
Workshops One, Two and Three04/02/2025, 04/03/2025 & 01/04/2025Tuesdays09.30 - 15.00£400Apply online
Introduction to Art Therapy: New Growth (Online) - Workshop 106/06/2025Friday09.30 - 15.00£150Apply online
Introduction to Art Therapy and Mindfulness (Online) - Workshop 2 13/06/2025Friday09.30 - 15.00£150Apply online
Introduction to Art Therapy: Groups and Widening Circles (Online) - Workshop 3 20/06/2025Friday09.30 - 15.00£150Apply online
Workshops One, Two and Three06/06/2025, 13/06/2025 & 20/06/2025Fridays09.30 - 15.00£400Apply online

NB: If you are on a mobile device, turn to landscape to see the full table.

You can enrol for one or all three sessions. There is a discounted rate when you enrol for all 3 sessions. NB: Discount is already applied to the course price.

Contact us

If you wish to discuss this or any other creative art short course please contact the Short Course team on 01707 285327 or complete our short course enquiry form.

ContactEmail
Nick Thomas, Administratorad-shortcourses@herts.ac.uk