This is a course – as the title says – about using Art Therapy to improve Mental Health. There are several key aspects to this course as follows:
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The lectures themselves – to be expected. But there are two Instructors, one of whom has submitted her own artwork for this course.
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Many extra Art Therapy exercises that are attached as individual resources to lectures
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An Art Therapy manual to further extend the course
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A high level of Instructor-student interaction
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Regular Educational Announcements
Then there’s the course itself. We cover:
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Using Abstract Painting (and interpretation) in Art Therapy sessions
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Applying the themes of classics such as A Street Car named desire as a prompt for discussion
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Different interpretations (and application) of the work of Van Gogh
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The application of the work by Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dali and others
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Over 50 tips to improve mental health
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The application of the music of Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
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The application of ‘The Sealwoman’s Gift’
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Centrifugal art
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Numeracy
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The work of Alfred Provis
As you can see from the above this is an unusual course using unusual sources!
Of course the ideas are based on sound research (as with the application of poetry) and students are encouraged to research widely – as well as self-explore.
The key, though, to this course is the DOING. The DOING of the Art Therapy exercises; the joining in of discussions; using familiar situations as prompts for mental health benefits.
This is a course to be watched, applied, enjoyed, used and then reflected on.
