Art therapy techniques used in couples and family counselling

March 12th and 13th, 2011

Art Therapy Techniques used in Family and Couples Counseling

A clinical 2 day workshop to explore creative ways to engage families and couples in therapeutic environment.  Art activities for families to explore issues such as: boundaries, anger management, substance abuse, adjustment disorder, non violent communication, grief and loss, codependence, stress management and vocational burnout.

What you will learn

• Self help techniques to give to clients outside of treatment
• Facilitate non threatening self expression and communication within the family
• Inspire self-discovery or simple relaxation
• Provide an opportunity for couples and families to express difficult emotions without the use of words
• Guide in releasing emotional conflicts locked in the subconscious

Dates ; 12 and 13 March, 2011 (Registration open)

Time : 10 AM to 4 PM                                  

Venue : Nungambakkam, Chennai

For: Counsellors/ Psychologists/ therapists/ students studying psychology/counselling

Cost : Rs 3000 (inclusive business lunch)

For more details contact - 42080810/ 9884700135

Facilitated by Melba Thorn M.A. Clinical Art Therapist

About Melba Thorn

Melba Thorn  M.A. MFTI, Artist BFA, Rietveltd Academy, Amsterdam. M.A. Marital and Family Therapy specializing in “Clinical Art Therapy” at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She  has used Art therapy in a variety of settings such as Substance Abuse, Cancer survivors support groups, Victims of crime, PTSD treatment, Vocational Burnout, Chronically Mentally Ill clinics as well as Individual and Family Therapy. Melba is an Artist that uses very alternative mediums for relaxation and healing. She is involved in many community organizations and enjoys exposing people of all ages to enjoy the art making process. 

Look up this link: Report 20 March 2011


http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-downtown/article1554886.ece


We had a good response to the workshop. We had 13 participants of which 11 were counsellors and one special educator, 2 were students - one studying Msc counselling and the other who wishes to pursue a counselling masters next year.
The overall feedback about the training was good. The participants were private practitioners, counsellors working in substance abuse/ domestic violence programmes.

Group Counselling Sessions using Art from 13th to 15th December 2010

Venue: Kellys Girls Home 

 We conducted three consecutive days of group counselling sessions using Art for the children of kellys girls home . It was organized by World vision.Various art techniques were used as therapeutic tools.The tools applied are given below along with the objectives and a brief description of the activity.

Date- 13/12/2010
Objective- The goal was to create awareness  of what they feel at the moment.The children were asked to stick together their own choices of magazine cut outs that best described their feelings.
Tool-  Collage

Date-14/12/2010
Objectives
 1) The goal was to help the children define their social atom
 2)The theme of a tree was used to bring clarity into their future aims and objectives and what was needed to achieve it.
Tools
1)Clay 
2)Collage

Date- 15/12/2010
Objective- The main objective for the day was to help group members see that they could draw support from one another.
Tools
1) The theme of a garden was used to achieve the above objective
2) An interconnected map of the group was created, which was used to make them feel deeply connected to one another using drawing and collage.

The three day session using Art therapy was  successful in making each child feel more connected with oneself and the others around.

Counselling skills Certificate course - Stella Maris College

Venue: Stella Maris, 6th December 2010
Center for Counselling and Stella Maris College for Women jointly inaugurated the "Counselling Skills Certificate Course" for social work students.

Sr Principal, Mrs Arundhati Roy-counsellor,  Sister Coleen North-Vice Principal, Mrs Sandra-Head of Social work Department, Sheela- Professor of Social work Department, Dr Eric Miller from Center for Counselling addressed the students, who had gathered to be a part of the inauguration function.

Objectives of the Course:
1)To acquire counselling skills
2)To bridge the gap between counselling theory and practice
3)To help establish and support those social work students who aspire to become counsellors
4)To promote social,emotional and moral wellbeing


Details of the Course:
1)The course specifically targets students of Social work and particularly students who are considering counselling as a career.
2)The course is five hours a week for 12 weeks and for a total of 60 hours(After College hours)

Training Methodology:
The training methodology is participatory learning using techniques such as
1)Group Discussion
2)Games and Exercises
3)Case studies
4)Role -Play Presentation
5)Testimonies

Group Counselling session using Art -November 12th

Venue: Kellys Girls Home

Center for Counselling conducted a half day Counselling session, for the young women of reception unit in Kellys Girls Home using Art therapy. It was  organized and funded by World Vision.