Supporting SEL Through Art Therapy: Strategies for Artists and Non-artists Alike (ISCA 204-01)

Supporting SEL Through Art Therapy: Strategies for Artists and Non-artists Alike (ISCA 204-01)

Registration and Payment Deadline: 

Friday, September 29, 2023

There are many reasons why our students might not be able to “talk” about their issues. For some, English might not be their first language, while for others, outwardly discussing their worries or concerns might be taboo.

As counselors, it is part of our responsibility to help students express themselves in healthy ways, sublimate negative emotions, and develop positive coping skills. For many of our students, art making is already a natural form of communication and expression. Even if we ourselves are not comfortable making art, we can harness the power of creative practice as a tool to help our kids flourish.

The major aim of this interactive course is to introduce art therapy techniques to counselors who may not be familiar or comfortable with the creative process, or may be unsure how to utilize it with their students. By learning through doing, participants will be asked to engage in a few art based activities themselves throughout the course of the training. Topics covered will include the neurological and fundamental benefits of artmaking, how to build a safe space for artmaking, questions to facilitate conversations while making art, tips on when to use what materials and directives for which students, and how to use art as an assessment tool to track student development, child protection, and overall mental health.

For more information click here.