The Art of Therapy
ART THERAPY OFFERS PEOPLE a chance to express themselves visually, rather than dig for words at times they are hard to find.
Top End professionals have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of art therapy for their professional practice or artistic career.
Janine Brophy-Dixon has spent three decades workings as an artist, therapist, counsellor, teacher and researcher, and will be in Darwin sharing her knowledge with her course Foundations of Art Therapy.
“Art Therapy is a way of helping people reflect on themselves, their thoughts, behaviours and ideas in a different way – in a visual way – rather than talk therapy,” she says.
“It helps students or clients who might struggle to express themselves through talking, so art can be a safe and effect way to look at possibilities to create change.”
The nine-day course, held in three-day blocks over October, November and December, will look at how different artistic mediums can elicit different responses from clients.
“Some artistic materials can be safe and controlled – like pencils and items you have a lot of control over, and others you have less control, like paint.
“Some exercises require deep cognitive planning and some are more in to the sensory or kinetic response.”
Brophy-Dixon says the course is perfect for professionals from a range of backgrounds, and includes theory and experiential components.
“No art making experience is required or necessary. The course is good for social workers, counsellors, youth workers, nurses, carers, community arts workers – anyone working in the helping profession,” she says.
“We occasionally have an artist do it and say it has shifted their art making, so we wouldn’t say no to someone doing it for those reasons either!”
Foundations of Art Therapy FRI 11 – SUN 13 OCT, FRI 8 – SUN 10 NOV, FRI 6 – SUN 8 DEC | DARWIN SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB | $2500 | brophydixon.com
