Singapore University of Social Sciences

Art Making in Expressive Arts Therapy

Art Making in Expressive Arts Therapy (XAT509)

Synopsis

In XAT509 Art Making in Expressive Arts Therapy, students will explore the role of concrete and visual modalities in expressive arts therapies, and how creating art makes the creative journey visible. They will be introduced to the theories of art making from developmental, psychological and neurobiological perspectives, and explore their own assumptions and experiences of art making. Through various art exercises they will reflect and learn how art making can be a symbolic language, and how to work with this within different cultural contexts and with different client groups. They will also explore the ethical issues around viewing and exhibiting client’s art works, and how this can be contraindicated when working with vulnerable clients. They will also explore different art materials, and how to set up a specialist creative art space for their clients.

Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every January

Topics

  • Introduction to art therapy theory and practice
  • Process vs the product in art making
  • Personal art journaling - exploring the creative process in art making
  • Art as an alternative language - Intro to Carl Jung
  • Art as healing case examples
  • Art making life span (I)- child and adolescent art therapy
  • Art and the human brain - understanding the neurobiology of trauma
  • Ethical issues in art as therapy
  • Cultural assumptions around the arts
  • Media and its use in art as therapy
  • Art across the life span (II) - art with the elderly
  • Planning and designing an expressive arts workshop for groupwork

Learning Outcome

  • Examine the role of visual arts in healing, therapy and education.
  • Formulate a working model applicable to their work situation.
  • Appraise the different media available in art making.
  • Evaluate the process of art making rather than just the end product.
  • Choose appropriate art making experiences for a range of client groups
  • Design an art space for therapeutic work.
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