Materials and Methods are foundational elements of the expressive arts and a requirement for the Art-Assisted Grief Therapy Certification (AAGT).  This orientation module is designed to acquaint learners with the language of the arts as it pertains to the properties of art materials and their applied use in a variety of settings with specific clients.  A working knowledge of the properties and possibilities of various art materials is necessary for determining their usefulness in practice.   

​

Three traditional art therapy materials grouped as drawing, painting and clay are explored on a diverse assortment of surfaces or containers.  Direct personal experience with the art materials will serve as the foundation for discussion both in small groups and with the whole group.  Presentations of specific theories as they relate to each of the groupings and case studies will round out the learners’ understanding of AAGT Materials and Methods:  Practicing with the Arts.

​

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Discuss the properties of various media through experiential activities and personal reflection in small breakout room exercises;

• Examine how selected two-dimensional art materials can be used as part of gaining new perspectives, restorative retelling and the meaning making process; and

• Apply an understanding of two-dimensional art materials to a case study from the learner’s clinical practice.

​​

Note:  Completion of this module and return of the Responsive Journal satisfies 1 Orientation Module required for Certification in Art-Assisted Grief Therapy.

​

PROGRAM CONTENT

This program contains the following video segments:

1. The Art Studio as Safe Space:  An Opening Experiential (45 mins)

2. Entering the Creative Imagination:  Branching Out into Diverse Media (38 mins)

3. Go with the Flow:  The Fluidity of Paint (47 mins)

4. Breaking with Tradition:  Giving Shape to the Clay (42 mins)

​​

COURSE PACK CONTAINS...

• A PDF copy of the presentation slides​;

• Art material groupings and list of needed art supplies for the three experiential activities;

• Directive for three experiential activities: drawing, painting and clay;

• Therapist Toolkit: prompts for individual and pairs processing of experiential activities; and

• The Responsive Journal that, upon completion and return, confers 1 credit of Orientation Module leading to Certification in Art-Assisted Grief Therapy.