Introduction to Environmental Arts Therapy | 3 online Saturday Workshops 2021

Course description:

This course is for art therapists, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, educators, counsellors and others who wish work with nature in the consulting room and to move their practice out-of-doors. The series of one day workshops will introduce the ideas and practice of working therapeutically in nature and taking one’s therapy practice outside. The online workshops will consist of theoretical talks, experiential exercises and reflective time to deepen knowledge and skills in this area of psychotherapeutic practice.

We will explore practical and ethical boundaries of an outdoor arts psychotherapy practice – discussing the challenges and benefits of moving outdoors, for us and our clients. We will look at ways in which nature and natural cycles can come into the therapeutic space and relationship in the consulting room. The sessions will then move outdoors working in nature and will be informed by the practice of environmental arts therapy. The course handbook includes an outline for each of the three days and includes the theories, practices and clinical applications of this way of working. A full reading list is included. The course structure encourages all participants to develop their knowledge and skills around risk assessment and theory. As the course develops, we encourage participants to work out-of-doors and to bring nature inside.

This course will take place online over Zoom for the 3 scheduled dates. You will need a quiet private space with internet and device. There are nature-based arts exercises which are provided within the Circle of Trees experiential groupwork format. An additional 2 days advanced course is planned to run as an adjunct to this in May & June 2021 and we are hoping to run this in-person, for those who are able to attend. However, due to current uncertainties regarding covid restrictions, this is yet to be confirmed. Please indicate if the 2-day advanced in-person course is something you would be interested in.

Environmental Arts Therapy UK have validated this course and approved the course content and structure.

To Apply:

Please apply by emailing a 2 paragraph statement outlining your reasons for doing the course and how you intend to apply this approach to your client work: trainings@arttherapycentre.com

Facilitators:

Vanessa Jones, Dip. AT, EAT Cert, Trained MBCT Mindfulness Teacher. She is a BAAT registered private practitioner, working outdoors in nature as an art therapist within her private practice and the NHS since 2010. Vanessa teaches at the University of Hertfordshire and London Art Therapy Centre, running environmental arts therapy courses with Gary Nash. She recently completed her masters in the use of art and nature in working with loss at the University of Derby and is published in “Ecotherapy, research and practice” Jordan, M., & Hinds, J., Palgrave, 2016 and in “Environmental arts therapy: Wild frontiers of the heart” Siddons Heginworth, I., & Nash, G., Routledge, 2020.

Gary Nash, Dip. AT MAAT, EAT Cert, has over twenty years of art therapy experience working in adult mental health, the voluntary sector, learning disabilities services and mainstream education. He is a BAAT registered supervisor and registered private practitioner. Gary has been working with art and drama therapists in developing training and professional development in the art of environmental arts therapy over the past 10 years. He runs a fortnightly environmental arts therapy group in London and is co-editor of Environmental Arts Therapy: Wild frontiers of the heart, Routledge, 2020. Gary is co-founder of London Art Therapy Centre where he is a practitioner-researcher providing art therapy.

Lydia Boon is a HCPC registered art psychotherapist working with children and adolescents in schools. She completed her initial degree in Creative Expressive Therapies in 2007, having focussed her research on a synthesis of ecopsychological and creative expressive therapy. She completed her art psychotherapy MA in 2014, which included research into the use of clay in art psychotherapy for those having experienced early relational trauma, and subsequently went on to complete the training in environmental arts therapy at London Art Therapy Centre. Lydia is currently developing her practice running therapy groups outdoors. A deep familiarity with her own art practice, extensive experience providing group and 1:1 therapy, combining elements of art, creative expression and engagement with outer and inner nature, continues to enrich her therapeutic approach. Lydia is published in “Environmental arts therapy: Wild frontiers of the heart” Siddons Heginworth, I., & Nash, G., Routledge, 2020.