In this inspiring one-year course participants will gain a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of the field of art therapy.

Transcription

1 ART THERAPY TRAINING Theory & Practice for Professionals In this inspiring one-year course participants will gain a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of the field of art therapy. In addition to the theoretical foundations, this one of a kind course also pairs students with a child / teenager for weekly supervised art therapy sessions over the duration of the year. Aim This highly experiential training aims to equip therapists, social workers, psychologists and counsellors with a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of working with children and teens using art therapy. At the course conclusion participants will have sufficient knowledge and experience to combine art therapy and expressive arts as a therapeutic modality into their present work. Why art? Art is a whole-child experience that invites children to express their feelings and ideas freely. Words do not have a major base for children. Their medium is dance, song, music, and art. The art becomes the communication so that the witnessing of trauma or any experience can occur through this medium. Through the

2 expression of art it is possible to work and heal areas that are pre-verbal, primitive, and deep. Structure The course includes: Theoretical foundations workshops Individual supervised field work Theoretical Foundations The theoretical component of the course will be held over three weekends and will include experiential learning exercises, immersing participants in creativity and the opportunity to practice the techniques. Students will gain a thorough overview of the field of art therapy including: Art as a therapeutic tool Trauma (from a neurological, sociological and psychological perspective) Trauma informed practice Self care and vicarious trauma Working within the family, school and preschool setting Tools & techniques to use in a session Cultural awareness Art Therapy Kit Participants will each receive an Art Therapy Kit which contains paper, textas, crayons, soft pastels, oil pastels, glue, scissors, tape, craft supplies, glue and Dreamy the Pillow A unique therapy tool created by Shiri. Individual Supervised Field Work In addition to the theoretical basis of this course, each participant will be paired with a child / teenager and work with them weekly throughout the duration of the course. Each session will be supervised by Shiri, and presents a special opportunity to gain practical experience using art and expressive arts as a therapeutic healing modality.

3 These weekly one-hour sessions will run throughout the school terms. No other art therapy course offers this live learning opportunity. The children will be aged 3-16 and have experienced some form of trauma. E.g. Abuse, domestic violence, divorce, bullying, anxiety, low self-esteem etc Their challenges will range widely, as they would with patients in private practice. By the end of the training you will: Expand skills in communicating and contracting with parents and schools. Experience working with a child or a teenager. Have a sound understanding of art therapy. Know how to engage meaningfully with children or teenagers. Have an in-depth understanding of trauma informed practice. Make sense of the art work. Build confidence Learn in a safe nonjudgmental environment. Assessments Attendance of all workshops and individual weekly sessions. Demonstrated ability to utilise key art therapy techniques. Visual diary and case notes kept throughout duration of fieldwork. Written assignment demonstrating thorough working knowledge of art therapy theory and practice. Who should attend? Postgraduates of Social workers, Psychology, counselling, art therapy, psychotherapy and psychiatry and mental health workers. Course applicants must have a recognised qualification, working with children check and be available to see the child either in Pagewood or at their school which can be in Bondi, Sutherland, Penthurst, Hurstville, or Randwick.

4 Course Application Process After receipt of completed application form, applicants who meet the criteria will be invited to attend an interview. Referees will then be contacted and applicants will be notified of their course status. Dates: Seeing the children will be throughout the school term. A training workshop will be held on the 17 of April 9am 4pm. Training will take place in 87 Page Street, Pagewood. The venue is 10 min away from Eastgarden Shopping Centre and there is plenty of public transport and parking. Qualification At the end of the year, after satisfactory completion of all assessments, participants will receive an Art Therapy Theory & Practice for Professionals Certificate. The course gives AASW accreditation points. Contact For enrolments and more information contact Shiri Hergass on: shiri.hergass@gmail Phone: Facilitator: SHIRI Shiri Hergass is a Social Worker and Art Therapist who has worked in both private practice and public facilitation for the past 15 years, and is currently completing her PhD in Transgenerational Trauma. She has an

5 MA in Clinical Social Work and a postgraduate diploma in Art Therapy. Shiri has worked extensively with Aboriginal families in Australia. In Israel she assisted newly arrived Ethiopian mothers and children in reconciliation efforts between Bedouins, Arabs and Jews, and in other conflict-resolution groups. In New South Wales she designed and ran a group for mothers and their children in Emu Plains Correctional Centre. In Sydney s suburbs she developed groups for parents and children who had experienced trauma, called Free to Be Me. Shiri has also worked with an NGO to design programs that help to heal the lives of traumatised children and their parents in 43 Aboriginal preschools in NSW. Shiri was awarded the role of Reconciliation Ambassador to represent the Australian Association of Social Work and as an acknowledgement of her work. Shiri recently had a chapter published in: Evidence Discovery and Assessment in Social Work Practice: and two chapters in Transgenerational Trauma and the Aboriginal Preschool Child: