The second edition of Art Therapy course scheduled from March 15: VCUarts
- 4 years ago
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation partner university, has announced the second edition of Foundation in Art Therapy course which will run from March 15 to 25.
The course mainly focuses on those desiring to pursue a career where they can use art to support the vast and broad community. The foundation in art therapy course is accredited by the British Association of Art Therapy (BAAT).
The course which was launched on the spring of 2020, is organised by Sara Powell, a VCUarts Qatar alumna, and the founder of ATIC, a psychological and counselling center in Dubai. Powell has gained an MA majoring in Art Psychotherapy from LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore, and is a member of the professional association for Creative Arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and Asia (ANZACATA).
Expressing her enthusiasm in commencing the course, Powell said: “We are excited to open registration for the Foundation in Art Therapy course approved by the British Association of Art Therapy, for March 2021. The course takes into consideration cultural diversity and the needs of our community. The benefit of the course is that it offers opportunity to add onto one’s professional framework or alternatively be used as a means to further explore art therapy as a potential future profession.”
Michael Perrone, a faculty member at VCUarts Qatar and one of the participants in the first edition also said that, “The course was really enjoyable and was a thorough introduction to the concepts and history of Art Therapy. We had both lecture-based presentations and hands-on art activities - which reinforced concepts discussed in the presentations.”
Art therapy course which comes in all its key forms like performing, visual, literature, cultural, online and so on has a broader range of therapeutic applications in addressing conditions, syndromes, diseases and social situations including dementia, strokes, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, child abuse, depression, bipolar disorder, suicide, schizophrenia and substance abuse.
Various studies shows that not merely the patients are benefitted, it is inclusive of the health care workers as well as they partake in the art therapy courses. Improved communication, collaboration, self-awareness, sensitivity and empathy, were just some of the emotional benefits reaped by participants – all of which were factors that prompted VCUarts Qatar to take the lead on initiating the course in the region last year.
Aysha AlKooheji, Program Manager for Community & Continuing Education, VCUarts Qatar highlighted that, “The inaugural art therapy course was quite successful and proved to be beneficial for our participants.”
He further added that, “The positive feedback from them prompted us to offer the program this year again. Aside from the therapeutic benefits, learning the skills to be an art therapist demonstrates the different pathways open to art and design graduates. Additionally, the course also equips professionals with techniques that can be used in their own jobs.”
Globally, art therapy is increasingly being acknowledged as an effective tool to promote well-being. The 2019 WHO report on the effects of art on human health cited how in the UK an initiative called Arts on Prescription has been used for around two decades, as part of broader social prescribing schemes.
Individuals who approach their primary care doctor with nonmedical problems such as isolation, anxiety, loneliness and mild depression - which is the case in 20–30% of all visits to doctors in the United Kingdom - or who require additional psychosocial support for their physical or mental health, are seen to benefit from this program, as well.
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