This book presents a collection of practical exercises, games, structures and techniques for use by art therapists, teachers and other groupwork leaders working in schools, hospitals and day centres.

This elementary school art education workbook presents activities and lesson plans that encourage, stimulate and facilitate creative expression. The author shows how to use art in a more meaningful way than usual in the elementary school setting. Rejecting the product-oriented approach, she details instead a method that helps the child explore who he or she really is, to accept that person, and to change and grow. While the book is light-hearted - not at all the ponderous tome its purpose may suggest - it does indeed show how to promote therapeutic expression and how to use art to deal with problems and meet psychological needs. The activities are geared toward these ends. Divided into three sections, they focus on awareness of self, others and the environment; acceptance; and experimentation and exploration. The lesson plans provided within these sections have been tested and proven successful. They provide information on materials and tools, procedures, directions, goals, target populations, evaluation, resources and notes. A final section contains miscellaneous materials valuable in conducting group art therapy sessions.

Build social-emotional skills with art therapy activities for kids ages 6 to 9 Making art is a great way for kids to sort through their emotions and learn how to solve problems in creative ways. This standout choice among art therapy books for kids is filled with activities for you and your child, whether you're looking for a fun weekend activity with high social-emotional value or you need in-the-moment strategies for resolving conflict. Together, you'll learn how to harness the power of art to soothe worries, get organized, ease transitions, and much more! Lots of ways to get creative—Explore projects organized by artform: drawing and painting, building and sculpting, cutting and pasting, dancing and music making, and acting and storytelling. Art therapy activities made easy—Each activity includes a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, and helpful tips. Keep an eye out for discussion questions to inspire deeper conversations with your child! Simple materials—There's no need to buy fancy or expensive materials for these activities! You might even have most of them on hand, like paper, pens, construction paper, and a device to play music. Encourage good behavior and help your child thrive with Art Therapy Activities for Kids!

The purpose of Art Therapy is to create an oasis of time to allow the brain and body to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate itself, while exploring the creative process of manipulating design elements such as line, shape, form, space, texture, tone, and color. Art Therapy can help people express themselves more freely, improve their mental health, and improve interpersonal relationships. The basis of Art Therapy is established on the idea that people can recover and feel better via artistic expression. There is increasing evidence in rehabilitation medicine and the field of neuroscience that art enhances brain function by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions and the nervous system. Art can also raise serotonin levels. These benefits don’t just come from making art, they also occur by experiencing art. As an Art Facilitator, I have thoroughly tested all the activities in this book over many years and with a variety of people. Many activities are structured to encourage team work, problem solving and communication as well as individual creativity in a relaxed, social environment. I was always surprised and impressed at the results. While each activity focuses on one of the main categories (brain, senses, memory, teamwork and loss) all of them involve a number of skills. The results can be different with each new group and even when presented to the same group again.

Art Therapy Techniques and Applications contains an original composite of therapeutic goals and evocative ideas that can be used with a wide variety of clients. This book is filled with innovative suggestions and plans that are easily implemented: from brief warm-ups to stretch the imagination, and collage and mask creations to assist the expression of mood, to guidance on combining modalities such as art, metaphors and movement, mindfulness exercises, and using computer programs to enhance art therapy projects. Clear and concise, this is an indispensable reference guide for the therapist who wants to improve focus, develop problem-solving skills, and add creativity to their group work. This book will appeal to art therapists, art therapy students and professors, counselors, and social workers.

Specific examples and real reminiscences.