Therapeutic Approaches
in Art Education

This session consists of a series of three self-paced online modules that will provide a practical guide for those who wish to support therapeutic art making in their art teaching practice. Dr. Lisa Kay offers key elements, approaches, and practical guidelines for therapeutic art education with students who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and trauma. During the three online classes, Dr. Kay will share curricular resources and educational art making strategies she has created to help students communicate their ideas, express/contain emotions, and self-regulate. These strategies will provide teachers with confidence to support their students’ health and wholeness through art.

Certificate of Attendance supplied for a maximum of 4 hours.

Module 1: Foundations

Addresses art education’s historical influence on art therapy highlighting commonalities and differences between therapeutic art education and school art therapy.

Curricular Resources include:

• What is an Altered Book? Play Sheet
• A Guide to Similarities and Differences between Art Teachers and Art Therapists
• Resource List

Module 2: Trauma-Informed Practices

Addresses trauma-informed approaches, characteristics, principles, and models for art education, including why they are effective with students who have had adverse childhood experiences.

Curricular Resources include:

• Trauma-Informed Strategies for the Art Classroom
• Resource List

Module 3: Taking Care

Addresses how to use art for taking care of yourself as well as other people. This session offers suggestions for what teachers can do for themselves or others after a traumatic event is experienced.

Curricular Resources include:

• Cone of Light Meditation
• Guided Meditation for Cone of Light
• Visual Note Project
• Resource List