Introduction to Art Therapy - SAED9008

This course aims to explore the integration of art and therapy in theory and practice. Subject matter will include theories of personality and self development; theoretical approaches to psychotherapy including - psychodynamic - Jungian humanistic - existential - gestalt - transactional - cognitive/behavioural - systematic - implosive/flooding - rational. The history of art therapy - the difference and relationships between art teaching and art therapy. The use of metaphor - images and symbols in conscious and unconscious messages. Perceptual processes and their implications for the art therapist. An examination of mythical and archetypal in art. The notions of primary events as causal antecendents in behaviour. Overview of possible applications and appropriate settings for the use of art therapy by the art educator.