arts for health
"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity", WHO
Engaging with the process of art making is a powerful task which helps calming the mind and relieving stress. Within a safe group, participants feel supported and encouraged to take risks, explore personal situations and express without judgment.Our approach is based on the principles of art therapy and use art therapy directives to help participants be creative, get in the flow, experience emotions and gain insights.
Promotion and Prevention in Mental health is as important as is for Physical health. Health is a Dynamic Process at its core and is about having the capacity to Self Manage physically, mentally and socially. People don't need to be ill to decide to take care of their mental health. Prevention for the mind is as important as is for the body.
Open to everyone!
Requires no prior skills in art making.
Art first became therapy in the 60's in the US. Kids with disabilities were the first audience of art therapy which quickly developed to a formal psychotherapy method also for adults. The first adults art therapy healed, were soldiers dealing with trauma, returning from the Vietnam War.
According to the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZATA), Art Therapy can help people resolve conflicts, develop interpersonal skills, manage behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and achieve insight. According to the British Association of Art Therapists, although influenced by psychoanalysis, art therapists have been inspired by theories such as attachment-based psychotherapy and have developed a broad range of client-centred approaches such as psycho-educational, mindfulness and mentalization-based treatments, compassion-focussed and cognitive analytic therapies, and socially engaged practice.
Over 3,000 studies conducted the last 19 years show evidence that engagement and participation in Arts has a positive impact on mental health.
Read the study here
Following Art Therapy's principles, we focus on the participants' creative process within a trustworthy relationship with a trained art psychotherapist. The focus of the art guided sessions in these retreats is on the art making process, which will evolve around the unconscious and the conscious; on metaphor and symbol. There are no rights or wrongs in this creative process and there is no need for an aesthetically pleasing result. The Art Therapist does not interpret the artwork but will encourage the participants to reflect upon what they've created, and how it relates to themselves. Sometimes using words alone is not enough to create awareness, convey meaning and encourage change. However words in combination with images bring new dimensions in our way of seeing and thinking. When there is awareness, change is enabled.
​
Participating in an Artful Retreat will at times feel fun, healing, creative, insightful but will certainly not be enough for treating a therapeutic objective which often requires longer treatment. For those who want to continue this mindful engagement and healing with art beyond the retreat could continue with private or group art therapy sessions back home.
During the retreat, emotions and memories might be stirred. Please note that, if required, 1-1 sessions can be available outside of group time to help you work through these.
​