Healing Power of Art and Palliative Care

Healing Through Art: Train the Trainer

Art is experiential – it is a “doing process.” It is also very personal. Creating art is a journey of personal expression and self-awareness. Using art to express what is inside of ourselves is a powerful means of easing pain, both physical and psychic, and of better tapping into the power of self-awareness to heal.

What before seemed unbearable, can be reborn through art into something bearable.Darley & Heath, 2008

As recognition has grown for the power of self-expression to aid in the healing journey, the Institute has created a fully online, instructor-led course to provide individuals with the skills needed to help others use the power of art in their own healing journey.

Healing Through Art provides participants with an understanding of why visual arts are so powerful in healing, and how to facilitate others in exploring, through their own art and self-interpretation, that which can strengthen and speed healing, and that which may stand in the way. Not art therapy training, this course is designed to help participants create a safe and open framework for others to express themselves … no interpretation by others needed or allowed!

A professional and personal learning experience, made more powerful by the instructor sharing her art. I am so grateful for the opportunity. Thank you very much.

This course is ideal for:

• Healthcare professionals and volunteers including nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, chaplains, and volunteer coordinators
• Community workers or leaders, individuals in faith ministries and groups/organizations
• Others wishing to facilitate art healing activities

Click HERE to Join the Interest List and get the Brochure.

In this course, participants will first be led through their own art healing experience, then will gain tools for working with others on their journey.

Fully online and instructor-led, you will participate in this course with a small group of colleagues over 6-weeks. In addition to providing information including tools, readings, video clips, and Internet links, this training program will lead you through a number of experiential activities that will give you a better understanding of how the healing process through art can be facilitated by the freedom of art. You will also create and facilitate an art experience for an individual or small group.

Upon completion of this course students should be able to:

• Discuss what to expect from the “Healing Through Art: Facilitator Training Program”
• Discuss and write about their own thoughts and feelings about the creative process, and about artists
• Describe what is meant by the terms “healing arts”
• Explain the basic constructs that form the foundation for healing through art
• Explain how and why art heals

This course was very informative and inspirational! I made such meaningful connections with everyone involved. I wish it did not have to end. Healing arts is a gift that I cannot wait to share with my community. Not only has this course helped me with my research, it has assisted me in my personal life as well. Thank you!

Course Information

This six week course will take you through topics to equip you to conduct and facilitate a Healing through Art program.

Topics include:

• An Overview of Art and Healing
• A History and Background of Healing Arts
• The Client-Centered Approach
• How to Structure Healing Arts Sessions
• Addressing Client Concerns to Start the Work and Build Rapport
• Activities for Conducting a Healing Through Art Workshop/Session Using Specific Media and Methods
• Communication to Promote Insight and Healing  
• The Value of Group Work and Group Communication Skills
• Dealing With Difficult Issues That May Arise
• Completion of a Design-Your-Own Visual Arts Activity

My favorite part of the workshop was the individual art creations and self-evaluations. I got to examine my thoughts through a medium that was new to me. Also viewing and listening to other’s interpretations of their projects.

Materials student will be required to provide for themselves:

• Art journal: This should be a large notebook that has unlined paper in it
• Paper 14X17 (heavy drawing paper or water color paper)
• Set of watercolors & paintbrushes
• One of the following: a set of pastels or colored markers

Course Instructor:

Nancy Helgeson, LMFT, will lead the first cohort class of Healing Through Art.

Nancy is an “artist at heart” who is also a Board Certified Coach and a Licensed Psychotherapist (LMFT). For the last 30 years she has been privileged to work with leaders, career transitioners, teams, couples, and individuals from all walks of life. Her work focuses on utilizing a variety of modalities to bring out the best in individuals and organizations.

Nancy is Founder and Sr. Partner of Collaborative Solutions, a firm specializing in career and executive coaching, and psychotherapy. For the last 28 years she has served as an executive coach and facilitator for the Center for Creative Leadership.

She is also a certified SoulCollage facilitator.

Nancy was a participant in the first “Healing Through Art” course, and completed a group practicum at Camp Pendleton with brain-injured marines.   She uses a variety of art therapy techniques in her coaching and therapy practice, and continues to enhance her practice through her own continuing education in the creative arts

Course Information