Keynote 1
Brain-Wise and Heart-wise expressive arts: Caring service
to children, adults and communities
DR Cathy Malchiodi
Dr. Malchiodi is a licensed and board-certified art therapist, licensed mental health counselor,
certified trauma specialist and research psychologist with 25 years of experience in the areas
of trauma intervention, creative arts therapies, expressive therapies and arts in healthcare.
She is the author and editor of 14 books including Handbook of Art Therapy (2012), Creative
Interventions with Traumatized Children (2008), Expressive Therapies (2006),
Understanding Children’s Drawings (1998) and The Art Therapy Sourcebook (2006), among
others. Dr. Malchiodi has written more than 100 articles and chapters for journals, internet
media and books. She also has given over 300 keynote presentations, courses, and workshops
throughout the US and internationally and is on the faculties of many colleges and
universities including Lesley University and Prescott College where she teaches graduate
level expressive arts therapies courses. In 2010, Dr. Malchiodi founded the Trauma-Informed
Practices Institute to help professionals learn the importance of arts-based and mind/body
approaches to trauma intervention and promote research on trauma-informed practices with
children and adults.
Dr. Malchiodi is the recipient of many awards including Kennedy Center Honors, Very
Special Arts International Commendation Award, Distinguished Service and Clinical Awards
from the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), and a Presidential Award from the
Association for Humanistic Counseling. She is also the recipient of AATA’s highest award,
the 2002 Honorary Life Member Award. In 2011, she received the William Steele Award for
her outstanding contributions to the field of trauma intervention. Dr. Malchiodi is one of the
founders of Art Therapy Without Borders (ATWB), a non-profit organization that promotes
art therapy and service around the world, and serves as its President. As part of her work with
ATWB, she is the Chief Officer for the International Art Therapy Organization, a network of
professionals and students interested in the advancement of art therapy worldwide.
When we seek to help others in need through arts therapies, we meet individuals where they are in
their healing and recovery, responding with both insight (knowing what one feels) and empathy
(knowing what others feel). The expressive arts therapies emphasize senses, feeling and non-verbal
communication, establishing a different type of attunement between the practitioner and the
individual or group less dependent on words.
In this interactive keynote presentation, conference participants will be engaging in two different art
experiences— one to build empathy with others and the other to support connection. Bring your
creativity, compassion and collaborative spirit to this action-oriented and artful session!
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2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Keynote 2
Now I See the Moon: A mother, a son, and the miracle of
autism
Elaine Hall
Referenced by the New York Times as the “Child Whisperer,” Ms Elaine Hall is
a Hollywood Acting Coach and star of the two-time Emmy Award winning HBO film,
AUTISM: The Musical. When traditional therapies did not work for her non-verbal
son, adopted from a Russian Orphanage, and diagnosed with autism at age three,
Elaine developed her own methodology using music, movement, and acting to reach
him. Slowly he emerged out of his inner isolation into the happy, bright,
communicative young man that he is today. Ms Hall developed these methods into
creating The Miracle Project, a groundbreaking, evidence-based inclusive musical
theater program. She has been lauded by the Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe,
The New York Times and featured on CNN, HBO, CBS Morning News, Oprah Winfrey
Network, NPR and Showtime for her unique approach to understanding autism. The
United Nations selected Elaine’s memoir, “Now I See the Moon,” for World Autism
Awareness Day 2011 where she is a consultant and keynote speaker; She was
nominated in Los Angeles Magazine as one of the top 50 most inspiring women in Los
Angeles and is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of arts, inclusion and
autism.
In this inspiring and motivating speech, Ms Elaine Hall will share her journey from being a
successful Hollywood Acting Coach; to being a homebound single mother with a severely autistic
son; to developing a groundbreaking methodology requested internationally. She will show early
video clips of her son, scenes from the award winning film, Autism: The Musical, and reveal videos
of her now adult son and his progress into his own celebrity.
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2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Master Class
Jane Ferris Richardson
MC1
Playful art/Artful play
Dr. Jane Ferris Richardson, EdD, LMHC, ATR-BC, RPT-S, is a Board-Certified Art
Therapist, Registered Play Therapist and Play Therapy Supervisor, and mental health
counselor. She is an Associate Professor and core faculty member in art therapy at Lesley
University in Cambridge, MA. She holds a doctorate from Boston University, where she
was managing editor of the Journal of Education, and a master's degree from Lesley.
She is also an exhibiting artist who has studied in New York and France, and with the
Japanese painter Kaji Aso in Boston. Her work with expressive “languages” for children
with autism has led her to collaboration nationally and internationally, in Africa, Asia, and
Europe. She has published and presented her work on autism and art therapy, play therapy
and autism, and the importance of multiple languages for expression. Her practice of art
therapy focuses on children, including children on the autism spectrum, and their
families. Her most recent publication is the chapter on autism in the Wiley Handbook of
Art Therapy (2016).
Play helps us to enter more deeply into communicating the feelings and stories behind our
images. The integration of art and play has important therapeutic implications for children with
learning differences and children on the autism spectrum.
In this workshop, we will create images with a variety of art materials and processes. We will also
explore the “world” of the sandtray and using the images we have created for play in the sand.
Participants will understand three ways in which sandtray play supports the communication of a
personal narrative in therapy and three ways in engaging children more deeply in play through art
making. We will explore a range of art materials to create images to be used in play, and understand
both the sensory properties of these materials, and how these properties are especially significant for
children with learning differences.
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Master Class
Joanne Lara
MC2
Autism Movement Therapy ~ Waking up the
brain
Ms Joanne Lara, MA, CCTC M/S Ed Specialist, Adjunct Faculty National University, Founder
AMT, is a professional dancer (Louis Falco) turned classroom education specialist turned
university professor. She has dedicated her life’s work to improving the lives of individuals with
autism through movement and music. Her advocacy has led to founding the nonprofit
organization Autism Movement Therapy®, which lectures, certifies, trains, and licenses
dancers, educators, parents, and professional service providers across the world. Ms Lara is also
a core adjunct professor at National University in LA, California, and helped design the Autism
Certificate. She was the Technical Advisor/Autism Consultant for Kiefer Sutherland’s FOX TV
show Touch. Ms Lara earned her master’s in special education, Moderate/Severe and Multiple
Disabilities, from California State University, Northridge.
Ms Lara produced the award-winning documentary Generation A: Portraits of Autism and the
ARTS (Raising Autism Awareness Award Golden Door International Film Festival) with Temple
Grandin, Stephen Shore, Ed Asner, Elaine Hall, and more. She is a columnist for Autism
Asperger’s Digest and authored the recently published methods book Autism Movement
Therapy® Method: Waking up the Brain! for Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
This Expressive Arts Workshop session is designed for educators, service providers, special
education teachers, students, parents, administrators, paraprofessionals, art & music teachers,
dancers, psychologists and EVERYONE interested in exploring movement and music as a vehicle
for growth & expression for individuals on the autism spectrum. This workshop provides hands on
walk away tools plus a strategies hand out.
The workshop includes a 45 minute Autism Movement Therapy® movement class, detailing the
benefits of connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain through movement and music
sensory stimulation for a "whole brain" cognitive re-mapping approach to increase desired behavior,
on-task activity, social skills, speech and language skills in individuals with autism and related
disorders. (Please come dressed and prepared to move/dance.)
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2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Master Class
Elaine Hall
MC3
The miracle project, an evidence-based
social skills program using music, dance,
theater and the arts
Referenced by the New York Times as the “Child Whisperer,” Ms Elaine Hall is a
Hollywood Acting Coach and star of the two-time Emmy Award winning HBO film,
AUTISM: The Musical. When traditional therapies did not work for her non-verbal
son, adopted from a Russian Orphanage, and diagnosed with autism at age three,
Elaine developed her own methodology using music, movement, and acting to reach
him. Slowly he emerged out of his inner isolation into the happy, bright,
communicative young man that he is today. Ms Hall developed these methods into
creating The Miracle Project, a groundbreaking, evidence-based inclusive musical
theater program. She has been lauded by the Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe,
The New York Times and featured on CNN, HBO, CBS Morning News, Oprah Winfrey
Network, NPR and Showtime for her unique approach to understanding autism. The
United Nations selected Elaine’s memoir, “Now I See the Moon,” for World Autism
Awareness Day 2011 where she is a consultant and keynote speaker; She was
nominated in Los Angeles Magazine as one of the top 50 most inspiring women in Los
Angeles and is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of arts, inclusion and
autism.
In this interactive workshop, Ms Elaine Hall will share her techniques on how to use music,
movement and improvisational theater activities in an inclusive setting to enhance communication,
increase self esteem and ease anxiety for those on the autism spectrum. Activities developed for The
Miracle Project, an evidence-based socialization program profiled in the award winning HBO film,
Autism: The Musical will be included. Data from a published study, sponsored by the National
Endowment for the Arts, on the use of inclusive theater will be presented. Ms Hall will show videos
and lead a sampling of activities so that participants will have the opportunity to experience her
unique approach first hand.
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2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Master Class
Cornelia Elbrecht
MC4
Sensorimotor art therapy: Guided drawing
Ms Cornelia Elbrecht BA. MA. (Art Ed), AThR, SEP, has more than 40 years of
experience as an art therapist. She is also a Somatic Experiencing trauma therapist
(SEP). She has studied at the School for Initiatic Art Therapy in Germany, also Jungian
and Gestalt therapy, Bioenergetics and bodywork. She is founder and director of the
Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy, School for Initiatic Art Therapy. She worked as
founder, co-worker and trainer in 'Neuenzell', a centre for self-awareness and
meditation in the Black Forest. She is also the founder and director of 'Claerwen
Retreat' in Apollo Bay, Victoria. She has lectured in Art Therapy at RMIT, Melbourne.
Ms Elbrecht is a registered professional member of ANZATA, the Australian and New
Zealand Art Therapy Association and ACATA, Australian Creative Arts Therapies
Association and ILAAA International Life Alignment Association. She gives courses
and individual sessions internationally, throughout Australia and in private practice in
Apollo Bay and Melbourne.
Guided Drawing is a body-focused drawing technique providing an archetypal structure that applies
the philosophy of Jungian Depth Psychology to universal and formal elements, such as a line or a
circle or a square (Elbrecht 2006). Clients draw on a large sheet of paper with closed eyes and a
crayon in each hand in a bilateral way. Individuals will use scribble-style movements to express for
example the movements that create “a lump in the stomach”, rather than drawing an image of their
inner organ. Clients then draw what they need in order to release inner tension or emotional charge.
In this session, participants will experience the effectiveness of Guided Drawing.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Master Class
Dr. Cathy Malchiodi &
Dr. Elizabeth Warson
MC5
Visual journaling for stress reduction and
healing
Dr. Malchiodi is a licensed and board-certified art therapist, licensed mental health counselor,
certified trauma specialist and research psychologist with 25 years of experience in the areas
of trauma intervention, creative arts therapies, expressive therapies and arts in healthcare.
She is the author and editor of 14 books including Handbook of Art Therapy (2012), Creative
Interventions with Traumatized Children (2008), Expressive Therapies (2006),
Understanding Children’s Drawings (1998) and The Art Therapy Sourcebook (2006), among
others. Dr. Malchiodi has written more than 100 articles and chapters for journals, internet
media and books. She also has given over 300 keynote presentations, courses, and workshops
throughout the US and internationally and is on the faculties of many colleges and
universities including Lesley University and Prescott College where she teaches graduate
level expressive arts therapies courses. In 2010, Dr. Malchiodi founded the Trauma-Informed
Practices Institute to help professionals learn the importance of arts-based and mind/body
approaches to trauma intervention and promote research on trauma-informed practices with
children and adults.
Dr. Malchiodi is the recipient of many awards including Kennedy Center Honors, Very
Special Arts International Commendation Award, Distinguished Service and Clinical Awards
from the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), and a Presidential Award from the
Association for Humanistic Counseling. She is also the recipient of AATA’s highest award,
the 2002 Honorary Life Member Award. In 2011, she received the William Steele Award for
her outstanding contributions to the field of trauma intervention. Dr. Malchiodi is one of the
founders of Art Therapy Without Borders (ATWB), a non-profit organization that promotes
art therapy and service around the world, and serves as its President. As part of her work with
ATWB, she is the Chief Officer for the International Art Therapy Organization, a network of
professionals and students interested in the advancement of art therapy worldwide.
There are a number of proven health benefits correlated with art making. For instance, engaging in
brief art making has been shown to enhance immunity and decrease cortisol levels. Although, many
of these benefits can be transferred to the effects of the visual journaling process, research on the
specific effects of visual journaling demonstrated a decrease in anxiety levels and negative affect. As
a result, there is growing evidence for visual journaling as a promising intervention for stress
reduction.
The visual journal successfully combines written and visual interventions allowing for the experience
of both emotional satisfaction and cognitive awareness. Participants will experience a variety of
journaling approaches that are grounded in emerging research and based on historical foundations of
journaling for emotional reparation and wellness. Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Dr. Monica Wong, Godot
Theatre Company, Ms. Joyce Tsai
and Ms. Niu Xiao Na
MC6
Master Class
Never ending story: A trio storytelling feast
of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland
China
Dr. Monica Wong, author, clinical psychologist, registered art therapist, regional representative in
Asia for the Australian Creative Arts Therapies Association, the first trauma specialist and trainer in
Asia certified by the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (USA), founder of the
Psycho-Art Therapy Association, advisor of the Eugene Group, academic director of the Hong
Kong Institute for Counseling Professionals and the Psycho-Adventure Training Center, and
founder of the Society for Junior Writers of Hong Kong. She has recently developed her own
clinical model: narrative drawing intervention (NDI). Since 2008, she has led 14 voluntary trips to
the earthquake-hit areas in Sichuan and will lead another helping professional team to Nepal for
trauma work after the disastrous earthquake in 2015. She also chaired an international conference
on art therapy in China in May 2013 and is chairing another one in Hong Kong in May 2016.
Ms Joyce Tsai, director of the History Alive Program of the Godot Theatre Company in Taiwan.
She is an actress, teacher and director. She was graduated from Taipei National University of the
Arts with major in Theatre Arts, Acting (MFA). Since 2000, she has been working in the Godot
Theatre Company as well as an acting teacher in the university. Since 2006, she has led the Project
History Alive for serving the elders and children using art. She is the key person who makes the
project, which was rooted, grown and localized in Taiwan, a popular one.
Ms Niu Xiao Na, art therapist and guzheng player, was graduated from Sichuan Conservatory of
Music in professional music therapy. She has been working in the Shanghai Mental Health Center
as an art therapist. At the same time, she has been actively participating in the Shanghai Bureau of
Drug, the community, and psychological training and treatment work. She has translated and
published the Music Therapy Clinical Training Guide.
Every one loves listening to story - no matter whether you are a king or a three- year-old kid. In fact,
drama, music, visual arts, literature and history and even everyday news - all are about telling stories
in its own way. In individual counseling and therapeutic groups, storytelling plays a vital and potent
role. Target audiences not only include children, but also adolescents and adults. Storytelling helps us
develop the skills to survive multitudinous life situation, especially through our hard times. In many
clinical cases, the clients are so distressed that they are unable to tell their experiences directly.
However, storytelling provides an effective means of communicating what the clients find it very
difficult to discuss directly. The therapeutic process will begin accordingly.
How does a story bring you into experiences you have never encountered before? How in the process
do you discover a new self? How do you express yourself freely in a comfortable state of mind? How
can the conclusions of stories bring you unexpected feelings and power? You will find the answers to
all these questions in the workshop.
The ‘storytelling feast’ will guide you to travel from a children’s home in Hong Kong, to the
earthquake-hit areas in Sichuan, then crossing the strait to Godot Theatre in Taipei, where a
progression of: Rejuvenation of history by stories; Transformation from stories to life theatre;
followed by Performance on stage, will be experienced. Last but not least, the ‘storytelling feast’ will
lead you to a hospital in Shanghai, where the integration of story and other arts means in dealing
with psychiatric cases and inpatients will be witnessed.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Paper Presentation / Mini Workshop
Aurora Luna Walss
Mexico
A1
Art Therapy online for Latin American
people: An experience of meaningful
learning
Ms Aurora Luna Walss is a Mexican Visual Artist and Architect. She got her
master degree in Education from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and is
currently pursuing a master degree in Family and Couples Psychotherapy. She is also an art therapy
practitioner with extensive experience. She developed and is developing art therapy programs that
are based on Positive Psychology with focus on art therapy as a frame to the development of a good
life.
The paper aims to share the acquired experience of the two-year journey of an innovative, proactive
and pedagogically supported educational proposal in which art therapy is taught online, linking
Positive Psychology principles, art therapy activities and individual reflections. The therapeutic
process is inclusive and culturally friendly, and has treated about 300 Spanish-speaking students in
Latin America and Europe, primarily artists, psychologists and educators.
Jojet Lamberto Mondares
The Philippines
B1
A healing journey through art therapy: A
case study of a pediophobic young adult
Jojet Lamberto Mondares is a registered psychologist and psychometrician
who is currently pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy in Development
Education at the University of Baguio, Philippines and attained his Master of
Science in Psychology at the Saint Louis University, Philippines. He practised at various
psychological services and medical centres, and was instructor and psychologist at the Philippine
Military Academy of Philippines.
In this paper, the researcher presents a single subject study illustrating how he used cognitive
approaches in art therapy with a 21 year old male with pediophobia. He hypothesized in this study
that art therapy interventions within the framework of cognitive behavioral therapy would help a
young adult reframe his thoughts and eventually confront his fear of dolls. The researcher confirms
that art therapy interventions within the framework of cognitive behavioral therapy can help a young
adult reframe his thoughts and eventually confront his fear of dolls.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Paper Presentation / Mini Workshop
Laura Andrew
Canada
C1
Art for cultural expression and connection: A
therapeutic art group with international
students
Ms Laura Andrew, BSc, DKATI, is a member of the Canadian Art Therapy
Association and currently works as an art therapy clinician with children and
youth in schools. She discovered the field of art therapy in 2011 and graduated last year from the
Kutenai Art Therapy Institute in Nelson, British Columbia. Her background in science and the crosscultural experiences she gained living internationally provide her broad lens to see people and the
world and guide her work as a humanistic and culturally sensitive art therapist.
The intention of this research study was to explore the value of a therapeutic art group for
international high school students. Contingent to this study are the assumptions that art is a universal
language which transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, and that creative expression is inherently
healing and life-enhancing. Findings reveal many benefits of an art as therapy modality in supporting
international students who face the intrapersonal and interpersonal challenges of living and studying
in a host country. Through creative expression and social connection, the art group allowed
international students a safe and supportive environment to explore and express aspects of personal
and cultural identity, learn interpersonal skills, improve linguistic and cultural fluency, and enjoy the
connection and creativity of the art group experience.
Dr. Gaetano Giordano
Italy
D1
Video Movie Therapy
This paper introduces the Video Movie Therapy (V.M.T) - a peculiar form
of art therapy based on the creative, expressive, and self-referred
potentialities of videotape. It is a group therapy for which the aim is the
production of an ironic and caricatural videofilm in which each participant
of the group plays his own “character”. The basic point of this theory is that
psychotherapy is a kind of theatre, just as theatre is a kind of psychotherapy: the connection is
therefore to the “catharsis” that ancient greeks aimed to inspire in the spectators of their tragedies
and comedies. The patient who plays himself can therefore experience how his living “himself” can
be perceived as the fruit of his own invention.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Paper Presentation / Mini Workshop
Ruth Wishengrad
USA
E1
The healing power of changing your tune
Ms Ruth Wishengrad has a Masters in Education from Lesley University and
has been teaching, training and mentoring individuals for over 25 years. She
believes the biggest challenge children face is clearly and effectively expressing
their thoughts and feelings. She has developed a program called, "Songs to
Change Your Tune™" to teach children meaningful tools to build strong self-concept, self-respect
and self-esteem through fun, infectious melodies, rhythms and movements.
This workshop is based on the research and activities developed in the book - Songs to Change Your
Tune™: Increase Focus and Confidence Using Music and Movement. Songs to Change Your Tune™
teaches children through a systematic approach of connecting positive messages using music and
specially choreographed movement to learn through play. Participants will learn while experiencing
the step-by-step creative and highly effective approach to support children in their social and
emotional growth.
Claire Lester
UK
A2
Implementing art therapy at the British
International School Phuket, Thailand
Ms Claire Lester is the Art Coordinator at the British International School
Phuket, Thailand. In 2012 she started training to become a Clinical Art
Therapist with IPATT in Bangkok and CiiAT in Canada. Driven by her own
life experiences including surviving the Asian Tsunami in 2004, recently she has embarked on
implementing art therapy into the school she has worked at for 13 years. This presentation will show
artwork made by her clients who have a range of needs from traumatic brain injury, behavioral and
social issues, grief due to loss of a parent, suffered some type of abuse or is being abused, witnessed
a traumatic event, self harming, gaming addiction, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, exam anxiety
and stress and Dyslexia.
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2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Paper Presentation / Mini Workshop
Mohd Makzan Musa
Malaysia
B2
“I Want My Baby”
Mr Mohd Makzan Musa is a senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology
& Counseling, School of Applied Psychology, Policy and Social Work,
University Utara Malaysia. For the past ten years, he has been a volunteer
using creative arts therapy interventions at several shelter homes for various
marginalized groups particularly in the northern region of Malaysia.
The purpose of this study is to explore the psychological experience of grief and loss among young
Malay unwed mothers who experienced psychological distress due to prejudice, discrimination and
stigmatization and were forced to give away their illegitimate newly born child for adoption. Results
of this study demonstrated the usefulness of arts and craft activities as a creative psychological
intervention to acknowledge the feeling of loss and grief.
Lynn McKnight
USA
C2
Using art therapy with multi-cultural
acquaintance rape trauma
Ms Lynn McKnight, LPC, LPC/S, CCS, MAC, ATR-BC, is a boardcertified, registered art therapist who has worked in the field for over 30
years. She received her master’s degree in art therapy from the Expressive
Therapies Institute, at the University of Louisville. She was Director of
Clinical Services at Crossroads Center and Director of Pavillon Outpatient Centre and is currently
Director of Counseling Services for the American University of Antigua’s College of Medicine,
faculty member in the behavioral sciences and neuroscience department, and consultant with
Crossroads Center as their art therapist.
This presentation will focus on a case study that exemplifies the complexities and idiosyncrasies of
race and culture issues when working with acquaintance rape. This case presentation will highlight
the techniques used in art therapy sessions, as well as engage the audience about the multi-cultural
issues that were important to understand from both a therapeutic and legal perspective. The desire is
for the audience to share their own experiences working specifically with trauma resulting from
acquaintance rape, and to discuss their thoughts on how much culture may have come into play in
this case and possibly cases that they would like to share.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Paper Presentation / Mini Workshop
Krupa Jhaveri
India
D2
Sacred & therapeutic arts of India
Born in the US and of Indian ethnic origin, Ms Krupa Jhaveri is the
founder and art therapist for Sankalpa: Art Journeys, a non-profit effort
based in Auroville, South India. The mission of Sankalpa is to provide
supportive spaces, resources and education for original self-expression,
nurturing awareness reflected in art; as well as to facilitate global art exchanges, bridge barriers
between cultures and explore transformation through connection. With formal graduate art therapy
training from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, she has experience working with children and
women with HIV/AIDS, in child protection, in art exchanges between youth/adults of differing
backgrounds, in Trauma-Informed Art Therapy, and in the combined practice of Art and Yoga. Ms
Jhaveri is an Ambassador to India for Art Therapy Without Borders, with recent presentations on
traditional arts and therapeutic awareness in NYC, China, Hong Kong and India.
This presentation brings us to Indian culture which has an ancient and rich history in the arts. Various
traditional art forms hold layers of wisdom through metaphor and symbolism, which is central to the
use of art as therapy. There is a rapid decline in understanding and interest in the deeper symbolism
of traditional art form. In sharing these art forms around the world, there is also a rich reflection of
the human experience and the reason that these traditions might have originated. To offer these
creative yet ancient rituals as a form of therapy is a restorative tool for Indian culture to survive
change, while bringing deeper understanding to those who learn to use them.
Anita Toutikian
Lebanon
E2
Clay therapy for victims of sexual assault
Ms Anita Toutikian is an established Lebanese artist who has shown her
work internationally and received many prizes. She has worked as an art
teacher, school counselor, university lecturer, and an art therapy trainer
with many institutions. She is a clinical psychologist and an art therapist
practicing in Beirut.
Ms Anita Toutikian will share her experience on clay therapy as a visual and sensory modality in
helping victims of sexual assault to access, handle, express and tame traumatic memories. This work
guides the victim towards gradually translating body feelings into clay, like telling without speaking,
and breaking the wall of silence with small cracks, and initiating the process of eventual catharsis.
Participants of the workshop can work with clay individually or in groups, depending on the
availability of space, time and material at the workshop venue.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Paper Presentation / Mini Workshop
Monica Finch
Australia
A3
Processing children's hurt and fear with art
therapy: Assisting children who have
experienced family violence to feel better
Ms Monica Finch maintained private practice in art therapy, ballarat art
therapies and is a family support worker in a community agency. She
completed an Advanced Diploma in Transpersonal Art Therapy and MA
Art Therapy at Latrobe University in Melbourne. She has worked in various settings including
private practice, schools, community health, public hospital and non-government agencies. With ten
years of experience, Monica has special interests in addiction and recovery, family violence, trauma
recovery, palliative care and bereavement.
A powerpoint presentation of case studies documenting the journey of three individual children
struggling to deal with the effects of family violence will be discussed. This presentation will touch
on the effects of family violence on children such as displacement, family estrangement and
emotional distress and will demonstrate how working from a person centered art therapy approach
informs the process and provides solutions to the challenges of working with cultural differences and
inherit difficulties when working with supporting children. Participants will be given a simple
activity which was used in the case study as experience.
Dr. Hu Bing Shuang
China
B3
Painting Therapy
Dr. Hu Bingshuang is a professor at Sichuan University; Doctor of Medicine
and Post-doctorate of Preventive medicine at Fudan University; and a
psychiatrist. She researched and practiced medicine/mental health treatment
in Mongolia, Moldova, Morocco, USA and Bulgaria. She conducted
assessments and treatments of painting art in treating psychosomatic
disorders, schizophrenia, dementia, hysteria, autism, eating disorders, etc.
Dr. Hu believes that painting directly projects clients’ inner world which may be empty, arbitrary,
ruminated, crushing, etc. Through painting, clients can express themselves more sincerely and purely
in an unusual yet original and creative style. The process allows clients to experience and express
their inner world and find their real selves, potential, values, as well as new way of life.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
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Paper Presentation / Mini Workshop
Jeanette Chan
Singapore
C3
Inside out… outside in: An experiential
workshop in exploring the emotional tangle
between the therapist and client during the
therapeutic process
Ms Jeanette Chan is a registered art therapist with Art Therapist
Association of Singapore (ATAS) and Australian & New Zealand Arts Therapy Association
(ANZATA). She holds a Masters of Arts, Art Therapy degree and qualifications in counseling
psychology. Her love for art and aspiration to work in the helping profession motivated her mid
career switch after 13 years in the corporate sector. Jeanette works mostly with children and young
adults, in both educational settings and intervention programs. She also works with person with
special needs (e.g. elderly with dementia, youth with learning disabilities etc.).
The terms “transference” and “counter-transference” are familiar amongst therapists and most mental
health professions. Ms Jeanette Chan will lead us to explore how art making is equally important for
therapists and clients. This experiential workshop will tap on the therapeutic properties of art making
into exploring the various emotions experienced by the therapist in the therapeutic process.
Kotch Voraakhom &
Prim Pisolayabutra
Thailand
D3
Creative Art therapy in Buddhist hospice
In Buddhism, death is considered the most liberating and important stage
when one confronts the reality of letting go into spiritual freedom. Through
this study, accepting the inevitability of death is the ultimate goal with the
implementation of Creative Art Therapy (CAT.) In this ongoing research, in
collaboration with researchers and physiatrists from Faculty of Nursing,
Chulalongkorn University, we believe
that CAT will help alleviate end of life suffering for cancer patients allowing an easier transition to
the acceptance of death for them, together with the caregivers and their loved ones. The letting go
process through CAT activities are aimed to establish the appropriate method that suits our patients
in the context of the Buddhist Hospice at the Arokhayasala Khampramong Temple Hospital, Sakon
Nakorn, Thailand.
Our creative art therapy, with the use of art and music devices, involves Buddhist Psychology and
Palliative Care. The Buddhist teaching, self dialogue through CAT and meditation in action has been
applied in the very heart of activities to ask, to prepare and to help patients and participants
confronting change in whatever the mind and emotional stage they are presently in.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
!15
Paper Presentation / Mini Workshop
Shireen Yaish
Jordan
E3
Art therapy in Gaza and Syria: “You think
you get used to it and it becomes normal?
There is nothing normal about this
normal.”
Ms Shireen Yaish, trained and qualified at Goldsmiths College, University
of London in Art Psychotherapy, is the founder of Kaynouna Arab Art
Therapy Center; the first Art Psychotherapy Center in the Middle East. Ms Yaish is a well-known
speaker in Art Psychotherapy in the Arab region. She has experience working in health sectors,
including mental health hospitals, refugee camps and difficult places such as Gaza and southern
Lebanon. She has offered individual Art Psychotherapy sessions and Art Psychotherapy groups to
over 700 Syrian and Palestinian refugee children and women in different refugee camps and
community settings in the Arab world.
This presentation introduces the Art Therapy Therapeutic Introductory Workshops which were
provided for social workers and psychologists of an NGO based in Gaza, Palestine by Kaynouna
Center. The workshop was divided into two parts; the first was a presentation of case studies of Art
Therapy Sessions provided by Kaynouna Center in different parts of the Arab World and the later
was an Art Therapy Group. The paper will discuss the containing effect the Art Therapy Groups had
on the trainees and children when they were given a safe space to make real art and express their
traumatic feelings.
Updated on 13.4.2016
2016 Intl Conference on Art Therapy
!16