Introduction and Description

 

Art Therapy Techniques is an innovative professional development course designed for teachers, school leaders, counsellors, and educational staff who seek to strengthen wellbeing, emotional literacy, and inclusive practice through creative, art-based methodologies. Offered in both 5-day and 10-day formats, the course provides a rich, research-informed exploration of how artistic processes support emotional expression, self-regulation, resilience, and reflective learning across diverse educational environments. While not clinical art therapy training, the programme equips participants with a sophisticated understanding of how art-informed approaches can be integrated safely, ethically, and meaningfully into non-clinical school settings.

 

In today’s rapidly changing educational landscapes, schools face increasing demands to address student anxiety, behavioural challenges, burnout among staff, and the need for more holistic, emotionally responsive forms of teaching and learning. Art-based expressive practices offer powerful, developmentally appropriate tools for meeting these challenges: they help learners externalise complex thoughts and emotions, build a stronger sense of identity, and cultivate the emotional competencies required for successful participation in school life. For teachers, creative engagement fosters reflective capacity, stress reduction, and enhanced professional wellbeing—key factors in sustaining effective and compassionate educational communities.

 

The course situates art-based practice within contemporary educational frameworks such as Social–Emotional Learning (SEL), trauma-sensitive schooling, inclusive pedagogy, and whole-school wellbeing strategies. Participants explore the psychological, symbolic, and sensory dimensions of artistic expression while engaging in hands-on workshops with drawing, painting, collage, clay, mixed media, and guided reflective practices. Through facilitated discussions, case-based inquiry, and reflective analysis, educators learn how to design safe, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate art-based routines that promote emotional wellbeing, strengthen classroom relationships, and support the diverse needs of learners.

 

Both the 5-day and 10-day versions of the course offer structured, progressive learning pathways. The 5-day programme provides an intensive, practice-oriented introduction to key concepts and techniques, ideal for educators seeking immediate strategies for wellbeing and classroom climate. The 10-day programme extends this foundation through deeper theoretical study, expanded experiential exploration, and structured project development, enabling participants to design comprehensive art-based wellbeing interventions tailored to their school communities.

 

By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with an evidence-informed toolkit of creative strategies, a clear understanding of ethical boundaries, and a personalised art-based wellbeing plan ready for implementation. This course is particularly suited for Erasmus+ project teams, as it aligns with European priorities related to inclusion, mental health, learner engagement, teacher resilience, and innovative pedagogical approaches. Schools participating in Erasmus+ mobility projects will find in this course a valuable opportunity to strengthen their capacity to create healthy, emotionally supportive, and culturally sensitive learning environments.