“”Art-therapy: a powerful therapeutic tool“”

COURSES for STAFF in SCHOOL EDUCATION

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Introduction

Art therapy represents a powerful therapeutic tool that uses the graphic-plastic arts to promote psychophysical well-being and personal development. Through the creative process, participants can express feelings, thoughts, and experiences that are difficult to communicate verbally, allowing a deep connection between emotions and logical thinking. 

This aspect is particularly important, as many of the emotional or psychological blocks are often related to the inability to recognize and give voice to what one is feeling. Art therapy, by involving all the senses, creates a safe space in which people can explore and reconnect with forgotten or repressed parts of themselves, contributing to the reconstruction of identity and inner balance.

One of the most obvious effects of this discipline is the enhancement of self-esteem and personal well-being. When an individual immerses himself in the creative process, he experiences a feeling of control and autonomy: he creates something tangible and unique, which is a direct expression of his inner world. This strengthens self-perception, improves self-image and enables more authentic and harmonious relationships with others. In addition, Art Therapy can help overcome fears and insecurities, as the artistic process allows psychological defenses to be broken down. Through the joy experienced in creating, mental barriers dissolve and the individual feels freer to express himself or herself without fear of judgment or failure.

Learning objectives

Through artistic work something very important takes place: the person implements a recognition of himself and his presence that can leave a trace. Moreover, at the moment when feelings and emotions are translated into the artistic object, a deeper process of self-understanding takes place. Being able to depict images, feelings and emotions by expressing them symbolically in a concrete visual form allows one to be able to observe them as something detached from oneself. Here then, even in the most suffering-laden images, a space for understanding and processing is created that can be of help to the individual in the search for new ways of interaction between his or her internal world and the external relational world.

Activities Programme

1^st day

Welcome meeting: presentation of Polaris staff & experts; briefing of the activities

Theory: Navigating through intuition and sensory perception

Practice: Exploratory self-portrait – perceiving myself through intuition

2^nd day

Theory: Developing awareness of empathetic listening skills

Practice: Empathetic self-portrait – how I think others see me

3^rd day

Theory: The right hemisphere of the brain and the creative process

Practice: Painting desires – expressing personal wishes and aspirations through painting

4^th day

Theory: Self-discovery and expression: the polarity of the soul

Practice: Painting personal polarity – representing the ideal and real versions of oneself

5^th day

Theory: The poetics of writing – expression of emotions and sensations

Practice: Creative writing – poetry and texts to express personal feelings and insights

• Case studies & simulations
• Resume of the course & learning
• Collecting of final feeds back 
• Assessment of learning outcomes
• Final evaluation of the course
• Visit to the city and surrounding area to discover the art, traditions, history, nature

Target groups

Teachers in childhood and school education.

Trainer

D. Silvia Tufano: Writer, painter, Pixar and Disney cartoonist, pedagogue and Human Rights Ambassador for the NGO Human Watch, social worker at juvenile prisons and social centers in the Naples area, adjunct lecturer University D’Annunzio of Chieti – Faculty of Sociology, Criminology Course.

Educational

Teacher’s slides and operative cards.

Other activities provided

• The last day of the course includes evaluation of the course, awarding of Certificates of Participation (2 hrs).
• The program provides also free cultural activities as visits to the city and surrounding area to discover the art, traditions, history, nature, typical foods, wine and culinary products of the area.
• Support in reservation phase for the transfer from the airports to Vasto and in research of a comfortable and suitable accommodation is provided based on the participants needs. Polaris will ask for a fee of 10% of the real cost.

Duration*

35 hrs (in class and practical training), 5 days from Monday to Friday (excluded travel days).

DATES

11/05-09 May 2025

14-18 July 2025

15-19 September 2025

Fee of course*

400 € per person

Working Language

English

*N.B.: the course dates and the duration could be arran