Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and professional development as you gain the practical tools and theoretical knowledge needed to confidently lead therapeutic art sessions.
FUNDAMENTALS OF THERAPEUTIC ART MAKING
An Artful Path to Holistic Wellness
Whether you’re an artist, mental health specialist, caregiver, coach, social worker, educator, or community leader, you have the potential to elevate both your practice and the welfare of your clients through the tool of creative expression. During the Fundamentals of Therapeutic Arts training, I will guide you in harnessing and channeling this innate artistic wisdom using an empirically-backed, immersive approach.
3-day online training
3-day online training (Fri-Sun, 9-4:30pm each day), conducted through zoom.
Upcoming Dates:
July 3–5, 2026 | 9:00 AM–4:30 PM Eastern Time (3 spots left)
August 14–16, 2026 | 9:00 AM–4:30 PM Pacific Time
September 11–14, 2026 | 9:00 AM–4:30 PM Eastern Time
Pre-requisite
This training requires no prior formal art training or education. A background in therapy and counseling techniques is helpful, but not necessary.
Payment Plans Available
Why choose this training?
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Ella Dufrene is a Registered Art Therapist, educator, and retreat leader. For more than a decade, she has helped individuals, groups, and helping professionals harness the transformative power of creativity for self-discovery, personal growth, and meaningful connection.
She holds a Master's Degree in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute and has spent the past ten years facilitating therapeutic art-making experiences in clinical settings, retreat environments, community programs, and private practice.
Ella is passionate about helping therapists, educators, coaches, wellness practitioners, artists, and curious creatives develop a deeper understanding of how art-making can support reflection, self-expression, and well-being. Her teaching style is experiential, engaging, and grounded in both research and lived practice. Participants don't just learn about therapeutic art-making—they experience it firsthand.
Drawing from art therapy, mindfulness, somatic awareness, nature-based practices, and expressive arts approaches, Ella creates learning environments that are both professionally enriching and personally transformative.
Whether you're looking to expand your professional toolbox, deepen your relationship with creativity, or learn how to facilitate meaningful art-making experiences for others, Ella's goal is to help you leave feeling inspired, confident, and equipped with practical tools you can immediately apply in your life and work.
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Our curriculum will equip you with proven tools needed to make a lasting impact and guide you through applying the transformative power of art.
Our methodology, although systematic and research-based, acknowledges individual learning styles and tailors our course accordingly. We focus heavily on practical application and experiential learning, ensuring not just knowledge acquisition, but its application too.
Enhancing Therapeutic Skills: Learn practical skills to incorporate therapeutic art into your practice through hands-on experiential learning.
Driving Career Development: Equip yourself with the necessary tools to professionally integrate art into your practice.
Fostering Personal Growth and Self-Care: Discover how art can serve as self-care to alleviate stress, enhance self-awareness, foster creative coping mechanisms, and uplift mood.
Creating Community Impact: Learn to run therapeutic art classes or programs, enabling communal growth through art.
Promoting Creative Expansion: Overcome artistic blocks and expand your creative capabilities while understanding the therapeutic benefits.
BONUS: Receive 50+ meaningful art making directives with complete instructions on how to apply them to your individual practice.
Madison’s Testimonial
Our Curriculum
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Intro and Overview:
Experiential Self-Reflection Collage
Sharing, responses, discussion
Creative Mental Health Practices and Theories 101
What is Art Therapy?
What is Therapeutic Arts?
Who Benefits from Art Therapy & Therapeutic Arts Settings?
Sharing, responses, discussion
The Sensory Use of Clay:
Clay as a Tool for Meditation
Transformative Powers of Clay
Meditation, Mantra & Clay Experiential Activity
Sharing, responses, discussion
Understanding the Meaning of Mandalas:
Jungian Archetypal Symbols & Themes
Experiential activity
Neurobiology of Creative Expression
Neuroplasticity
Neurogenesis
Neurotransmitters and creativity
Self expression and memory
Dopamine and creativity
Serotonin and creativity
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Rorschach’s Method :
Psychological Assessment Test - Theory & Technique
Experiential activity
Sharing, responses, discussion
Eco-Therapeutic Arts:
Nature as Setting
Nature as Subject
Nature as Material
Existential
Experiential activity
Sharing, responses, discussion
The Power of Materials in Influencing Expression and Facilitating Therapeutic Outcomes
Drawing (pastels, colored pencils, markers)
Painting (watercolors & acrylics)
Sculpting (clay & found objects)
Collaging
Mindfulness-Based Therapeutic Arts Approaches & Theories:
Self-Compassion
Becoming the inner witness
Meditation
Visualization
Experiential activity
Sharing, responses, discussion
Integrating Movement & Music in Therapeutic Arts:
Authentic Movement Theory & Technique
Intuitive Painting Theory & Technique
Experiential activity
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Somatic Application in Therapeutic Arts:
Theory & practice
Body Scan Experiential
Effective Group Session Structuring and Facilitation
Initial consult- Identifying & assessing client needs
Setting up
Illustrative Case Examples
Building Rapport
Materials
Group Structure
Educating
Themes
How to work with specific audience to meet certain goals
Dealing with resistance
Music
Practical Application
Planning & sharing in break out rooms
Putting The Work Into Practice:
Cultivate your unique creative voice and boost your confidence through hands-on practice. Each training participant will have an opportunity to co-facilitate a directive and receive feedback from peers.
