Mindfulness Based Art Therapy »

What is it? – Meditation with Creative Expression

Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) was designed to help people develop health promoting skills. The emphasis of the session is on learning meditation techniques, stress-reduction skills and creative modes of expression. MBAT uses the body and art-making as tools, rather than words. It focuses on full experience of the present moment.

Who is it for?

Anyone who would benefit from the following:

• An increased ability to cope more effectively with stressful situations.

• An increased ability to relax.

• Greater energy and enthusiasm for life.

• Heightened self-confidence.

Structure

The sessions will be structured to provide a time to learn the meditation and relaxation techniques, followed by an opportunity to explore the sensations and emotional responses that arise out of the practice creatively, in a variety of ways:

• Free artistic expression using art materials.

• Using or creating mandalas (symmetrical patterns within a circle).

• Through spontaneous authentic movement (brief witnessed free movement).

Participants may give feedback and share significant elements of any part of the experience towards the end of the session if they wish. This will provide a space to think about things differently.

All artwork will be stored confidentially whilst the group is in process. Members are free to take their work at the end of the group if they wish.

No previous meditation, art making or authentic movement experience is needed.

Aims

Using a variety of meditation techniques participants are guided to re-orientate their world-view and shift their focus from being external, fast paced and distracted to one of self-awareness and self-compassion.

Potential Outcomes

• MBAT facilitates a sense of control for participants, through awareness that they have the choice to view their experience as usual, or to alter their relationship to particular aspects and events.

• This goal is accomplished by learning self-awareness through directed observation (mindfulness practices) and creative expression of internal thoughts and emotions (Art Therapy).