ABSTRACT

This chapter describes a method of informing people about art therapy through experiential learning. The model that we have developed works with the evolutionary processes that are common to all groups. It recognises the powerful potential of a whole group to contain the participants, which enables them to learn both experientially and cognitively. In order to demonstrate the potency of the process, and to illustrate some of the basic principles of practice, we give the participants a ‘live’ experience of art therapy whilst also speaking to the theory. We identify the processes of the group and actively illuminate them through explanation of here and now material which we relate directly to art therapy clinical practice. In this chapter we will describe our approach, setting it in the context of the literature and illustrating it through a description of an introductory group.