Work at the Clay Field ®

The DVD of the Masterclass with Heinz Deusser will be availble from January 2010.

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May 2007: Cornelia's book about her work now published.

Publication Information

What is Art Therapy

Art Therapy is a very young profession, yet for thousands of years art has been used to express emotional, cultural and spiritual needs.

Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy. It is not about learning art techniques or the production of aesthetically pleasing pictures, nor are special artistic skills or talents relevant to the process.

Art Therapists are trained at Masters Level and are registered with a professional body: ANZATA, The Australian and New Zealand Art Therapy Association

Art Therapy is suitable for all age groups and is practiced in a variety of mental health institutions, also in prisons, nursing homes and schools. It has proved a valuable therapeutic tool for those who have suffered emotional, substance and sexual abuse. It is used in the context of family therapy, social work, counselling and personal development.

Drawing, painting and sculpting can be a way to find intuitive answers to unresolved questions. They can provide nurturing, structure and inspiration in times of stress, burnout and disease. It can heal old wounds, transform emotional turbulence and show the way out of spiritual depression.

Art Therapy, similar to music therapy and drama therapy, has the invaluable advantage of allowing expression without words.

Art Therapy can offer a range of different art making tools:

• working with chalk crayons and oil pastels
• finger paints, water-colours and acrylics
• plasticine
• clay
• mask making
• collage
• sand play
• even computers and photography

Visual tools such as magazine pictures, photographs, Tarot cards, Angel Cards, toy figures can stimulate the inner process, and can be combined with the art making process.

Many art therapists will in addition use counselling techniques based on:

• Narrative Therapy
• Process Oriented Therapy
• Active Imagination
• Gestalt Therapy
• Myths and Fairytales
• Jungian Depth Psychology
• Transpersonal Psychology
• Bodywork
• Meditation

Art Therapy - Cornelia Elbrecht - Private Practice and Certificate Training Program

Cornelia Elbrecht has a private practice and provides a certificate training program in art therapy.

Cornelia's training courses and workshops take place at Claerwen Retreat at Apollo Bay in Victoria, or she travels to other cities in Australia. She also works each year in Europe.

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