Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Ecologies of Care in Art Therapy Training: Environments for Learning and Thriving

Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk

Description

An ecology of care is a restorative space for focus, rejuvenation and psychological
composure within art therapy education, practice and professional self-care. It is a nurturing and imaginative environment which bestows comfort as a hospitality focused art installation produced by art therapy learners and educators. Neuroscience research supports the significance of co-designed (collaboratively curated) art therapy learning environments to promote learner relatedness, conviviality and emotional security. These are attributes of not only active learning, but cognitive processing recognising the significance of each learner’s identity and preferences for engaged learning. The ecology of care ethos encourages belonging and mattering, two key attributes for thriving in higher education learning environments which supports both student experience and artistry. An ecology of care installation is also a model of practice for self-care at home, whereby art therapy trainees are curators of their own belongings, composing comfort zones with what they already possess.
Equally, an ecology of care can be co-produced with art therapy service users, who create a therapeutic assemblage using objects that mean something to their life experience.
Period21 May 2026 → 26 May 2026
Event titleNordic Art Therapy Conference : The Transforming Potential of Art and Imagination
Event typeConference
LocationTampere, FinlandShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

Keywords

  • Art Therapy Pedagogy
  • Ecologies of Care

Documents & Links

Related content