March 24, 2009

Teach Children to Paint through the Pain
CBU to Host Child Art Therapy Training Workshop

Christian Brothers University (CBU) will host a two-day child art therapy training workshop, on Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 from 8 a.m. 5 p.m. in the Cooper-Wilson Center for Life Sciences, Room 105.

Catherine Rogers Jonsson, MFA, MA, ATR will facilitate the workshop, teaching participants numerous techniques to help children work through problems from various parts of their lives. She will present art therapeutic exercises that provide an artistic outlet for children to access their emotions. The first day will focus on the basic history of art therapy and the persons instrumental in developing this field of practice. Day two will include hands-on experiences to teach participants treatment exercises.

Art therapy uses the creative process to relieve stress, boost self-esteem and self-awareness, and resolve internal conflicts. It is an established mental health profession that mixes visual art with counseling and psychotherapy to treat several vastly different issues including anxiety, abuse, social apprehensions and addiction.

Jonsson is a registered art therapist with the American Art Therapy Certification Board. She received a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from University of Wisconsin and a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from Columbia University. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Stephens College; Columbia, Missouri and has studied European Art History at the University of Memphis.

To register for the workshop, visit http://www.paintedchild.com.

For more information about the workshop, contact Lanie Smith at laniesmith1@gmail.com. ###