USING EXPRESSIVE ARTS IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOTHERAPY with JON BLEND MA
Dear All,
we are proud to invite you to Jon Blend’s workshop, on the above topic which will take place on September 30th 2016 and October 1st 2016 in Krapinske Toplice, hotel «Toplice“, Croatia.
This ‘hands on” introductory workshop utilises a gestalt therapy approach to working with children and young persons. It draws inspiration from the pioneering work of child psychotherapist Violet Oaklander (www.vsof.org) that puts the relationship between therapist and child at the heart of the therapeutic process. The course may also interest those wishing to explore their own relationship with creativity and/or play.
Children use their contact skills (senses, body, feeling, intellect) as natural relational tools. Troubled youngsters often struggle to make good contact however and tend to restrict healthy expression of their feelings. Others possess a poor sense of self. Therapy encourages exploration of these difficulties; as children and adolescents develop awareness of their needs and wants they become better able to communicate these in a dialogue. This in turn enables them to make practical and relational choices that foster resilience and enhance their ability to cope.
This practical ‘taster’ workshop introduces some ways of working therapeutically with young people using the Oaklander approach and Lifemusic.* Topics covered include therapeutic drawing, clay and music-making.. Participants will gain some safe, practical skills suitable for engaging children and adolescents in the therapy process.
Jon Blend MA is a Gestalt/Integrative adult and child psychotherapist (UKCP registered) clinical supervisor, international trainer, writer and musician. His background includes extensive years working in social work, family psychiatry, private practice (psychotherapy) and in performing arts. Jon teaches psychotherapy at the Minster and Gestalt Centres in London, nationally and abroad. He became a guest tutor with the Oaklander Foundation in 2004. Jon also mentors for “ B.A.S.E. Baby Watching UK “ an international Attachment-focussed project. As a Lifemusic practitioner and Playback Theatre performer Jon in interested in “communicative musicality” (Trevarthen, 2008) and the sound and movement of dialogue. He believes that a Lifemusic approach to musical improvising offers a fun, socially inclusive therapeutic tool that enhances self -expression and fosters wellbeing. For more information see www.gacp.org
We look forward to your participation!
