Do you love using creative approaches to help your clients be more engaged, express themselves, and find new insights?

Are you looking for a deeper, more integrated understanding of how to use creative arts approaches in therapy?

Do you want to be more confident in choosing the art directives and media that will best help your clients?

Fundamentals of Art in Therapy is a 12-hour online course that will give you essential knowledge that you need if you are using art and creativity in therapy. 

Topics include:
The benefits of art in therapy
Your role as the creative therapist
The Expressive Therapies Continuum as a framework for using art in therapy
How to understand client art
Using art to help clients express emotions and build healthy coping
Practicing mindfulness skills through art
Art directives to help with identity exploration
Special considerations when working with groups and families
Ethics related to art in therapy

Guided art experiences throughout the course will help spark your own creativity and enhance learning.

What To Expect:

The course is 6 units and you can expect each unit to take about 2 - 2.5 hours to complete.  Six APA-approved CE credits available upon completion (sponsored by CE-Classes.com).

The online platform allows you to work with your own schedule and at your own pace.

You will learn through informational videos, readings, short reflection questions, and experiential art activities. 

In addition to several ideas for art directives to use with your clients, you will get the knowledge and tools you need to be able to tailor art in therapy interventions to individual clients. 

You will also be able to build community and get consultation through our Discussion page and private Facebook group.

Please keep in mind that this is not an "art therapy" course as art therapy is a profession that requires a Master's degree education and involves much more than can be covered in this online course. Instead, this course is designed for counselors and therapists who want to incorporate creativity and art into the work they are already trained to do.

Course Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  1. Explain at least three benefits of integrating art into therapy and counseling.
  2. Describe the role of the therapist/counselor in facilitating art in session.
  3. Select appropriate directives for your client’s needs.
  4. Use non-directive art with clients when appropriate and in a helpful way.
  5. Explain how different art media can impact the creative experience. 
  6. Discuss special issues when working with more than one client at once, like a family or group.
  7. Identify potential ethical issues and plan to respond to challenging situations that may arise. 
  8. Identify clinically significant components of the artwork and describe how to discuss these components with clients.

Are you ready to bring more creativity to your clinical work?

Enroll now!

Course Curriculum:

  • 1
    Welcome
  • 2
    Basics of Art in Therapy
  • 3
    Exploring the Art - Talking About and Looking at Client Art
  • 4
    Art for Emotional Expression and Identity Exploration
  • 5
    Art for Mindfulness and Relaxation
  • 6
    Art With Families and Groups
  • 7
    Ethics and Clinical Challenges
  • 8
    Conclusion
  • Welcome Course Info Suggested Art Supplies Course Objectives & CE Information Tips for Uploading Your Images Handout of Art Experientials (for your reference)
  • Unit Overview and Directions Personal Creativity Reflection Notes Handout - Basics of Art in Therapy Week 1 Intro Introduction to Art Therapy Benefits of Art in Therapy The Therapist's Role Quiz - Basics of Art in Therapy Art Experiential #1 - Your Therapist Identity Collage
  • Unit 2 Overview and Directions Notes Handout - Exploring The Art Week 2 Intro Talking About The Art Looking At and Understanding the Art Art Experiential #2 - Emotions and Colors Art Experiential #2 Worksheet - Emotions and Colors Developmental Stages in Art The Expressive Therapies Continuum Quiz - Exploring The Art Art Experiential #3 - Expressive Therapies Continuum Integration Self-Reflection - Exploring the Art
  • Unit 3 Overview and Directions Notes Handout - Art for Emotional Expression and Identity Exploration Week 3 Intro Art for Expressing Emotions Art for Positive Coping Art for Self-Expression and Identity Exploration Quiz - Art For Emotional Expression and Identity Exploration Self-Reflection - Art For Emotions Art Experiential #4 - Emotion Series
  • Unit Overview and Directions Notes Handout - Art for Mindfulness and Relaxation Week 4 Intro Mindful Approaches to Art Art Experiential #5 - Mindful Mandala Directives For Mindfulness Practice Art Experiential #6 - Draw Your Breath Art Experiential #7 - Mindful Painting/Drawing to Music Art Experiential #8 - Contour Drawings Quiz - Art for Mindfulness and Relaxation
  • Unit Overview and Directions Notes Handout - Art With Families and Groups Week 5 Intro Art With Families and Group - Benefits and Things To Consider Family and Group Directives Art Experiential #9 - Kinetic Family Drawing Art Experiential #10 - Family Strengths and Values Collage Quiz - Art With Families and Groups
  • Unit Overview and Directions Week 6 Intro Notes Handout - Ethics and Clinical Challenges Ethics and Clinical Challenges Reading - Should Therapists Make Art With Clients? Reading - What Do You Do With The Art After Therapy? Additional Ethics Resources Quiz - Ethics and Clinical Challenges Art Experiential #11 - Growth Sculpture
  • Completing the Course Course Evaluation CE Credits - How To Take The Post-Test and Get Your CE Certificate

Instructor

  • Carolyn Mehlomakulu

    Owner/Instructor

    Carolyn Mehlomakulu

    I believe that art and creativity can be healing and bring meaning to our lives. As a therapist, I integrate art in to my work to help clients express emotions, uncover new possibilities, find joy and meaning, and experience the healing benefits of creativity. I am a Board Certified Art Therapist and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor. I am currently in private practice and work with children, teens, and young adults to overcome depression, anxiety, and trauma. I also have experience working in in-patient settings, foster care groups homes, community mental health, schools, and probation services. You can learn more about my work at www.therapywithcarolyn.com. I founded the Creativity in Therapy blog in 2012 as a way to share my knowledge and love of art in therapy with others. You can see the blog at www.creativityintherapy.com 

Bonus Material

  • Downloadable Handouts

    Note PDFs in each unit can be downloaded for ongoing reference. The handouts will include the essential information from the unit, as well as all the art intervention ideas that are shared, so you don't have to take notes.

  • Consultation

    Have questions or want some consultation as you go through the course? All participants will be able to discuss, ask questions, and get suggestions through a private Facebook group and a course Discussion group.

Feedback from past participants:

“I loved the activities!! It was great to go through the process our clients would be going through and see how they would experience it. I feel like the course was amazing! I learned a lot! I appreciated having the notes already set up. The videos were engaging, and I felt like the course was easy to navigate.”
– JoLynn

“The art activities were engaging and they built from quite simple to more complex...a well-paced progression. I loved the process of making art and I feel that I now have "permission" to be comfortable  with and not critical of making art, in whatever form it takes…I found the entire course to relevant and excellent! I know that I will be trying different activities with my clients ...I will be doing so with a new, intentional approach and more attention to process.”
– Caroline

“I enjoyed stretching myself…My favorite part of the course was doing the art…It was fun and challenging at the same time. I tend to judge my art, and I was able to let go and just 'do it' for the most part. I want to pursue using art more and more with clients, and especially begin to align the types of materials I use to their needs.”
– Maribeth

“This class is inspiring me to go back and get a master’s in art therapy! Loved the class, and I appreciated being able to do it at my own pace/ according to my schedule.”
– Jennifer

“I felt that every activity was very productive and with a lot of significance, the theory always connected with the work and I always found meaning in them. I also felt the works challenged my imagination and allowed me to have inspiration and creativity too. I think every part of the course is important and it has information rich in content and allow the participant to work with it. I am grateful!”
– Adriana

FAQ

  • Who is this course for?

    This course is for all licensed and pre-licensed counselors and therapists that want to use art and creativity in their clinical work. Maybe you are a mental health professional who is also an artist and you want to be able to bring these two parts of your identity together. Maybe you love to find creative activities to engage your clients, but want to have a more integrated approach. Maybe you want a deeper understanding of what your clients are expressing in their art and how it is helping their healing and growth. This course is considered Intermediate level. You should have a master's level foundation in mental health treatment, but do not need any previous knowledge about art-based approaches. (If this course isn't right for you, be sure to look at the full list of available courses at https://creativityintherapy.thinkific.com/collections)

  • Does this course give me the education to do Art Therapy or be an Art Therapist?

    No. Art Therapists (and Expressive Arts Therapists) attend graduate level 2-3 year training and have extensive supervision. There is a lot more to "art therapy" than what is covered in this course. However, this course aims to help other clinicians use art with their own scope of practice, so that they can help their clients in a way that is better informed, more effective, and ethical.

  • I'm not sure I have time to do the course right now. Can I sign up later?

    One of the great advantages of an online course it that you can work at your own pace and around your own schedule. If you are interested in the course, I encourage you to sign up now and then work through the course when you are able. The only deadline to be aware of is that in order to qualify for the CE credits, you must complete the course within 6 months.

  • Do I need to have art supplies or anything else?

    You'll need a variety of art materials to complete the hands-on art experiences. Supplies that you'll need include collage images, drawing media like pencils and markers, paint, and your choice of 3D media. I'll share a list of suggestions of some of my favorite materials, but feel free to use anything you already have. You also need a camera (phone is fine) to photograph and upload your completed artwork for each unit.

  • What if I have questions during the course?

    I'll be happy to help! Email me at anytime if you have questions about the course or the material that you are learning. If you are wondering how to implement the ideas with particular clients or need more resources, feel free to ask by email, in the Facebook group, or in the course Discussion feature.

  • Can I get CEs for this course?

    A Certificate of Completion will be provided for all participants when they complete the course. If you choose, you may take a post-test through our co-sponsor CE-Classes.com to obtain their certificate for 6 APA-approved CEs (available for MFTs, professional counselors, social workers, and psychologists). Licensed professionals should consult their regulatory board rules to verify that this course meets their requirements. CEs may be used for ATCB re-certification, but art therapists are encouraged to verify the current CE requirements.

  • What types of clients will these ideas be helpful for?

    In my own work as an art therapist, I use art with a wide variety of clients and this experience is reflected in the course. So whether you work with children or adults, individuals or groups, in a private practice or a more intensive setting, this course will have helpful information and ideas that you can put into practice.

  • What if I'm still not sure this course is for me?

    Feel free to email me if you have other questions before signing up. You can reach me at [email protected].

Price: $150

Cancellation/refund policy: You may cancel for a full refund within 48 hours of purchase. No refunds will be given if more than 25% of the course has been completed

I'm so excited to have you join me for this new course! Art can be an amazing tool to help your clients express themselves, grow, and heal. You will leave the course with a deeper understanding of what your clients are communicating in their art, how the art process can facilitate change, and how you can better guide your clients through creative healing.

Grievance Policy

Creativity in Therapy seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner. Please submit a written grievance to: Creativity in Therapy at [email protected]. Grievances would receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems. 

Accommodations for the Differently Abled

Individuals needing special accommodations, please contact: Carolyn Mehlomakulu, carolyn@creativityintherapy, 512-660-7279.

Conflicts of Interest

There are no known conflicts of interest for the course.

CE Approvals

Creativity in Therapy is co-sponsored by CE-Classes.com. Current CE approval and co-sponsorship is through Nov 1, 2025 (with plans to renew annually).

CE-Classes.com is approved by: 


• The American Psychological Association (APA) CE-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• Florida Certification Board
• The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider #852 BAP-Expires 3/31/2025
• The California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
• California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-12-174-0225 Expires 02-2025
• The Texas Board of Social Work Examiners – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
• The Texas Board of Professional Counselors – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education.  Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
• The Texas Board of Marriage & Family Therapists – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
• Massachusetts Authorization Number: (TBD)
• Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board - Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
• New York Social Work Board – CE-Classes.com is recognized by the New York State Education
Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0120.
• New York Mental Health Practitioners Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0260.
• New York Psychology Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0211
• Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (LPCs, LMFTs and LBCs)
• South Carolina - CE-Classes.com is approved by the S.C. Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapist, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#4696).
• Illinois - CE-Classes.com is a registered social work CE sponsor by the State of Illinois. License 159.001607 Expires 11/30/2025
• The Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #: 50-4896) Expires 10/31/2026 Do not send certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing. You must keep this certificate for 4 years.
• The California Board of Registered Nursing. CEP 15647 Expires 11/30/2024.
• This course is NOT available for NBCC credit
• This training does not offer ASWB ACE credit to social workers.

This material is for informational purposes only. It should be used within the context of appropriate clinical licensure. This course is not intended to provide mental health treatment or replace graduate level training in mental health.