Lecture Notes: Online Art Therapy with Carla Van Laar

Introduction

• Speaker: Carla Van Laar, Art Therapist from Australia.
• Location: Usually in Melbourne, currently in Inverloch due to lockdown.
• Experience: Over five years of working online with individuals and groups.

Purpose of Presentation

• To discuss key ideas related to online art therapy:
  • Creating engagement online.
  • Ensuring safety in virtual sessions.
  • Reimagining play in an online environment.

Key Associations and Resources

• ANZACATA: Australian, New Zealand, and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association for technical and ethical guidelines.
• Art Therapy Online: A Facebook group for sharing ideas and resources.

Creating Engagement Online

• Initial Contact:
  • Use social media or emails to invite participation.
  • Quick follow-up with interested individuals.
  • Offer a phone call to discuss online working experience and comfort.
• Technology Setup:
  • Use platforms like Zoom; offer a practice session.
  • Walk through basic troubleshooting and controls.
  • Emphasize playing and exploring the platform together.

Ensuring Safety

• Environment Setup:
  • Discuss privacy, lighting, and background setup.
  • Consider using headphones for privacy if needed.
• Session Recording and Privacy:
  • Discuss recording policies; reassure non-recording unless agreed.
  • Clarify chat download capabilities and privacy.

Addressing Concerns and Loss in Connection

• Therapists' Concerns:
  • Loss of connection and playfulness in online settings.
  • Encourage exploration of associations with computers vs. play.
  • Merge play and computer associations to enhance online therapy.

Activities and Warm-ups

• Mandala Drawing Exercise:
  • Engage participants in creating art together online.
  • Encourage improvisation and collaborative drawing.
• Creative Community Initiatives:
  • "Painting from the Pantry": Using household items for art.
  • "Mandala a Day Challenge": Daily shared mandala creation.

Community Art Projects

• Lockdown Art Exhibition:
  • Online platform for global artists to share work.
  • Encourages connection through art during lockdown.
  • Invite participants to contribute and comment on others' artwork.

Conclusion

• Art Therapy Online:
  • Create spaces for unseen stories to be visible and shared.
  • Art therapy online is about safety, improvisation, and play.
• Further Resources:
  • Visit CarlaVanLa.com for more videos under "Art Therapy First Aid".

Take-Home Message

• Create safety, improvise, experiment, and play when moving art therapy online.