Women’s Christian College, in association with the East West Centre for Counselling and Training, has introduced a diploma course in ‘Expressive art therapy’.
According to Preetha Ramasubramaniam, who is trained as a Dance Movement psychotherapist from the UK, the therapy uses dance movements to connect to the self.
“It helps the people undergoing the therapy understand what is going on within one’s own self, which is missed out at times,” said Preetha She recalled an incident in which one of her clients suddenly remembered about her piano classes during finger movements. “Through this therapy, memories which are often forgotten are triggered at times. This therapy is often beneficial to people with communication problems,” she said.
Research shows that during specific movements, specific areas in the brain get stimulated. This therapy helps people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia (memory problems) and so on.
Preetha runs an organisation called the Kinaesthetic Organisation and had also conducted a certificate course for WCC students last year.
According to Veena Easvaradoss, HOD, Psychology Department, Women’s Christian College, the course is like any other diploma course involving assignments, reports and so on. It consists of three art therapy modules of 10 days each, spread over a year.
A five-day workshop on Dance Movement Therapy will begin from July 13 and will be held from 9 am to 4 pm every day at WCC.
According to Magdalene Jeyarathnam, director of West Centre for Counselling and Trg and Director, Indian Institute of Psychodrama, those who are unable to pursue the full course had enrolled only for dance therapy.
Veena and Magdalene, felt that the best part about this workshop was that the students themselves would be the practitioners. As such, it is easy for them to understand the process which helps them apply it on their clients. They also agree to the fact that since all of them are trained, their experiences would come alive while training others.
The one-year course, which includes various modules like music therapy, Playback theatre therapy, Art therapy, psychodrama and dance movement therapy, is open to students of sociology and psychology, psychologists, social workers, H R professionals, counsellors, special educators, child care professionals and people pursuing studies and practising in related areas are eligible for the course.
For details call 9884100135, 8754471275 or visit www.centerforcounselling.blogspot.com