Foundation to Drawing and Talking Therapy

The Foundation to Drawing and Talking Therapy is the starting point for all delegates participating in our curriculums.

Delegates are introduced to and explore the world of Drawing and Talking, as a therapeutic play technique. From the perspective of Jungian psychology, human beings have the innate ability to self-heal through accessing their collective unconscious. We use this collective consciousness to give meaning to the world. Carl Jung understood that the unconscious mind is often working creatively and symbolically to solve problems outside our awareness, delivering its insights through dreams, intuition and play.

Drawing and Talking Therapy works beyond our often limited cognitive functions, or logical and sequential processing, to support the healing of trauma. Working in the realm of the unconscious often has a profound impact on a person's life both socially and emotionally, by giving us space to process emotional pain safely and gently, a non-directive approach.

Delegates also spend time during the day in collaboration with each other to explore John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. In particular, we look at how Drawing and Talking Therapy is used to create secure attachments and re-program, even if an individual presents as not having a secure attachment style or has experienced broken attachments and unsafe separations in the past.

The Foundation course is not just about the theory behind Drawing and Talking, it also includes significant experiential components that delegates are required to participate in. This includes allowing an opportunity to develop the skills and techniques required to be able to successfully ‘hold’ another human being emotionally. This is an essential component of the therapeutic process and relationship.

Delegates will see, throughout the day, how drawings change over time as this powerful, yet safe, healing process takes effect.

Drawing and Talking Therapy enhances a service provider's ability to support the emotional wellbeing of the people in its care and goes beyond asking “Why?”. This creates the emotional space needed to reflect, process and heal.