Positive Psychology and Art Therapy

Discover strategies for using creative endeavors to increase wellbeing, meaning, and engagement in life. Specific therapeutic interventions will be taught using research-based principles of Positive Psychology in this enriching 3CE learning experience.

Positive psychology—at its simplest the proposition that psychology-as-usual has focused on pathology and mental illness at the expense of exploring strengths, resilience, happiness, and what makes life worth living (Seligman, 1999)—is now a quarter of a century old.

Despite the general assumption in the psychology world that it would gradually fade out of relevance, positive psychology is still going strong.

The same can be said about positive art therapy—the integration of positive psychology, the science of happiness and wellbeing, with art therapy—formally conceived in 2009 (Chilton & Wilkinson). 15 years later, many art therapists actively identify with and embrace a positive art therapy approach in research and practice. In addition, just as concepts from positive psychology have been subsumed into the vernacular of psychology in general, so too have they in the broader scope of art therapy; e.g. posttraumatic growth, resilience, benefit-finding, flow, positive emotions, hope theory; etc.

It can now safely be said that the relevance of positive psychology has been acknowledged in the field of art therapy. However, not surprisingly, there is far less reciprocal awareness in positive psychology and psychology in general of the benefits and impact of art therapy. It should be said that in positive psychology creativity and art have a fundamental role in wellbeing, unlike the broader scope of mental health where art therapy is often misunderstood and not viewed as “real” therapy. For example, Peterson and Seligman (2004) observed that “creativity is often seen as a sign of mental health and emotional well-being. In fact, various art and music therapies emerged that promote psychological adjustment and growth through creative expression” (p. 96).

In addition, many positive psychologists have recognized and incorporated the the expressive arts as a means of accessing positive emotions and increasing meaningful engagement. Nevertheless, there is less awareness of the breadth of influence art therapy can have in all of the areas that positive psychology addresses.

Wilkinson and Chilton (2018) carefully outlined what they call the Positive Art Therapy Manifesto which not only delineates, step-by-step, the role that positive emotions, engagement, flow, relationships, meaning, perception, and accomplishment have in art therapy but it conversely does the same in identifying how art therapy uniquely contributes to those domains.

Now that positive psychology has firmly taken hold in the world of art therapy, it is time to bring that level of understanding to the world of positive psychology. The seeds for doing are being planted and strategies for further implementing that vision will be explored.

In this class we will explore the following:

• An overview of the field of positive psychology.

• Who is happy, why be happy, and what is happiness, anyway?

• Definitions of optimism and pessimism.

• The evolutionary purpose of negative and positive emotions.

• The definition of positive traits such as character strengths, values, and talents.

• Can the creative arts therapies promote happiness and, if so, how?

• Strategies for using creative endeavors to increase engagement, mastery, and flow.

• Specific, research-based, therapeutic interventions to develop sustainable happiness.

Learning Objectives

• Attendees will be able to identify 3 core principles of positive psychology.

• Attendees will learn 3 ways that positive psychology principles are applied to art therapy theory practice and training.

• Attendees will identify 3 applications of positive art therapy.

Rebecca Wilkinson, LPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC is Licensed, Registered, and Board Certified art therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience. She is co-founder of Creative Wellbeing Workshops, LLC which provides individuals and organizations with training and resources for managing stress and increasing wellbeing. She also provides continuing education for mental health professionals and frontline providers on topics such as ethics, supervision, preventing burnout and compassion fatigue, increasing compassion satisfaction, and positive art therapy. She is co-author with Gioia Chilton, PhD, ATR-BC, CSAC of Positive art therapy: Linking positive psychology to art therapy theory, practice and research and teaches on the topic at the George Washington University’s Graduate Art Therapy Program.

Event Venue

Online