Art Therapy with Children and Adolescents

Experts from various professional fields in the context of disorders and illnesses in childhood and adolescence present theories and methods, alternating with case vignettes and practical exercises. Based on this, art therapy approaches are explored, discussed, and further developed for implementation in participants’ own professional practice. A forum for collegial exchange rounds off the programme. Behavioral issues are examined with regard to attachment disorders, school entry, and puberty as possible crisis phases in which children and adolescents may require special preventive support. Resource-oriented art therapy is intended to mitigate risk factors in chronically ill children and help develop personal protective factors, foster resilience, and improve the quality of life of those affected by highlighting self-efficacy.

Artistic therapists with a successfully completed university degree, a comparable qualification, or suitable professional experience. Interested individuals from related professional fields may also participate in individual modules.

Depression and suicidality in childhood and adolescence

Demanding life situations, critical life events, and the resulting feeling of overwhelm or helplessness can push children and adolescents to the limits of their emotional resilience. This is often expressed in the form of depressive moods, up to and including expressions of weariness with life. The seminar provides an overview of different forms of depression in childhood and adolescence. Using art therapy interventions, it demonstrates and explores through self-experience how creative expressive ability can be set in motion and enhanced so that scope for active life-shaping and new resilient ways of coping with life can emerge.

Seminar-based case work, case vignettes, and collegial exchange round off the seminar.

– Methodological focus in art therapy: receptive art therapy and therapeutic drawing –

Expert lecture: Nina and Christof Johansen invited
Art therapy: Nina Johansen invited

Art therapy:
Dr. Simone Gaiß, art therapist in private practice / art educator M.A., training therapist, school art therapist, head of the studio `kunst trifft leben´ in Munich, lecturer in higher education contexts, including at the Institute of Art Education at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Pediatrics:
Dr.med. Markus Krüger, Specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric endocrinology and diabetology, Stade

School absenteeism and school-related stress
School-avoidant behavior has increased in recent years. It appears to be based on very different causes that can massively impair the self-confidence of children and adolescents, for example social conflicts, performance pressure, and fear of failure. It is important to identify these sensitively and to empower those affected to rediscover the joy of learning. We explore both theoretically and practically the question: How can art therapy fulfill children’s basic needs, such as security, connectedness, and individual development, in an aesthetic and playful way, thereby strengthening children’s trust in themselves and their personal environment?

Seminar-based case work, case vignettes, and collegial exchange round off the seminar.

– Methodological focus in art therapy: narrative art therapy work with stories –

Expert lecture: Dr. phil. Simone Gaiss and Anita Gremmelspacher (invited)
Art therapy: Anita Gremmelspacher (invited)

Art therapy:
Dr. phil. Simone Gaiss, art therapist in private practice / art educator M.A., training therapist, school art therapist, head of the studio `kunst trifft leben´ in Munich, lecturer in higher education contexts, including at the Institute of Art Education at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

Pediatrics:
Dr. med. Markus Krüger, Specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric endocrinology and diabetology, Stade

Art therapy for children and adolescents with trauma experience 

Trauma causes pain and, if left untreated, threatens to become chronic in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder patterns. How can the consequences of trauma be recognized in certain behaviors of children and adolescents? The seminar develops a differentiated interdisciplinary perspective on this question. It demonstrates how, with the help of art therapy tools based on movement, images, and language, meaningful habits of impression and expression can be developed in order to make feelings and needs conscious. This time, narrative intervention possibilities form the focus within the practice-oriented seminar component. We ask ourselves: To what extent can listening and observing, finding and further developing stories and images, be effectively helpful in meaningfully integrating critical life events and the crises that result from them?

From medical and art therapy perspectives, the seminar shows how the interaction of body, mind, and soul can either contribute to illness or stabilize health.

Expert lecture: Dr. med. Markus Krüger and Dr. phil. Simone Gaiss

Art therapy: additional lecturer invited

Art therapy
Dr. Simone Gaiß, art therapist in private practice / art educator M.A., training therapist, school art therapist, head of the studio `kunst trifft leben´ in Munich, lecturer in higher education contexts, including at the Institute of Art Education at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Pediatrics
Dr. med. Markus Krüger, Specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric endocrinology and diabetology, Stade

Dr. phil. Simone Gaiss, art therapist in private practice / art educator M.A., training therapist, school art therapist, head of the studio `kunst trifft leben´ in Munich, lecturer in higher education contexts, including at the Institute of Art Education at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

Dr. med. Markus Krüger, Specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric endocrinology and diabetology, Stade

Additional speakers invited:

Anita Gremmelspacher, art therapist for school-integrated art therapy with the City of Nürtingen, lecturer at Nürtingen University

Dana Juraschek, art therapist, art educator, and painter

Dr. med. Christof Johansen, specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy, specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine

Nina Johansen, information to follow

Ulrike Lempp, information to follow

Academic leadership:
Dr. phil. Simone Gaiss, art therapist in private practice / art educator M.A., training therapist, school art therapist, head of the studio `kunst trifft leben´ in Munich, lecturer in higher education contexts, including at the Institute of Art Education at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

Head of the Institute for Continuing Education in Artistic Therapies:
Juli Hornen, graduate pedagogue and art therapist BA, LfbA (Lecturer for Special Tasks)