More warmth for a cold world

Introduction to the method, its development, and the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. Practical application is illustrated using case studies, and a well-founded understanding of the needs of young people is developed.

The focus is on practical self-experience. Various felting techniques are introduced and made sensorially tangible in terms of their qualitative differences, and examined in their different qualities. This is followed by the step-by-step development of participants’ own layered images, reflection on the process, and the development of initial ideas for application in their respective professional contexts. A practical assignment with clients prepares participants for the next module.

Advanced work in the field of image diagnostics. The focus is on the systematic observation and therapeutic classification of layered images. Using concrete practical examples, analytical skills are expanded and perspectives for transfer to participants’ own professional fields are developed.

Participation in Module 2 is only possible if Module 1 has been attended!

What makes this method stand out is the direct contact with the hands without getting cold in the process (as with clay) or getting “dirty” (as with pastel chalks); in other words, it is entirely designed to address our emotional center through the sense of touch, to warm us quite literally, and to bring us more into our center. Working with this underestimated material usually connects with our earliest childhood experiences, gently envelops us, and touches our softer aspects; it has a regulating effect on the nervous system, strengthens self-perception, and promotes emotional stabilization – a decisive added value in working with stressed young people. At the same time, the method is low-threshold and also suitable for people with physical or cognitive impairments.
The module series not only teaches a new method, including process and work diagnostics developed specifically for it, but also opens up a deeper access to body-oriented art therapy. It provides practice-oriented impulses for stabilizing children and adolescents, strengthens their self-perception, and creates opportunities for a protected developmental space.
The method has its origins in anthroposophically oriented art therapy, but it is designed to be generally understandable and does not require any prior knowledge of these foundations.

This continuing education program is aimed at art therapists, educational professionals, and anyone who works with children and adolescents and would like to expand their practice with an effective, body-oriented method.

Students at Alanus University are also very welcome – they can deepen and differentiate their knowledge by attending the continuing education program during their studies and use the university certificates they obtain in job applications.

For students at Alanus University, we would like to make participation in continuing education programs possible with a 50% discount. An individual quota is available for each continuing education program. University certificates are excluded from discounting.

To obtain a university certificate, an assessment consisting of a practical and a theoretical part is required.

1. The complete creation of a therapeutic wool image
2. The written elaboration of an artwork observation based on a patient work, including presentation in the group

Both a newly developed questionnaire for the fourfold artwork observation of wool images, a script with the most important information, a record of the artwork observation, as well as a summary of the course participants’ artwork observations (including photos of the works observed) will be made available to the entire group.

Both modules must be attended to obtain the university certificate.

Anna Wöhrle

2015: B.A. in Art Therapy at HKS Ottersberg
2016: Continuing education year in clinical anthroposophical art therapy at
Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke, focus: adolescent and
adult psychosomatics, child psychiatry, pediatric oncology
2018: M.A. in Art Therapy at HKS Ottersberg
Since 2018: Work in child, adolescent, and young adult psychiatry
at Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke

Head of the Institute for Continuing Education in Artistic Therapies:
Brigitta Jaroschek M.A. (research associate)

Further information, contact options, and our FAQ can be found here:

edu.Art – Institute for Continuing Education in the Artistic Therapies | Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences