Therapeutic applications of creative arts

Creative arts can be used to promote the well-being of people from children to the elderly.
"Dramatherapy uses drama and theatre art to assist those with physical, mental or social ill health," said Dr Sue Jennings, internationally renowned creative arts therapist and author from UK.
"It can help us to express those feelings and thoughts that are difficult to express because it includes both verbal and non-verbal methods," she said.
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Dr Sue Jennings (right) explains the use of toys as healing tools in playtherapy.
Dr Sue was speaking at her two workshops in Penang entitled 'How Creative Arts Therapy Works' and 'Creative Arts Therapy for Children'.

Held on 1 and 2 December 2007, the workshops were organised by the Bureau On Learning Difficulties in collaboration with Kolej Disted-Stamford.

Drawing from her wide experience in therapeutic work with individuals and groups whose ages ranged from nine months to ninety years, Dr Sue gave the participants a clear idea of the basic principles and main techniques of creative arts therapy.
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Participants learning how feelings and thoughts can be expressed using toys in creative arts therapy.
"Used creatively and innovatively, the techniques can be applied to children, adolescents, young adults and elderly as well as in different settings and to suit different needs," said the founder member of the British Association of Dramatherapists.
"Dramatheraphy can be effective not only in helping children with various emotional, psychological or behavioural issues but also, those with special needs or who are suffering from chronic illnesses," said Dr Sue who had lived in the rainforest of Malaysia for two years with her three children to study the rituals, drama and play of the Temiar community for her doctoral studies.
She had used creative arts therapy techniques in diverse settings such as psychiatric hospitals and special hospitals, therapeutic communities, day centres, nurseries, foster homes, special schools and prisons.
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Dr Sue Jennings (right) speaking to participants of her Creative Arts Therapy for Children workshop at DISTED.
This published in a newspaper of Malaysia, 2007.

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