Art Therapy/ Mindfulness Workshop at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick 16.07.2016

The Art Sikh team had the opportunity to work alongside the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick welfare team & education department by delivering an art therapy session aimed at adults, teenagers and families affected by alcohol & drug addiction.

Art therapy/ mindfulness is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its initial method of expression and communication, involving the encouragement of free self-expression through painting, drawing, or modelling, used as a remedial activity. Within this context, art is not used as analytic tool but as a means to address emotional issues which may be perplexing and distressing.

The art workshop was an introduction to how colour therapy can help individuals cope with and combat the effects of alcohol & drug addiction. Colour therapy is a type of holistic healing that uses the visible spectrum of light and colour to affect a person’s mood and physical or mental health. Our first session was very much based around the ‘play of colours’ using inks and acrylic paints. Individuals were asked not to create but to just play with colours with various media on paper and let the application of colour form an array of tones and patterns. Importance was placed on exploring and investigating colour rather than the end product created.

Feedback from the attendees has been both positive and inspiring.

We hope to create further workshops to help and involve local communities.

For full photo album please follow link:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/artsikher/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1739315942994457