Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and professional development as you gain the practical tools and theoretical knowledge needed to confidently lead therapeutic art sessions.

Looking for an in-person experience? Click here to learn more about my upcoming retreat style training!

Therapeutic Art Making Retreat

FUNDAMENTALS OF THERAPEUTIC ART MAKING

An Artful Path to Holistic Wellness

Smiling woman showing abstract painting, sitting at table with art supplies, wearing glasses and apron. Blue tablet on stand and Artwell Academy logo in background.
Begin Your Artful Journey Today

Whether you’re an artist, mental health specialist, caregiver, coach, social worker, educator, or community leader, you have the potential to elevate both your practice and the welfare of your clients through the tool of creative expression. At ArtWell Academy, we will guide you in harnessing and channeling this innate artistic wisdom using our empirically-backed, immersive approach.

Enrollment also grants you access to our online ArtWell Community coming soon, a vibrant network united in its pursuit of personal and professional growth, holistic wellness, and employing the transformative power of creativity.

3-day online training

3-day online training (Fri-Sun, 9-4:30pm each day), conducted through zoom.

Upcoming dates:

Fri-Sun | January 23-25, 2026

9am-4:30pm Pacific Time | 12pm-7:30pm Eastern Time

Pre-requisite

This training requires no prior formal art training or education. A background in therapy and counseling techniques is helpful, but not necessary.

Investment

Early Bird Price: $499 for the full three days

Materials not included. A list of required materials will be sent to you upon registration.

Ease into your investment with our budget-friendly monthly payment plan: $100 per month for 5 months until Oct 1st.

Woman painting on the floor with colorful paints and brush

Why choose us?

  • This course is directed by our founder Ella Dufrene, who is a registered art therapist with a Masters in Art Therapy & Creativity Development from the prestigious Pratt Institute. Ella's expertise spans from presenting her work in the esteemed Wynwood galleries in Miami to assisting individuals in rediscovering their happiness and overcoming life's obstacles. She has worked with a broad spectrum of individuals, including those with autism, at-risk youth and hospice to those grappling with deeply rooted trauma, life transitions and addictions. Her methodology emphasizes a holistic perspective on wellness, underscoring the healing power of art therapy.

    All of those that know and work with Ella can feel her passion for the healing properties of nature, art and dance/movement. She approaches her day to day and work-life with a zest for life, a playful spirit and a contagiously open mind.

  • Our curriculum will equip you with proven tools needed to make a lasting impact and guide you through applying the transformative power of art.

    Our methodology, although systematic and research-based, acknowledges individual learning styles and tailors our course accordingly. We focus heavily on practical application and experiential learning, ensuring not just knowledge acquisition, but its application too.

    Enhancing Therapeutic Skills: Learn practical skills to incorporate therapeutic art into your practice through hands-on experiential learning.

    Driving Career Development: Equip yourself with the necessary tools to professionally integrate art into your practice.

    Fostering Personal Growth and Self-Care: Discover how art can serve as self-care to alleviate stress, enhance self-awareness, foster creative coping mechanisms, and uplift mood.

    Creating Community Impact: Learn to run therapeutic art classes or programs, enabling communal growth through art.

    Promoting Creative Expansion: Overcome artistic blocks and expand your creative capabilities while understanding the therapeutic benefits.

    BONUS: Receive 50+ meaningful art making directives with complete instructions on how to apply them to your individual practice.

  • You will have exclusive access to a private community of like minded individuals. Our collective mission is clear: to empower individuals to integrate therapeutic arts into their personal and professional lives, from care plans to classrooms, ultimately influencing and shaping the very fabric of how society outwardly expresses the range of human emotions (ex: joy, confidence).

Begin Your Artful Journey Today!

Madison’s Testimonial

  • This training is beautifully welcoming to those like me who have very little art training but still want to learn how to use art in their practice & personal life.

    -Cassandra Cacace, Marriage and Family Therapist

  • I felt really prepared and confident to be able to be able to lead my first workshop, and I even used at as an opportunity to sell my own art!

    -Miranda, Artist

  • Ella is someone who creates an environment for people to feel safe, seen, heard, and supported. After the training I feel empowered and excited to utilize what I have learned so I can share this gift with others!

    -Alexandra Yadgaroff, Artist

  • Testimonial

    I highly recommend Ella Dufrene's "Fundamentals of Therapeutic Art Making" workshop. Ella used her gentle and calming nature to teach and guide the Therapeutic Art directives. She fostered the camaraderie between the workshop's participants and the energy between us was palpable. I came away from the weekend energized. "Fundamental of Therapeutic Art Making" was more than just a weekend workshop, it wasa transformative experience.

    -Abby Holmes

Woman sitting at a wooden desk with a laptop, holding a pen, smiling, plant on desk, kitchen background.

Our Curriculum

  • Intro and Overview:

    • Experiential Self-Reflection Collage

    • Sharing, responses, discussion

    Creative Mental Health Practices and Theories 101

    • What is Art Therapy?

    • What is Therapeutic Arts?

    • Who Benefits from Art Therapy & Therapeutic Arts Settings?

    • Sharing, responses, discussion

    The Sensory Use of Clay:

    • Clay as a Tool for Meditation

    • Transformative Powers of Clay

    • Meditation, Mantra & Clay Experiential Activity

    • Sharing, responses, discussion

    Understanding the Meaning of Mandalas:

    • Jungian Archetypal Symbols & Themes

    • Experiential activity

    Neurobiology of Creative Expression

    • Neuroplasticity

    • Neurogenesis

    • Neurotransmitters and creativity

    • Self expression and memory

    • Dopamine and creativity

    • Serotonin and creativity

  • Rorschach’s Method :

    • Psychological Assessment Test - Theory & Technique

    • Experiential activity

    • Sharing, responses, discussion

    Eco-Therapeutic Arts:

    • Nature as Setting

    • Nature as Subject

    • Nature as Material

    • Existential

    • Experiential activity

    • Sharing, responses, discussion

    The Power of Materials in Influencing Expression and Facilitating Therapeutic Outcomes

    • Drawing (pastels, colored pencils, markers)

    • Painting (watercolors & acrylics)

    • Sculpting (clay & found objects)

    • Collaging

    Mindfulness-Based Therapeutic Arts Approaches & Theories:

    • Self-Compassion

    • Becoming the inner witness

    • Meditation

    • Visualization

    • Experiential activity

    • Sharing, responses, discussion

    Integrating Movement & Music in Therapeutic Arts:

    • Authentic Movement Theory & Technique

    • Intuitive Painting Theory & Technique

    • Experiential activity

  • Somatic Application in Therapeutic Arts:

    • Theory & practice

    • Body Scan Experiential

    Effective Group Session Structuring and Facilitation

    • Initial consult- Identifying & assessing client needs

    • Setting up

    • Illustrative Case Examples

    • Building Rapport

    • Materials

    • Group Structure

    • Educating

    • Themes

    • How to work with specific audience to meet certain goals

    • Dealing with resistance

    • Music

    Practical Application

    • Planning & sharing in break out rooms

    Putting The Work Into Practice:

    • Cultivate your unique creative voice and boost your confidence through hands-on practice. Each training participant will have an opportunity to co-facilitate a directive and receive feedback from peers.

Enroll in the Journey