Artful Minds Occupational Therapy, Using Creative Art in OT to Support Emotional Regulation, Coping Skills, and Client Engagement in Residential Treatment.
Course Description
This course offers a guided exploration of an innovative, evidence-based approach to integrating art into occupational therapy practice, specifically within a residential treatment setting. Based on an 8-week protocol developed during my doctoral capstone project, the course highlights how art can serve as a powerful tool for emotional regulation, coping skill development, and self-expression. With research-backed content and a structured group protocol, this course is designed for OT students, practitioners, and mental health professionals seeking to incorporate creative, therapeutic interventions into their own practice.
Throughout the course, you’ll learn how to plan and facilitate art-based groups, adapt interventions to meet diverse client needs, and use art as a meaningful way to build rapport and foster engagement. The course also covers how to assess group outcomes using pre- and post-measures, interpret feedback from participants, and use that data to guide and refine your approach. You’ll gain insight into how occupational therapy can support individuals facing mental health challenges, substance use disorder, and housing insecurity, while developing the confidence and tools needed to apply creative, client-centered interventions in your own setting.
Additionally, the course will show how I collaborated with clients to design and create “Recovery Corner” sensory rooms—calming spaces intended to promote emotional regulation and reflection. These rooms were a direct extension of the group work and were shaped by client input, creativity, and shared ownership of the healing environment. By the end of the course, you’ll walk away with inspiration, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of how to meaningfully integrate art and occupation in behavioral health settings.
