Join us as we explore and discover new ways to use Art as a bridge to healing!
For more information, reach us at [email protected]
Anastasia Diotima Golema
Interim chair of the Expressive Arts Therapy section
The Creative Arts Therapy Section brings together psychotherapists whose professional lives are equally rooted in art, music, movement, theatre, and literature. Working through image, sound, rhythm, and symbol, our members bridge contemporary culture and group psychotherapy. This unique dual expertise strengthens both our clinical work and IAGP’s public presence. Through international collaborations and an ongoing focus on visual identity, we continue to shape a section where artistic excellence and therapeutic depth meet.
Coordinating Committee: Bruno Chevolet, Marcia Honig, Silje Klippen, Ana Albutashvili, Magdalene Jeyarathnam, and Adam Petty.
Photo: Ana Albutashvili as the Swan Maiden in Swan Lake, performing with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, 2015.
Over the past months, the Expressive Arts Therapy Section of the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes (IAGP) has been engaged in a meaningful and deeply human collaboration with two associations. As both collaborations were in the fields of training and of war, EATS involved both the Education Committee and the Social and Collective Trauma Committee.
One collaboration is with the Palestinian organization Child-Smile-Gaza, which works on a weekly basis directly with 2000 children who have experienced profound psychological distress due to ongoing war, offering psychosocial support through creative and relational approaches. Recognizing the healing potential of expressive and dramatic arts, our section joined efforts with their team to contribute practical tools that can be used in the field. In response to their needs. First Bruno Chevolet produced a presentation with simple, accessible exercises drawn from expressive arts therapies and drama therapy practices, based on a set of videos made by Ana Albutashvili and extensive explanations from Adam Petty. These exercises are designed to help children process emotions, reconnect with their bodies and imagination, and experience moments of safety, play, and connection. Then both Anastasia Diotima Golema and Aroldo Cardoso Jr produced further videos for this project. To make these tools widely usable, especially by facilitators who may not have formal training in psychotherapy, our members have been recording short instructional videos demonstrating these activities, followed by a Q&A-based presentation.
Our intention is to create a growing library of creative practices that can be shared with volunteers, educators, and community workers who are supporting children in extremely challenging environments. Through this initiative, we hope to empower non-specialist helpers to facilitate meaningful games, creative activities, and group processes that nurture resilience and emotional expression among traumatized children. Our partnership with Child-Smile-Gaza continues, and we remain committed to expanding this collective effort by inviting expressive arts therapists and drama therapists from around the world to contribute exercises, ideas, and supportive materials. In times when children carry the invisible wounds of war, the language of play, imagination, and art may become one of the most powerful bridges toward healing.
Our other collaboration is with the Ukrainian Psychology Association, who has requested our support to develop expressive arts therapy knowledge and know-how in Ukraine. The first tangible support delivery here was organized by Gaea Logan with live translation by Olha Serha: it consisted of a remarkable webinar lecture by Hande Karakılıç Üçer on the role of expressive arts therapy in healing trauma, which was attended by 180 Ukrainian participants. This webinar will be followed by a second one dedicated to work groups, as the first part explained the fundamental principles starting from individual work.
These two collaborations reflect the core mission of the IAGP: to foster healing, connection, and solidarity through group processes across cultures and communities. It is a reminder that even in the midst of destruction and suffering, creativity and human presence can open small spaces of hope. With gratitude to all colleagues who have already contributed to this initiative, and with hope for the work that lies ahead. Watch the oncoming program of the hybrid The Second International Conference on Mental Health and Media – 2026 Conference, where EATS will be represented.
Warm regards,
Anastasia Diotima GolemaExpressive Arts Therapy SectionInternational Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes (IAGP)
The Art Hub — Where Creative Practice Meets Group Psychotherapy
During the past month, the Expressive Arts Therapy Section of the IAGP has been actively engaged in both organizational and creative initiatives. In collaboration with the Coordinating Committee, we worked on the curation and enrichment of the Section’s website, aiming to clarify its identity, visibility, and accessibility. We also created festive and seasonal videos to support IAGP’s presence on social media and strengthen outreach to the wider community.
In parallel, the section explored possibilities for tangible support for a project working with children living in tents in Gaza, using art therapy as a means of psychosocial care and resilience-building. Additionally, we initiated discussions around the creation of a monthly creative hub for the arts, with the education committee facilitated by diverse leaders in creative and expressive therapies. This initiative aims to generate new ideas and inspiration while offering visibility, mentorship, and support to young professionals, potentially attracting new members to the Association.
Cordially,
Interim Chair of the Expressive Arts Therapy Section
Over the past month, our section has been actively engaged in a series of meaningful initiatives that continue to strengthen our international collaborations and creative vision. We held several inspiring meetings with Ukrainian colleagues and the Education Committee of IAGP, focusing on training in Expressive Arts Therapy and exploring ways to support their ongoing work through shared knowledge and artistic practices. In parallel, we initiated discussions with CAOA to develop a list of potential affiliate contacts, aiming to expand our network and foster new partnerships.
We also organized consultations dedicated to refining the visual identity of our website. These meetings offered valuable insights into how our online presence can better reflect the artistic spirit of our community. As a result, we have begun preparing a reconstruction of the website – working toward a unified, simpler, and more aesthetically coherent design. This renewed digital space will more clearly express who we are and the creative values IAGP stands for.
Anastasia Diotima Golema,
This month, the Expressive Arts Therapy Section engaged in significant organizational and outreach activities that strengthen both our internal coordination and our international presence. We met with the Coordinating Committee and collectively finalized the allocation of webinar presenters for next year’s series on arts-based therapeutic approaches, ensuring a well-balanced and diverse program that reflects the breadth of our field. An important development is our emerging collaboration with the Ukrainian Psychology Association, who expressed strong interest in receiving specialized training in Expressive Arts Therapy; we have initiated discussions to design an educational pathway that responds to their needs and supports the development of arts-oriented therapeutic practices in their community. At the same time, we are preparing to establish contact with Αrt Therapy associations across the globe, aiming to build a wider, interconnected network of professionals and organizations committed to creative therapeutic methodologies. Through these coordinated efforts as internal planning, international partnership, and global outreach, the Section continues to expand its impact and foster meaningful connections that advance the practice and understanding of expressive arts therapy worldwide.