REPORT ON ART THERAPY WORKSHOP
The Department of M.Sc Counselling, in collaboration with IQAC, organized a session on “Art
Therapy Workshop – For Practitioners Working with Children” on July 26, 2025. The session
began with an opening prayer by II MSc Counselling students, followed by a welcome address
by Ms. Zainab Ifrath and an introduction of the resource person by Ms. Swaliha, highlighting
Ms. Athena Aranha’s expertise as a Consultant Psychologist and Art Therapist.
The workshop was attended by 40 participants, including final-year students and professionals.
Ms. Athena Aranha facilitated a highly engaging and experiential session, introducing the
therapeutic power of art through hands-on activities designed to enhance both self-awareness and
professional skills. Participants engaged in various exercises such as drawing emojis, favorite
foods, and clothes to break the ice, followed by deeper tasks like drawing oneself in third-person,
collaborative drawings in pairs, and exploring the public vs. private self through a face outline
activity.
Midway through the session, around 11:00 AM, there was a 10–15 minute tea/coffee break, after
which the session continued with more expressive exercises. These included a breathing-based
zigzag line drawing for reflecting on aspirations, drawing stressors, and the Me Tree exercise,
where handprints were used symbolically to represent roots (support), trunk (self), branches
(gratitude), and leaves (likes). Other impactful tasks involved scribbling art to find meaning in
chaos, decorative expressions of personal strengths, a playful “art attack” pair activity, and a
calming color-breathing visualization with eyes closed.
The session concluded with a Q&A segment, followed by a group photo and lunch for all
participants. A vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Saniya Khan, expressing appreciation to the
speaker and organizers. Overall, the workshop was a highly informative and enriching
experience. It reinforced that artistic skill is not essential for art therapy — rather, it is about
emotional expression, insight, and creativity. The practical exposure and thoughtful facilitation
provided valuable tools for therapeutic work with children and beyond.
