• 23 speakers and 56 participants in the first conference of its kind in the MENA region
  •  Art therapy and its presentation in a manner that conforms to the cultural standards of the region is one of the main themes of the Art Therapy Conference
  • Call for awareness and more conferences and events that highlight the importance of art therapy as a tool to improve healing and recovery
  • Interactive workshops focused on training more specialists in the field of art therapy
  • The conference was a platform for the exchange of experiences, knowledge and opinions and enriching the field of art therapy as a whole

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – The Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care – Ewaa has brought down the curtain on the Art Therapy Conference 2023, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, promising further progress in this vital field in the future.

The conference, organized by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care – Ewaa, part of the Department of Community Development, took place on October 17 and 18, and marked a turning point in the field of art therapy in the region, highlighting its role as a pivotal tool to improve human mental and emotional health.

The conference was held under the theme "Empowerment through Creativity", with the participation of a group of the most important specialists in the field of art therapy, who stressed the importance of the steps being taken today in presenting the basics of art therapy in a manner appropriate to the culture of the region, in order to achieve the maximum possible benefit and make it more efficient and effective in meeting the needs of Arab societies.

Wide participation and unprecedented achievements

The conference is the first of its kind in the region and has achieved unprecedented achievements in the subject of art therapy with more than 1,020 attendees, 23 speakers from the most important specialists in the field, as well as attracting 56 prestigious entities. The conference featured up to 10 hours of inspiring interactive workshops for professionals and 6 live activities.

Her Excellency Sarah Shuhail, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care – Ewaa, said: "Although contemporary art therapy is still new in our region, it has always been used around the world. We believe that the first art therapy conference of its kind in the region, and other similar events, are an important opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of art as a tool to improve human healing capacity. This event has already received a great turnout, attracted speakers from different countries of the world, and was a platform for the exchange of ideas and opinions, and a station towards developing this field for the benefit of all."

Positive resonance

Dr. Awad Mubarak Al Yami, an art therapy expert from Saudi Arabia who has been working in the field for 30 years, said: "I have always wished for an event like this, and the art therapy conference was a gift to me both personally and professionally. I believe that we will see more progress in this area in the future, because I can clearly see that it is constantly evolving compared to what it was 30 years ago or more, when I started working in this area. Progress can be slow at times and accelerate at other times, which is normal given that this area is relatively new. But I believe we will see more progress and prosperity from now on, and we can see partnerships with government agencies, educational institutions and others to build and enhance knowledge and expertise in a way that better serves society."

Dr. Qamar Behbehani, Founder of Sure Consulting and the first certified art therapy specialist in Kuwait, expressed her pride in representing her country at this pioneering and first-of-its-kind conference in the region, saying: "This event and the sharing of knowledge and expertise it included is an important milestone for us art therapy professionals, especially as it is the first of its kind in the Middle East. I believe it is the beginning of a new and bright phase, and for more research and development. It is the beginning of more creativity and certainly cooperation and working together for a better future." Dr. Qamar called for the establishment of the Association of Art Therapists in the Middle East and for annual conferences on the subject, saying: "We need to hold more annual events to ensure the exchange of experiences and knowledge and enable those interested in the field to learn new skills. We also need a platform or association representing specialists in this type of treatment in the Middle East and other regions around the world."

Art therapy with a local touch

Sarah Powell, Art Therapy Specialist and Founder of ATIC Psychiatry and Counseling Center in the UAE, said the conference helps spread awareness of the importance of art therapy, as it is a tool to help people communicate and express themselves without words. "It's important to understand the scientific benefits of art therapy, we have an entire segment of society that is unable to express words, so it's important to think about how we can help them. If the solution is only through dialogue therapy, we will be limited in our ability to help patients. Art therapy is another useful means of communication, and I believe that the UAE has opened the door to building a better future for the field of art therapy, which is witnessing greater growth and expansion in the region. We believe we will see more progress and growth in the future."

Natalia Gomez-Carlier, an art therapist based in the UAE, spoke about the importance of taking cultural factors into account when art therapy. "Sarah and I work to adapt the way we work to the culture of the UAE, for example when we take a Western study, knowing that the most sophisticated studies come from the UK and the USA, and we try to apply them here, most of them may not work, and some of them are not culturally appropriate for the region. So we have to approach these things very carefully and work to adjust and change the treatment approach to suit the local culture, not just apply the experiences of the West as they are, although we have been trained in the West, we must have sufficient awareness to present things in a way that is compatible with the local environment."

Australian art sensoriotherapist Claire Gerden said she was delighted with the great interest shown by her colleagues from the region in the field of art therapy, saying: "I am delighted to see this level of interest from my fellow therapists in the region, and how excited and passionate they are in this field. From what I have seen, I believe that the future is promising and we will see a lot of rich research in the field of art therapy."

The conference included several inspiring sessions with the participation of senior speakers, in addition to four workshops that focused on trauma recovery through guided drawing as a sensory-motor methodology to enhance body awareness, the role of the spiritual side of the client during art therapy in the process of recovery from trauma, the use of sensorimotor art therapy to develop creative options and support our clients, and shortcut art therapy based on finding solutions. The conference saw nearly 100 artworks by survivors of violence, abuse and human trafficking exhibited, illustrating their own journey towards healing and recovery from trauma.

Art therapy is a universal language that transcends borders and cultures, and is based on the idea that creative expression can accelerate the journey of healing and recovery from trauma. Ewaa was keen to hold this conference out of its belief in the importance of benefiting from the great capabilities of creative expression in empowering people and improving their lives for the better.

The Art Therapy Conference was held at the Earth Hotel in Abu Dhabi, and for more information, visit https://arttherapyconference.ae

About Abu Dhabi Center for Shelter and Humanitarian Care – Ewaa :

The Abu Dhabi Center for Shelter and Humanitarian Care – Ewaa was established in 2008 to provide care, rehabilitation and empowerment to victims of human trafficking in the UAE..

Ewaa Center, which is part of the Department of Community Development, provides comprehensive services in accordance with the best international standards and practices, including reporting, social and psychological rehabilitation, counseling, legal support, as well as the hotline (800 7283) SAVE 800 , which operates around the clock. The center is keen to raise awareness through community initiatives and programs, and contributes to research and policy development aimed at combating human trafficking.

https://ewaa.gov.ae 

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