Title : Using laughter and the expressive arts to promote creativity and learning for neurological and psychiatric scientists and their clients, an experiential example using animal as metaphor
Abstract:
• Using metaphor with themselves or patients can give neurological and psychiatric scientists and clinicians a safe way to help understand how we cope with stress and how that can affect our experiences of neurological, physical and psychiatric illnesses.
• The expressive /creative arts are well suited to digital wellness and overall wellness. The use of the body reduces stress and helps to be present in the body in the here and now and enhances creativity and learning. “Scientists and students of science need “skillful know-how in situated and embodied action” (Engel et al., 2013 p. 202). Scientists will learn how to be embodied.
• Participants will become familiar with expressive/ creative arts modalities such as drama/role play, improvisation, storytelling, movement and embodiment, music, art, poetry and creative writing they can use as tools for patients to have outlets to manage stress as well as tools for scientists to manage their own stress and wellbeing.
• Laughter can promote learning and wellbeing; participants will have some tools to incorporate laughter into their practice with themselves and patients.
• This workshop will demonstrate examples of a workshops with experiential activities, using a few examples of expressive arts such as: movement, imagination, and metaphor experientially to help clinicians come up with ideas to incorporate the expressive arts and creativity into their clinical practice.
