About The School of Environmental Arts Therapy
The School of Environmental Arts Therapy (SEAT) was founded in 2021 with the purpose of providing a new home for the postgraduate certificate training in Environmental Arts Therapy, which was formerly hosted by The London Art Therapy Centre. The training is now based in Devon and co-led by Ian Siddons Heginworth and William Secretan.
The School of Environmental Arts Therapy offers a 12-month training to HCPC registered art, music and dramatherapists (including final year trainee arts therapists), as well as UKCP registered dance movement psychotherapists, in the use and understanding of environmental arts as a therapeutic process.
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Environmental arts are represented in their broadest sense as: visual arts, movement, drama and ritual in wild and natural locations, inspired by natural themes and cycles and using natural materials. Through practical and interpersonal experience, it aims to enhance and develop the skills of the participants and prepare them for taking their therapeutic practice outdoors.
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Please note that the course itself is not HCPC accredited and does not lead to registration with the HCPC as an art therapist, music therapist or dramatherapist.
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Location of the Training
West Town Farm, Exeter
The Environmental Arts Therapy Certificate Course is based at West Town Farm, in Exeter, Devon. West Town Farm is a working organic farm offering a mix of beautiful meadows, orchards and semi-ancient native woodland. The farm is part of a Higher Level Stewardship scheme and, as such, is committed to supporting a rich diversity of wildlife alongside their food production. The Farm is dedicated to improving habitats for wild animals and other native species. West Town Farm is also a farm-based education centre and hosts Organic Arts, an educational charity that promotes the arts and rural issues.
Period of Study
Twelve weekends following the Celtic Tree Calendar
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The course is comprised of 12 weekend workshops, Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, held each month for 12- months. There are a maximum of 16 participants, so early sign-up is encouraged as the demand is very high.
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The course follows the Celtic calendar and runs from November through to October every other year. Attendance is one weekend per month throughout the year (including academic holidays) and participants, who will be encouraged to attend all twelve weekends to get the most from the course, will be required to attend at least ten in order to obtain their certificate.
