Unlock Memories: Art Therapy for Enhancing Cognitive Health
What you'll learn
- Factors causing cognitive decline (incl. memory loss)
- Factors that are controllable
- How Art Therapy can slow cognitive decline
- Specific artwork to consider
Requirements
- Nil
Description
Understanding Cognition and Cognitive Decline
Cognition encompasses the mental processes that allow individuals to function in daily life. It involves various abilities such as learning, remembering, and making judgments. These cognitive abilities enable a person to perform tasks, interact socially, and navigate their environment effectively.
What is Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD)?
Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) refers to a self-perceived worsening of cognitive abilities, specifically in memory and executive functions, without objective evidence of impairment measured by standard cognitive tests. Individuals experiencing SCD might notice they are more forgetful than usual—for instance, misplacing everyday items like car keys or a TV remote, or having trouble recalling names or directions.
Implications of SCD
SCD is significant as it can be one of the earliest indicators of potential future cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It's important to note, however, that SCD does not guarantee the development of such conditions, but it can serve as an early warning sign prompting further evaluation and monitoring.
Daily Challenges and Psychological Impact
The impact of SCD extends beyond mere forgetfulness. It can affect the ability to carry out everyday activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and personal care, which in turn can lead to increased dependency on others. The frequent inability to perform routine tasks can also severely affect self-esteem and confidence, contributing to stress and anxiety.
Role of Art Therapy in Managing Cognitive Decline
Art therapy offers a therapeutic approach that can be particularly beneficial for individuals with SCD or early cognitive impairment. Here’s how art therapy can help:
Cognitive Stimulation: Engaging in artistic activities stimulates the brain, potentially slowing cognitive decline by enhancing neural connectivity.
Emotional Expression: Art provides a non-verbal medium for expressing feelings and thoughts, which can be especially useful for individuals who might be struggling with verbal expression due to cognitive changes.
Stress Reduction: The act of creating art is often relaxing and meditative, helping to reduce stress, which is a known factor that can exacerbate cognitive decline.
Social Interaction: Participating in group art therapy sessions can decrease feelings of isolation and provide social support, important for emotional and cognitive health.
Conclusion
Addressing the challenges of SCD through therapeutic interventions like art therapy can be a valuable strategy for maintaining cognitive health and enhancing quality of life. It can offer not only a creative outlet but also a form of cognitive rehabilitation, which might help to stabilize or improve the perceived decline. For individuals noticing signs of SCD, or for those helping someone with these symptoms, incorporating art therapy can be a proactive step towards managing cognitive health.
Who this course is for:
- Anyone worried about cognitive decline
- Those with ageing relatives
- Anyone treating someone with cognitive decline
- Anyone working in a Care Home/Hospital where elderly are
Instructors
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 10,508 Reviews
- 252,514 Students
- 144 Courses
Studied at:
· University of Oxford (Philosophy and Economics)
· Oxford Brookes (Teacher training)
· University of Glamorgan (Business and Economics)
Qualifications
· Professional qualifications at Masters level
· Business and Economics degree
· Examiner for four major examining boards, at ‘O’ and ‘A’ level.
· Three teaching diplomas plus CELTA
· Qualified fitness trainer
Key academic positions held:
· Principal Oxford School of Learning
· Director of Studies: St Joseph’s Hall, Oxford
· Head of Economics: Cherwell Tutors
· Head of Business and Economics: Pipers Corner School, Buckingham
· Founder: Almost Random Theatre
I have experience in four main areas:
a. Teaching (40+ years of face-to-face experience)
b. Running businesses and conferences
c. Acting in films and theatre
d. Volunteering for a number of charities
Teaching/Instructor experience
Face-to-face: MBA students on a 1-1 basis; at University; Grammar, Comprehensive and F.E. College. This has included being Principal, Director of Studies; Head of Business and Head of Economics at various times in the past 40 years!
I have taught: Economics, Business, Sociology, Politics, English Literature and Psychology.
I have also run seminars for Teachers of |Psychology, Sociology, Businessman Economics.
I have run Therapeutic Art groups at Care Homes.
The success of my Business and Economics students has been featured in several newspapers plus I have appeared on BBC.
Running businesses and conferences.
I started Oxford School of Learning in the 1980s. From the college came Marketing Education Services, OSL Training and Saturday tutors.
In 201 I started Almost Random Theatre and have taken actors to Poland and the Czech Republic as well as running Drama days at schools.
Writing: my plays are sold to schools; I have 100+ books on Amazon; I used to write a regular column for The Guardian and BBC Bitesize.
Acting in films and theatre
My plays are sold to schools. I have performed at Oxford and Brighton Fringes as well as appearing in 100+ films, national TV advertising campaigns and role-played a hospital patient for Buckingham University’s medical degree students.
Volunteering
I have worked/am still working for Care Homes, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dystonia Society, Stroke Association, Stroke Club, Talkback, Oxford Recovery College, Tandem, Age UK and Sport in Mind. I’ve given my tutorial fees to the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Dystonia Society. I currently have a GoFundMe page to help lonely elderly people.
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 5,583 Reviews
- 144,223 Students
- 85 Courses
Almost Random Theatre is a theatre company started in 2012. After putting on plays at Oxford and Brighton fringes, taking actors to Poland and Czech Republic, selling plays to schools, putting on many short plays in Oxford, visiting 60+ schools and running 'drama days' it was decided to...slow down.
The theatre's main contribution now is helping with numerous Art Therapy courses.
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 1,078 Reviews
- 61,683 Students
- 37 Courses
Elina Ghanbari is an Iranian professional Intuitive artist with the artistic name: "Elinart". She believes that in art you should set yourself free. She uses her emotions to express herself through her art. She finds an awesome connection between mind & heart that turns emotions into art. She has pursued her goals & dreams as a professional artist from 2013 until now.
Her art activities :
- Published some of the artworks in the Ojalart 2018
- Cover artist in the Internetvoid 2018,2020
-The internetvoid in the Fifth Collection- 2018
-The internetvoid in the Seventh Collection - 2018
-SonderMidwest issue 2 2018
- Montana Mouthful - MM Issue 3 - "Haunted" 2018
- Openartsforum 2018-2024
-Abstractmagazinetv 2019
- Obraartifact - issue 6 2019
- Sink Hollow -issue 7 2019
- Weaselpress - madness. vol 2 2019
- Virtual reality exhibition - Lilit Gallery 2018
- Charity works - Fibromyalgia Association - Spain - Since 2020
- Member of OAF - Openartsforum Journal - Since 2018
- Member of Frontrunner Magazine - Since 2020
- Designing a character for a children's book: "Boris, der Blubberblasenfisch" by Franco B & Artists United – Germany 2020
- Painting two artworks in Chris Bankes Sivewright’s lecture about Stress Management (lecture 29/p2 & 114) – Oxford - UK 2020
- Cover artist in the Art Therapy courses from Chris Bankes Sivewright – Oxford - UK 2020
- Presentation of my paintings in Chris Bankes Sivewright’s lectures about Art Therapy in the Art Therapy Course – Oxford - UK 2020
- Oxford Diploma in Art Therapy from OSL – Oxford - UK 2020
- Oxford Diploma in Hygge; positive psychology from OSL - UK 2020
- Oxford Diploma in Orthorexia from OSL- UK 2020
- Oxford Diploma in Art Therapy: Create a book; Run a workshop! from OSL - UK 2021
- Publication in many various Courses of Chris Bankes Sivewright.– Oxford - UK 2020,2021,2022,2023
- Author of the book "Crystal raindrops falling from black clouds." – 2020
- Different Strokes Charity - Published 4 Artworks - England, Wales, Scotland 2021
- Exposition Alma & Soul - Spain 2021
- Co-produced & Instructor a course in the Udemy - Art Therapy & Psychology- 2022
- Co-produced & Instructor a course in Udemy - Creating an Art Therapy workshop – 2022
- Co-Instructor a course in Udemy - The Tools of Art Therapy – 2023
- Co-produced & Instructor a course in Udemy - Practising Art Therapy - actually DOING it – 2023
- Award winner and selected to be published in Blue Mesa Review Lit Magazine- Issue 47 – New Mexico - 2023
- Modern Art & Idea - MoMA Certificate - 2023
- Certified by OSL (Oxford School Of Learning) as a Co-instructor on;
1. (Oxford) Diploma: Creating an Art Therapy Workshop
2. (Oxford) Diploma: Art Therapy (Abstract Art option)
3. (Oxford) Combined Diploma: Art Therapy and Psychology
4. (Oxford) Diploma Practising Art Therapy - actually DOING it
5. (Oxford) Diploma in the Tools of Art Therapy
6. (Oxford) Diploma in Art Therapy and Depression Relief
The Udemy platform is currently used to host them - UK 2023 - Present