Creative Arts Therapies Week begins

Creative Arts Therapies (CAT) week will be celebrated March 18 to 22 at the Queen’s Royal College, Port of Spain.

The event is open to the public and may be of particular interest to educators, community leaders, clinicians, persons living with mental illness, care givers, students and performing and creative artists. This year’s theme is Building a Culture of Self Care, Resilience and Mutual Support.

A release from The Creative Arts Therapists in Trinidad and Tobago said the recognition of CAT week is a significant opportunity to educate the population about the use, benefits, and availability of these therapies. “More importantly, this is an opportunity to promote the importance of positive mental health and well-being,” the release stated.

Creative Arts Therapists and allies in the field across the region will gather to facilitate workshops, performances, panel discussions and open art studios as they address resilience and self-care through the creative arts in an emerging culture of violence, stress and trauma.

CAT aims to deliver resources, provide training, empower communities and underscore the message that self-care is both fundamental and indispensable.

Recognised annually in the United States, Canada and recently Trinidad and Tobago, Creative Arts Therapies week is an opportunity to promote the intentional use of the arts and creative processes to address mental illness, disability and the improvement of health and wellness.

Creative Arts Therapies in Trinidad and Tobago include (but are not limited to) Art Therapy, Drama Therapy, Music Therapy and Dance Movement Therapy. These therapies are facilitated by internationally credentialed professionals at health centres and in private practice.