About the Program
Art therapy is an integrative practice that enriches the lives of individuals, families and communities through active art-making. Activities are facilitated by a professional art therapist and are designed to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, and reduce and resolve internal and external conflicts. Museum-based art therapy is a collaboration between art therapy and art education, in which the museum (in this case, Sun Valley Museum of Art) operates as a space for participants to experience inclusivity, community, and opportunities for learning and exploration. At the same time, art therapy catalyzes participants’ healing, transformation and expression through their experiences at the museum.
Now in its second season, SVMoA's art therapy program has expanded its scope to include adults experiencing differences in their memories as well as those facing issues with their sensorimotor capabilities as a result of aging, neurodegenerative disease, stroke and heart attack. Extensive research on the benefits of art therapy has been done with these populations, specifically in museum settings. Following the lead of many larger metropolitan museums, SVMoA is proud to implement its own art therapy program and share the innovative practice’s many benefits with members of the Wood River Valley community.
About the Instructor, Jordyn Dooley
Art Therapist & Enrichment Educator, Art-P, LPC-intern, Sun Valley Museum of Art
Jordyn first came to the Wood River Valley following her graduation from the University of Florida with a B.A. in English. Her experiences in the valley assisted her in realizing her combined passion for the arts and working in human services, ultimately leading her to pursue her M.S. in Art Therapy at Florida State University. She recently returned to the Wood River Valley after having completed her M.S. in Art Therapy and receiving her registered art therapist’s provisional license. She is excited to use her experiences working with diverse populations, knowledge of the developmental and cognitive processes, and art’s inherent therapeutic and educational capabilities to support students’ learning and personal growths through the arts at SVMoA.
