Art Therapy in Beijing

(Translation Chinese at the end) （中文翻译在文末）

Exploring Art Therapy at the ACG Natural Healing Academy: Reflections on Participation and Future Directions

On August 28, 2024, I was honoured to participate in the ACG Natural Healing Academy opening ceremony in Beijing, where I was part of the ribbon-cutting event. This marked the beginning of a day dedicated to exploring the intersections of art, therapy, and natural healing. The academy’s focus on integrating art into therapeutic practices resonated deeply with my interest in developing Animation Art Therapy, a field I actively explore to bridge visual storytelling and psychodynamic healing. The event featured an array of artistic experiences, including a fashion show, a handspan performance, Aromatherapy and Sound Therapy.

As the day progressed, I engaged in the Art and Therapy Drama session, emphasising creative expression’s therapeutic power. Participating in this session showed me how performative art facilitates emotional release and self-exploration, crucial elements in therapeutic settings.. This experience reinforced my belief in the transformative potential of art therapy, where artistic practices become a conduit for expressing complex emotions. Engaging directly in the art therapy session – run by Lu Meng-Cynthia (@Cynthial92)– highlighted the importance of embodied practices in fostering empathy and deep emotional connections, validating the therapeutic frameworks I aim to develop in Animation Art Therapy. The event’s emphasis on merging traditional healing with innovative approaches aligns closely with my goals. My vision for Animation Art Therapy involves creating a comprehensive framework that integrates artistic and psychodynamic principles, offering new ways to address psychological needs and broader social and environmental concerns.

Participating in the ACG Natural Healing Academy’s opening was an inspiring experience that underscored the importance of well-being and awareness. Through continued exploration, I hope to contribute to a dialogue that values creativity, empathy, and interdisciplinary approaches to mental health.

探索ACG自然疗愈学院的艺术疗法：参与的反思与未来方向

2024年8月28日，我很荣幸参加了在北京举行的ACG自然疗愈学院开幕式，并参与了剪彩活动。这标志着一天探索艺术、疗法与自然疗愈交汇点的开始。学院注重将艺术融入治疗实践，这与我致力于发展动画艺术疗法的兴趣深深契合。我积极探索这一领域，旨在将视觉叙事与心理动力疗愈结合起来。活动展示了多种艺术体验，包括时装表演、手工表演、芳香疗法和声音疗法。

随着一天的进程，我参与了艺术与疗法戏剧环节，强调了创造性表达的治疗力量。参与这一环节让我看到了表演艺术如何在治疗环境中促进情感释放和自我探索，这些都是治疗的关键元素。这个经历进一步强化了我对艺术疗法转化潜力的信念，在这里，艺术实践成为表达复杂情感的桥梁。直接参与由卢梦-辛西亚（@Cynthial92）主持的艺术疗法环节，突显了体现性实践在培养共情和深层情感连接中的重要性，这也验证了我在动画艺术疗法中希望发展的治疗框架。活动强调将传统疗法与创新方法相结合，这与我的目标高度一致。我对动画艺术疗法的愿景是创建一个综合框架，融合艺术和心理动力学原理，为解决心理需求以及更广泛的社会和环境问题提供新的途径。

参与ACG自然疗愈学院的开幕式是一段鼓舞人心的经历，强调了福祉和意识的重要性。通过持续探索，我希望能够为重视创造力、共情和跨学科方法的心理健康对话做出贡献。