MARCO Trust has a team of professional arts therapists who offer mulit-modal (movement art and rhythm) arts therapies to special groups such as: adults with intellectual disabilities and/or physical disabilities and/or mental health difficulties, children diagnosed with cancer and their families, people affected by chronic illness such as HIV/AIDS; refugee and migrant groups; issues concerning adolescents and more.

The arts therapies have a unique ability to harness the connection between the imagination and the unconscious, allowing for the expression of inner feelings that cannot readily be put into words. For many of the participants in these special groups it is particularly vital to have access to forms of expression that do not rely on words and concepts. Because we work in all the modalities we can usually find a means of expression that is suitable for each participant. We are also able to introduce activities which focus on building relationships between group members.

Programmes are designed with each particular group and their needs in mind. Each session has a theme that encourages participants to develop new concepts and behaviours. Sections of each session can be videotaped and played back in the session and then reviewed in subsequent sessions. We have found that this is both affirming for the participants (they love seeing themselves on TV!) and also helps to reinforce the new learning as well as to encourage continuity across sessions.

Sessions can be run at MARCO or as outreach programmes in the community. The MARCO Team welcomes agencies and groups from the community to request programmes. We can run sessions regularly (weekly/fortnightly/monthly) or casually.

Contact
Amanda Levey
E: amanda@marco.org.nz

MARCO Trust - The Centre of Creativity for Well-being

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