MA Art Therapy Artist in Residence lecture: The Heart of Trauma and Resilience Work

This presentation will discuss the empirically supported role of heart rate variability (HRV) psychophysiological training that has been shown to be restorative in times of grief and loss. HRV is a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat which is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Conversely HRV activities train the ANS.

The presenter will illustrate the basic neurobiology of the HRV and discuss the associated research as well as implications for personal wellbeing and clinical implications. Psychophysiological HRV training is integrated with mindfulness practices, which focus on awareness of body, feelings, mind states and the practice of wholesome values of wisdom, kindness, patience, equanimity, generosity, and compassion.

The audience will be invited to participate in HRV activities which will for the most part include resiliency-based beliefs, visual imagery, and sound. The presentation will be informed by the presenters’ values as anchored in the self of the therapist work, religion, spirituality, cultural, familial, and personal belief systems that stem from generations of wisdom. Participants will be encouraged to consider incorporating their own value systems.

No previous meditation experience is needed. No art materials needed.

About the speaker

Dr Noah Hass-Cohen (PsyD, ATR LMFT) is a full professor at the Couple and Family Therapy program at Alliant International University in Los Angeles, US. She is an internationally recognised expert on relational art therapy neuroscience approaches. Dr Hass-Cohen is the author of two books, Art Therapy & Clinical Neuroscience and Art Therapy & the Neuroscience of Relationships, Creativity & Resiliency which were published by Norton’s Interpersonal Neuroscience series.

She and her colleagues have received the prestigious Journal of the American Art Therapy Association’s 2014 article of the year research award for their trauma treatment case study. In 2019, she also received the prestigious Silver Rawley Research Grant from the American Art Therapy Association for her pain research. They have also received a grant to provide workshops on obesity and weight management related psychosocial factors. Dr Hass-Cohen’s recent research has focused on the application of her empirically supported four-drawing protocol on the treatment of trauma and pain related symptoms.

Dr Hass-Cohen is an invited guest editor for two special issues. One with Lidsen Publishing on Expressive Arts Therapies during and in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The second being Frontiers in Psychology on The Arts Therapies and Neuroscience. Both collections are open for submission until May 2024.

Dr Hass-Cohen is trained and certified in several mindfulness approaches which she uses in her clinical practice. Originally from Israel, Dr Hass-Cohen lives in Los Angeles. Her current favourite art medium are clay and pastels, and she enjoys spending time with her spouse, children and grandchildren.