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They semester I found creative skills interesting and practical. I feel like I learned lots of new techniques for my professional life. I also enjoyed the readings and research that showed how effective creative arts can be when facilitated. I will continue to keep up to date with new practices and research that will help in my professional life (Coru, 2017).

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Christiana's activity was 'Reflective Flower' 

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Christiana's activity was 'Reflective Flower' 

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The end results of both mine and Christina's facilitation.

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The end results of both mine and Christina's facilitation.

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My facilitation was  Message in a Bottle. The idea was to write positive affirmations or anything that was on the client's mind and put it in the bottle. The bottle can be a keep safe or a decoration. There were different materials to decorate with including beads, sparkled paper, confetti, poster paints, glass paint markers fine tips etc. Overall the activity kept all the participants interested and observed on what they were doing. I enjoyed it and so did my classmates (Buchalter, 2020).

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My facilitation was  Message in a Bottle. The idea was to write positive affirmations or anything that was on the client's mind and put it in the bottle. The bottle can be a keep safe or a decoration. There were different materials to decorate with including beads, sparkled paper, confetti, poster paints, glass paint markers fine tips etc. Overall the activity kept all the participants interested and observed on what they were doing. I enjoyed it and so did my classmates (Buchalter, 2020).

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Ref: Buchalter, S. (2020). 200 more brief, creative and practical art therapy techniques: A guide for clinicians and clients. PESI.

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My peers had fun and were engrossed in the activity I facilitated. I would do this activity in practice because it was effective (Coru, 2017).

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My peers had fun and were engrossed in the activity I facilitated. I would do this activity in practice because it was effective (Coru, 2017).

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Today we had two facilitations in class. We did air-dry clay and affirmations with Rita and Tiwonge,

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Today we had two facilitations in class. We did air-dry clay and affirmations with Rita and Tiwonge,

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I enjoyed the activity but I'm not sure I would use it in facilitation because it was quite tricky to use and I found myself getting frustrated and defeated because nothing was forming. If  I felt like this how would clients feel? Although I have used different kinds of air drying with my son it was a better experience so maybe I could find different types. D4 P1 talks about professional development and the responsibility we have as practitioners to constantly learn and develop (Coru, 2017).

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I enjoyed the activity but I'm not sure I would use it in facilitation because it was quite tricky to use and I found myself getting frustrated and defeated because nothing was forming. If  I felt like this how would clients feel? Although I have used different kinds of air drying with my son it was a better experience so maybe I could find different types. D4 P1 talks about professional development and the responsibility we have as practitioners to constantly learn and develop (Coru, 2017).

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I enjoyed the activity and the layout that Laura and Ciara presented and facilitated today.

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I enjoyed the activity and the layout that Laura and Ciara presented and facilitated today.

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Today was Laura and Ciara's Presentations and Facilitation. Laura requested we paint little mini cups and teapots. 

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Today was Laura and Ciara's Presentations and Facilitation. Laura requested we paint little mini cups and teapots. 

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This is what we did as a group collectively and we had a lot of fun. We were able to keep what we painted afterwards. I thought the mini cups were interesting and intricate. This could help with concentration and strengthening coordination (Malchiodi, 2012). 

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This is what we did as a group collectively and we had a lot of fun. We were able to keep what we painted afterwards. I thought the mini cups were interesting and intricate. This could help with concentration and strengthening coordination (Malchiodi, 2012). 

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Ref: Malchiodi, C. A. (Ed.). (2012). Art therapy and health care. Guilford Publications.

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I painted a cup and saucer and a milk jug. Using different types of paint. I found it fun and relaxing.

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I painted a cup and saucer and a milk jug. Using different types of paint. I found it fun and relaxing.

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Art and Mental Illness - Finding Ourselves.

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Art and Mental Illness - Finding Ourselves.

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In class today we drew our partners and then swapped what we drew. Using a magazine and cutting out and glueing the cutouts to the paper we created self-portraits. Creating ourselves through how we see ourselves. This is a good activity for working with clients with mental illness, reflecting on their lives and sharing with others (Parker, 2013).

Ref: Heath, W., & Darley, S. (2007). The expressive arts activity book: A resource for professionals. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Parker, D. (2013). Creative partnerships in practice: Developing creative learners. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

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I cut out different words or phrases that I felt represented me. I found this activity interesting and could be done quite cheaply with clinics by repurposing old magazines. 

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I cut out different words or phrases that I felt represented me. I found this activity interesting and could be done quite cheaply with clinics by repurposing old magazines. 

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In class today I took photos with my mobile and looked at tiny details. Imagine how abstract can be something else in our imagination. Today during creative skills I went outside and I was tired and I did not want to but after the activity in nature, I felt refreshed and happier. It was a free activity but brought a lot of benefits. (Coru 2017, D4, P1).

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Today in class we did 'Self' exploring characteristics about ourselves and how we could use this in facilitations with clients. Front of Mask what we present to others. Looking at proficiencies D4 P4 discusses self-development and understanding personal experiences and life values in professional practice. I thought this was a good activity to write what was on my mind (Coru, 2017).

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Today in class we did 'Self' exploring characteristics about ourselves and how we could use this in facilitations with clients. Front of Mask what we present to others. Looking at proficiencies D4 P4 discusses self-development and understanding personal experiences and life values in professional practice. I thought this was a good activity to write what was on my mind (Coru, 2017).

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Arts and Crafts (Mask Making) Behind the mask.

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Arts and Crafts (Mask Making) Behind the mask.

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The art I created in class with natural materials (Stones). The activity was relaxing and engaging. 

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The art I created in class with natural materials (Stones). The activity was relaxing and engaging. 

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Today after class I was reflecting on the activity we did today. I was thinking about will these materials be suitable to work with which service users? Would a service user with sensory issues be okay with paint residue on their hands or can I adjust it? Coru proficiencies D5 P11 discusses the importance of adaptability and chances of engagement in activities. This makes me think of my professional life and how I can be inclusive (Coru,2017).

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Today after class I was reflecting on the activity we did today. I was thinking about will these materials be suitable to work with which service users? Would a service user with sensory issues be okay with paint residue on their hands or can I adjust it? Coru proficiencies D5 P11 discusses the importance of adaptability and chances of engagement in activities. This makes me think of my professional life and how I can be inclusive (Coru,2017).

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CORU, 2017. Social Care Workers Registration Board Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. Available: https://coru.ie/files-codes-of-conduct/scwrb-code-of-professional-conduct-and-ethics-for-social-care-workers.pdf [accessed 25/10/231].

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Front of Mask (What is represented. to society. 

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Front of Mask (What is represented. to society. 

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Class collection

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using hands with materials , would this be suitable with someone with sensory issues?

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Working with natural material's such as lime rock. I found it relaxing and trying to figure out which group in social work placement this would benefit.

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Today in class we discussed the TILDA study 2021, The findings concluded that older adults had one of the higher involvement in creative ways of expressing and interacting.  The study also showed that it improved their life in areas where they felt less alone.

There are ways that we can incorporate mark-making for the elderly during social care work such as adjusting creative mark-making or using tools that are mortified.

We discussed Mark Marking and The various lines, dots, marks, patterns, and textures we add to artwork are called mark making. This technique works with any substance applied to any surface, including paint on canvas, ink or pencil on paper, and scuffed marks on plaster, which is a versatile technique (Gussak, and Rosal, 2016). This could be an interesting technique to apply to art facilitators with the elderly.

Ref: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging, 2021 (TILDA)

Gussak, David E., and Rosal, Marcia L., eds. The Wiley

Handbook of Art Therapy. Newark: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2016. Accessed December 12, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central.

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Mark Making Using Art Therapy to Engage in the Cognitive state

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Mark Making Using Art Therapy to Engage in the Cognitive state

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The activities' today in class on the 18/09/23 was drawing on the wall with a group of our peers. This activity was engaging and it was aimed at how could we use this on placement or as social care workers and facilitators. There are many way to  adapting ideas for groups with different service users with different capabilities.  The paper in class was placed at head level and we drew standing up, using various tools such as charcoal and paints, there was seats Infront of the wall that could be used to sit, as an example when we are working to include all service users regardless of psychical limitations. Mark Making can be a way for service users to have a safe space to create and express themselves without judgement (The Importance of Early Years for Childhood Development, 2021).

Reference: Importance of Mark Making in Early Years for Child Development – Play of the Wild

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Pairs of two and drawing an outline of our partners in class

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Mark Making-using art therapy to engage in the cognitive. 

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Mark Making-using art therapy to engage in the cognitive. 

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I could apply this to facilitation and service users could stand or sit. This activity was fun and it was also adaptable depending on mobility levels. It was nice to do it as part of a group. I feel like Domain 4 and Proficiencies 5 fit in well with this activity. Working together with peers and personal development and learning new skills (Coru, 2017).

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Ciara's activity was drawing flowers and colouring how we wanted. It was a group activity and it was fun. We used finer-tipped colours.

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Ciara's activity was drawing flowers and colouring how we wanted. It was a group activity and it was fun. We used finer-tipped colours.

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Class collection of  beautiful painted stones...

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Class collection of  beautiful painted stones...

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We used markers and plain facemasks. The material would be cheap and accessible to use in a workshop on placement. (Markers are quite squeaky and not ideal for sensory issues on mask surfaces (Mouton-Odum and Golomb, 2021).

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We used markers and plain facemasks. The material would be cheap and accessible to use in a workshop on placement. (Markers are quite squeaky and not ideal for sensory issues on mask surfaces (Mouton-Odum and Golomb, 2021).

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Mouton-Odum, S., & Golomb, R. G. (2021). Helping your child with sensory regulation : Skills to manage the emotional and behavioral components of your child's sensory processing challenges. New Harbinger Publications.