JAMMU: Jodhamal Public School recently hosted an Art Therapy Workshop for its teachers, aimed at promoting emotional well-being and self-expression.

Led by the experienced art therapists Pooja Sharma, the workshop provided teachers with a creative platform to explore and express their emotions.

Pooja Sharma, the Resource Person, is a well-known certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner recognized by the American Board of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and a Certified Art Therapy Practitioner from VIMHANS, New Delhi. Having pursued Fine Art Courses from Central St Martins, London which is one of the world's leading centres for art and design education, Ms Pooja Sharma is fully equipped to train children and adults in therapeutic uses of Fine Arts.

During the workshop, teachers engaged in various artistic activities, including drawing their emotions using colours and shapes, and creating collages representing their aspirations. These activities allowed them to tap into their inner selves, fostering self-awareness and resilience.

With the novel thrust of NEP 2020 on Art-Integration into other technical domains, Art Education has already made in-roads in every educational institution. However, Jodhamal School further lays bare the therapeutic uses of Art through this unique workshop for teachers. Through Art-Integration, schools promote Art as a tool for learning and assessment.

However, Art, as a tool for self-expression, providing an outlet for pent-up emotions, leading to mental well-being has been an ignored use of Art which the teachers of Jodhamal explored in this guided workshop.

The workshop concluded with a sense of empowerment and renewed energy among the teachers. Through artistic expression, they gained valuable insights into their emotions and experiences, creating a more supportive and empathetic community within the school.