Clay and Wellbeing: a Therapeutic Journey
through Touch, Movement, and Creativity
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ~ Pablo Picasso
Participating in artistic work enables us to connect to ourselves as individuals and explore our inner life which shares its essential nature with the spirit. We develop new insights into who we are and are enlivened and renewed through the creative journey.
Neuroscience research and the study of neuroaesthetics reveals the transformative impact of the arts on wellbeing, learning, mental health, and healing. [1].
This course invites participants into a healing, creative relationship with clay as a living medium. Clay engages the four foundational senses (touch, life, movement, balance), supporting will development, nervous system regulation, and embodied presence. Sessions combine hands-on clay work with reflective practice, offering tools for personal wellbeing and for use with children or groups in therapeutic and educational settings.
Together we will work on:
- Understanding how clay supports integration and wellbeing
- Experiencing clay as a grounding, regulating, and expressive medium
- Engaging in and learning to structure and facilitate calming, creative clay sessions
- Deepen connection to intentional activity and the will, embodiment, and presence through art
- Be able to adapt clay practices for children, classrooms, home education, and self-care.
Suitable for adults, teachers, carers, and home schoolers. No prior clay experience required.
Our courses are intended for personal and professional development. We cannot guarantee that the material will always apply to every individual and it does not take the place of professional advice. Be aware that in certain circumstances, you may consider seeking your own medical advice from a health professional.
Please do not use course material:
- to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition for yourself or another
- as a substitute for the advice of a health professional.
Through art we have an enlivened path for transformation – it is the place from which the soul reaches out for health and wellbeing.
"Thanks for a rich term of learning through experiencing. I am finding the course so enriching and beneficial for my work. The assistance you provide has also been relevant to my process." - Kate, Art Therapist
"I have learnt so much - you have brought to life concepts from Steiner’s work in a way that has helped me really understand them anew." - Alix, course participant
Practical Information
Term 3: Mondays 7-8.30pm
Each session will be recorded and available for viewing for the duration of the course. Recordings will be removed at the end of the term. It is the responsibility of each student to keep up-to-date with the sessions.
Tania Hungerford
Tania Hungerford is the tutor for Wellbeing Through the Arts. She has trained teachers at the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner Seminar for over 20 years across a range of courses and subjects, bringing a depth of experience working out of education, art and anthroposophy. She has worked as a sculptor, maker and ceramic artist, as well as a workshop facilitator and tutor for most of her adult life. She draws on a comprehensive background of training in the areas of counselling and art therapy, sculpture, functional ceramics, phenomenological nature observation, anthroposophy, and Steiner education. In the Advanced Diploma of Rudolf Steiner Education course she develops inclusive teaching practices for working with children with special learning needs. She also teaches communication and conflict resolution, and understanding and working with trauma.
Over the past decade Tania has offered many professional development programs to Waldorf teachers in schools around Australia and in Asia. Tania has qualifications including a Certificate in Steiner Education; Advanced Diploma in Rudolf Steiner Education; Certificate in Biography Counselling; Bachelor of Social Science/Counselling; Grad Diploma in Experiential and Creative Art; Masters of Therapeutic Arts Practice; Certificate of Training and Assessment.
$445 per term
If you wish to withdraw from a course, please send an email to c.kwong@steinerseminar.edu.au.
- If you withdraw prior to a course beginning we will refund any fees paid, less a $100 administration fee.
- If you withdraw after the first session of the course, we will refund any fees paid,
Participants will receive a Certificate of Professional Development upon completion, subject to your attendance of all sessions or demonstrating proof of having viewed the recordings.
This course is non-accredited and does not lead to a qualification.
Please purchase before the course begins:
- 1x 10-15kg bag of clay. For instance, Walkers Ceramics ‘School earthenware/Stoneware clay. But any clay suitable for hand building will be fine. No air dry clay please.
- Charcoal drawing pencil
- Coloured drawing pencils (optional: pastels if you enjoy working with them)
- Watercolour paints and small brush of your choice. An inexpensive watercolour paint set will be satisfactory.
- Paper for drawing and painting with watercolour. It need not be very thick or expensive as we will not be soaking the paper.
For information or assistance please call office on 03 9876 5199 or email office@steinerseminar.edu.au .
[1] Magsamen, Susan and Ross, Ivy. Your Brain On Art – How the Arts Transforms Us. Random House 2023.
