Healing through creatvity

A unique experiential Art Therapy Course with The Soul by  Rutika 

Have you heard that in the UK, doctors have even begun prescribing art, music, and group creative activities  instead of pills to tackle mental health challenges? This innovative approach reflects growing evidence—such  as research by Dr. Daisy Fancourt—that engaging in the arts can significantly reduce symptoms of depression  and anxiety, improve well-being, and build social connections. 

General practitioners and psychiatrists provide “art prescriptions” or referrals to community-based creative arts  programs where participants engage in group activities like painting, dancing, shared reading, or museum visits  over 8 to 12 weeks. The goal is not clinical treatment in the traditional sense but to offer a safe, nurturing space  

that fosters social connection and provides a meaningful break from daily stress and isolation. This shift  highlights how creative expression is becoming a powerful, evidence-backed pathway to healing and resilience  in today’s complex world. 

In response to the growing importance of arts therapies and for those interested in holding space for others  through creative expression, The Soul by Rutika (formerly Sacred Space) initiated a group Art Therapy  program. This program brings the language of art into healing spaces and mental health practice in a way that  is both deeply experiential and ethically grounded. 

The certificate course in Art Therapy offers a gentle invitation to explore the inner landscape without fixed  agendas or rigid outcomes. Over eight weekends, participants are welcomed into a nurturing space of trust and  openness, where art, reflection, and creativity become pathways to discovering authentic selves, fostering  meaningful transformation, and developing the skills and presence needed to hold space for others with  compassion and integrity. 

Entering the Work with Trust and Openness 

Participants from diverse backgrounds embraced the course with sincere openness. Rather than feeling  pressured to perform, they were invited to witness themselves honestly through the creative process. As Ms.  LeShaun Precious Peter from the Commonwealth of Dominica expressed, “Healing work is not only about  techniques or ‘knowing what to do’—it’s also about presence, integrity, and how we show up when someone  else is trusting us with their vulnerability.” This presence, paired with emotional maturity and regulation, formed  the foundation for transformation. 

The Art of Holding Space 

The creative process served as a doorway to emotions and truths beyond words. Working with various  materials—from charcoal to soft pastels—participants learned to listen to what resistance revealed. One  shared, “Sometimes it’s in the mess that clarity comes. Sometimes what we avoid is exactly what’s inviting us  into a deeper kind of release.” Through art, the unspoken gently surfaced, allowing healing to unfold. 

A Community of Witnessing and Grace

The intimate group environment offered profound support. Within this circle of respect, participants felt truly  seen and held. Lt Col Manmeet Kaur (Retd) described the warmth of the group as “like quality food for the  soul,” nurturing both emotional and spiritual growth. The mutual witnessing became a source of life and  encouragement. 

Self-Care as Sacred Grounding 

A recurring insight was the importance of self-care—seen not as selfish, but as essential. The course invited  slowing down, resting, and nurturing the inner self. One participant reflected, “If my own cup is not filled, I  cannot provide meaningful support to those around me.” This grounding in compassion fostered new ways of  being with oneself and others. 

Transformation Beyond Technique 

More than a course in art therapy techniques, this was a journey into becoming someone who can hold space  for others with care and integrity. Participants shared experiences of releasing old patterns, embracing  shadows, and stepping into new roles of wisdom and service. As one was gently reminded, “Your journey  reflects extraordinary archetypal development—from woundedness to transformation, from service to wisdom.” 

Carrying the Light Forward 

The course’s conclusion was a new beginning—a commitment to daily practices that nourish and sustain. A  participant described this moment as “the culmination of everything we had experienced.” Equipped with  deeper self-knowledge, creative tools, and a compassionate community, participants are preparing to share  their light and continue healing journeys. 

Voices from the Journey 

Ms. LeShaun Precious Peter, Commonwealth of Dominica, highlighted the course’s emphasis on presence  and integrity: 

“Being a facilitator means you are exposed to the heavy and tender parts of people… Learning to hold space  responsibly requires maturity, containment, and discernment.” She valued art as a non-verbal healing pathway:  “The creative process allows truth to rise without force.” 

Lt Col Manmeet Kaur (Retd) saw the course as a beacon guiding her toward self-care and grace: “The group environment was icing on the cake—it held me with warmth and made me feel seen and  transformed.” 

Bromadine, a counsellor from Bangalore experienced the sessions as a gateway to inner light and growth,  appreciating sessions on somatics and shadow work: 

“Spaces within me that once felt blocked began to breathe freely.” 

Prema Antony, Ireland, shared profound inner shifts and connection to the divine feminine, touched by  personalized guidance and collective witnessing. 

Themes That Illuminate the Path 

• Trust and Openness: Approaching the course as a shared offering, participants engaged without  expectation.

• Healing Through Presence: Transformation grounded in sincere presence rather than technique alone. 

• Self-Care and Boundaries: Recognizing that nurturing oneself is essential to supporting others. •

Creative Process as Truth:

Art as a gentle, non-verbal way to access inner wisdom.

Community and Connection:

A safe, respectful space fostering mutual witnessing and support. •

Personal Transformation: Emotional and spiritual growth integrated into daily life and work. 

The Soul by Rutika’s Art Therapy course offers an invitation to those ready to explore creativity, healing, and  self-discovery with openness and kindness. As one participant said, “Witnessing others and being witnessed in  return was truly life-giving.” This shared journey gently illuminates a path home to the true self. 

Who can do this course: Aspiring art therapists, healers, counsellors, creative facilitators, or anyone seeking  inner work through art 

“If you feel called to deepen your healing work through art, to cultivate compassionate presence, and to hold  space for others with heart and integrity, The Soul by Rutika invites you to join this rare and transformative  experience.” 

You may send enquiry on her email rutikarajostwal@gmail.com or 9511782223 

About the author 

Rutika Ostwal is an imminent Art therapist, educator, writer, and founder of The Soul by Rutika (formerly  Sacred Space). With a lifelong immersion in arts, psychology, and personal transformation, she designs  transformative, experiential offerings for small, intentional cohorts blending creativity, reflection, and soulful  presence. 

Trained at the Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai and holding a Master’s in Art Therapy from Crawford College,  Ireland, Rutika bridges fine art, Jungian psychology, and neuroscience with deep sensitivity. Her training philosophy transcends rigid methodologies, cultivating safe, grounded, and intuitive practitioners  who embody compassionate witnessing, healing, and the integrity necessary to hold space for others’ complex  emotional realities. 

She also contributed to the 2026 World Art Therapy Conference roundtable on decolonising Art Therapy in  India.