International Art Therapy Course
In Denmark
About the Course
A Jungian oriented 3- year program in art therapy starts in 2026 in Denmark. All teaching will be held in English.
The program contains 9 courses in Denmark each 7 days, 63 days in total.
For many years an international course has been offered at the institute each summer with participants from many countries. This program gives an opportunity to add a professional therapeutic training to a personal development in order to use a Jungian approach in clinical work with clients.
The Art Therapy Educational Program
The art therapy education contains 9 courses each with a duration of 7 days, and there will be 3 courses each year during 3 years.
The program is built on the understanding, that loneliness lies behind most psychological difficulties in our present time, and the courses are meant to create a development from loneliness towards a more joyful living using creative expression and dialogue as a bridging method.
Loneliness is an experience of not feeling connected to others as well as to the inner Self in the psyche. Through the courses we will move from working creatively with relationships in the outer reality before we start the inner journey towards the Self.
Essential for the Jungian approach is, that by changing the relationship to the inner personalities (shadow, masculine/ feminine and Self) we are also able to transform the way we relate to other people in the outer world.
Each course will introduce art therapeutic methods relevant for clients who are primarily situated in one of the 6 phases of development.
During the courses we will work through different layers in the psyche moving from loneliness – or disconnectedness to Self and others, – towards a relationship with the inner Self in the psyche. The tool for this transition will be creative processes – mostly painting and clay – and imaginative and therapeutic dialogues.
Participants will receive training in working therapeutically with different clients according to their different needs using creative modalities.
The program therefore consists of two tracks. One is related to the participants own development and the other is professional and connected to working with clients.
Every week will have a specific focus and different art therapeutic methods will be offered as a way to create some orientation in the psychological development for the client.
During all courses there will be:
Studio work. Painting, clay or glass
Art therapy training, where participants also work with each other under supervision in order to develop therapeutic skills.
Creative dream work, which will also be part of the participants ‘homework’
Drumming and meditation as a daily ritual during most courses
Essays
Participants will be asked to write an essay (app. 3000 words) after each course as a way to reflect and communicate experiences and theory relevant for the specific course. During the following course there will be an individual dialogue (20 minutes) based on the essay. The purpose of writing essays is to develop an individual way to communicate art therapy experiences, which is both personal, professional and readable for others.
There will be a final paper (app. 30.000 words) to be presented during examination after courses.
There will also be a practical examination where students work with a client for 1 hour.
Modules
1st Module
Introduction to C.G. Jungs Psychology through Art Therapy
Working with the mask, the ego, the shadow, the masculine – feminine and the Self through creative processes and dialogues. Also an introduction to picture interpretation based on Jung’s typology.
2nd Module
Loneliness
Focus on the concept of relational trauma and how they affect the psyche in a developmental process. We will work with the inner child and family patterns related to upbringing. Especially the influence of the mother complex in the psyche together with self-protective defenses in the personality structure. We will also look at the positive aspect of loneliness, such as motivation to change and the need to develop a connection to deeper aspects of the soul.
3rd Module
The Development of Personality
Deepening the connection to the inner child and allowing the child to develop through expression in the artwork.
Focus on complexes and how they develop in the young psyche. We will look at consequences of negative parenting, such as absent or abusive fathers or neglecting or non-protective mothers. How can guilt be transformed into a consciousness of reality and how can we create new family patterns through imagination and creativity.
4th Module
Opening of the Inner World
Focus on the concept of relational trauma and how they affect the psyche in a developmental process. We will work with the inner child and family patterns related to upbringing. Especially the influence of the mother complex in the psyche together with self-protective defenses in the personality structure. We will also look at the positive aspect of loneliness, such as motivation to change and the need to develop a connection to deeper aspects of the soul.
5th Module
Development of Inner Dignity
Focus on this course will be a deepening of experiences of the shadow personality in the psyche, which was introduced during the first week. We will use creative and imaginative methods to integrate shadow aspects in the psyche.
6th Module
Development of the Creative Psyche
Focus on this course is the relationship between the inner masculine and the feminine parts of the psyche. Through expressive and imaginative tools, we will bring the inner couple into a transformative process, where new aspects of the inner polarity can become conscious. This is a week where active imagination will become familiar to use in art therapy processes.
7th Module
Shame and creativity
Focus on this course will be on transforming shame, in order to develop fully the inner dignity and self-worth in the psyche. We will use the old story of Inanna as a reference to this process and rebuild a supportive function of the inner masculine and feminine side in relation to the Self.
The steps will be: preparation, initiation, death, return and new world order. The point is, that by making the relation to the inner world stronger, the vulnerability to shame will become weaker.
8th Module
Soul and Beauty
The focus on this course is to use therapeutic and visual expressions together with an aesthetic approach to the image. The voice of the inner judge will be used as a critical attitude, supporting the process of creating both beauty and soul.
9th Module
The Therapeutic Relationship
The focus on this course is to look at transference and countertransference in therapeutic processes.
How can you use experiences of countertransferences creatively together with your client or in your own personal development. There will be an introduction to creative supervision methods and an overview of art therapy methods with different kinds of clients.
Daily Structure
10.00 – 11.00: Drumming, meditation and dreams
11.00 – 13.00: Workshop
13.00 – 15.00: Lunch
15.00 – 18.00: Workshop
The last day we finish at 14.00
Students are welcome to use the art studio outside teaching time.
Individual Therapy and Supervision
During the first 2 years students must receive at least 30 hours of individual therapy in their home country as a deepening and continuation of the processes during the courses.
During the last year students must receive 20 hours of supervision related to their work with clients.
Tutors
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Vibeke Skov
Ph.d., Clinical psychologist and artist. Leader and teacher at the art therapy institute since 1986
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Inge Nygaard Pedersen
Ph.d., Music therapist. Teacher at the institute since 1986
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Sissel Bøhn
Psychodrama therapist. Teacher at the institute since 2005
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Lau Laursen
Musician, composer and Jungian therapist. Teacher at the institute since 2000
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Alex Nielsen
Art therapist and supervisor. Teacher at the Institute since 2015
Who can apply?
You must be at least 25 years old
You must have a relevant background education or experience from personal therapy or other psychotherapeutic training
You must be motivated to work with the unconscious
The art therapy institute in Denmark was founded by Vibeke Skov in 1987 and an art therapy education in Danish has been offered since then. Other teachers are connected to the institute and will become part of the international training program as well. It is a private institute without support from government.
The basic orientation is based on Jung’s psychology and the understanding of development of the individual Self as an original and creative core in the personality.
We expect participants to be motivated to a personal development as well as an interest in developing skills to work with other people using art in therapy.
A diploma will be received by the end of the program.
Accomodation
The institute is located in a beautiful nature by a lake, 15 km from Billund airport.
There are 5 beds available for students in the school and other possibilities for accommodation within a walking distance.
There is a library, kitchen, livingroom musicroom and studios available.
About the Institute
Photos
Price
Total price for the course
€8000
If a student wish to stop in the program there will be a termination fee of €350, which will be deducted from the deposit .
This includes art material, coffee and tea.
Expenses for books, individual therapy, supervision and final examination is not included in the payment.
Payment Installments for 2026
Year 1
€2400 - Due 1st of march 2026
Year 2
€2400 - Due 1st of march 2027
Year 3
€2400 - Due 1st of march 2028
Deposit
€800
Is part of the total course price. Due when the application is sent.
Final Exam (Not included in total price)
€500
Covers the cost of an external examiner and guidance related to writing the thesis.
Apply
Start Date
2026
Module 1
20. - 26. April
Module 2
3. - 9. August
Module 3
16. - 22. November