Therapeutic Use of Person-Centred Creative Arts - Introduction Course 2026 - EST timezone

This APCCA Level 1 introduction course is for anyone who wants to develop their creativity, self-awareness, improve their wellbeing and discover how powerful creative arts practice can be. You will develop your understanding of the relevance of creativity to mental health and well-being and of its benefit to the therapeutic process.

This course is scheduled in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone to accommodate participants in that region. While anyone is welcome to join, please make sure to check the course time in your local timezone.

Please note the course consists of 3 sessions over 3 consecutive Tuesday evenings:-

This course will now be delayed until 2026, the event will be updated when dates have been confirmed, but please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are still interested.

The course is an ideal first step to training on our Level 2 certificate course.

On this course, participants will:

• Explore the importance of creativity
• Learn about the person-centred approach to creative arts practice
• Engage with experiential learning
• Develop self-awareness
• Develop creativity and confidence
• Develop an understanding of the relevance of creativity to the therapeutic process

Participants will receive a CPD certificate of attendance for 10 hours.

The course contains a combination of experiential work, theory, discussion, and creative arts practice. Students will need to provide:

• A book to use as an art journal
• Art materials, ideally a set of basic paints, pastels, pencils and paper.
• Creative home-work activities between sessions 1 and 2.

Read what some past students have said about the course:

"Being among such like-minded people and connected to the person-centred creative art tribe has reconnected me to the magic, flow and wholeness of being on a journey of new imagining and awakening dreams."

"This course helps people reconnect with their creative intelligence in varied and meaningful ways, and they leave with a different understanding of their creativity and its relevance in their lives."

"Such a lovely inspiring course - I thoroughly enjoyed it!"

Course Tutor:

Jina Mamtani-Mahbubani

Jina Mahbubani is from the beautiful island of St. Maarten in the Caribbean. She began her career as a high school computer teacher in 2004 but soon realised her students required more than academic instruction—they needed emotional support, understanding, and compassion. This insight led her to shift her focus to school counselling, and by 2009, she was working as a school counsellor at a special education elementary school in St. Maarten.

Jina holds a degree in School Counselling from the University of the Virgin Islands, where she gained the knowledge and skills to support children and families in navigating life's challenges. She furthered her studies in Canada and the United States before returning to St. Maarten to give back to her community and its people. With over a decade of experience, she has worked with individuals facing a wide array of difficulties, including communication struggles, parenting issues, poverty, child abuse, neglect, ADHD, autism, anxiety, time management challenges, and trauma. Her therapeutic approach integrates Creative Arts Therapy, Play Therapy, Imago Therapy, Compassionate Inquiry, and Person-Centered Therapy, ensuring that her clients—whether children or adults—feel safe, heard, and empowered on their healing journey.

In the past year, Jina launched her private counselling practice, Healing Through Compassion, offering online sessions, self-healing workshops, and informative seminars. Her specialities include Creative Arts Therapy workshops, parenting and communication sessions, and self-awareness programs aimed at fostering personal growth and healing.

Jina is also the proud owner of Scentsational Candles, a business where she handcrafts a range of self-care products, including candles, room sprays, and diffusers. Her passion for the connection between sensory experiences and emotional well-being extends to offering therapeutic candle-making workshops, which combine creativity with mindfulness.

Deeply committed to community service, Jina actively participates in the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Sunrise, serving as Youth Director and Wellness Chair. She is also a member of the Executive Board of the USVI School Counselors Association, where she holds the role of Membership Coordinator.

Despite her many roles, Jina values nurturing her personal relationships and refers to her close friends as her "backbone and unpaid therapists." She lives by the belief that "Taking care of your needs is the best thing you can do for yourself."

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I attend if its an online session?

We will use Zoom, a popular video conferencing platform which is free to download and use with a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

What else do I need?

A quiet space to enjoy the workshop where you wont be overheard, and some paper and pens/pencils/crayons or even paints, or an iPad or similar with digital art app - in fact any materials you have to hand and like to work with.

Do I need to keep my webcam on?

Yes, as it will help you to feel part of the whole group experience - and will help to put other people at ease in the group, too.

Do I have to be good at art?

Not at all! The workshop is about the creative process and our aim to help you let go of any self criticism you may have about what you create.