Paint. Heal. Grow.
Art & Creativity for Healing
Expressing feelings on canvas when words fail using the Art4Healing® method. Since our inception in 2000, we’ve helped tens of thousands explore self-healing with art.
Coming up at Art4healing®
Our Upcoming Workshops
Live Online
Expressing the Holidays with Color Live Zoom Workshop
December 16 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am PSTArt4Healing® Revealed Live Zoom Workshop
January 7, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm PSTPainting with a Higher Purpose Live Zoom Workshop
January 21, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm PST
In-Person
Expressing the Holidays with Color In Person Workshop
December 20 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm PST
Watch a short introduction about Art & Creatvity for Healing
See our 20th anniversary message
Please Note
We are NOT an Art Therapy provider. We share art as a tool for self-expression and self-exploration. The structure of the Art4Healing® sessions makes clear that the leaders are facilitators of the creative process, not therapists guiding it. ACFH facilitators don’t offer any interpretation or diagnosis.
The focus remains on the participants in charge of their own exploration. The fact that this process is therapeutic DOES NOT make it art therapy.
Art therapy is actually a legally separate institution and field of practice.
Learn About Us
All About Art4Healing®
Our Mission
Our Mission is to support emotional healing through art & creative expression for those living in pain, grief, fear or stress. Art and Creativity for Healing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
How We Started
The history of Art & Creativity for Healing has an interesting beginning. Laurie Zagon went from being a New York artist and university professor to facilitating a workshop for overworked Wall Street executives.
Zagon asked the executives if they wanted to take the semester course she was teaching at the City University of New York. “No! We just want to take one class and mess up a canvas for a few hours.”
Within twenty minutes, the Armani-clad executives had become five-year-olds painting, free of stress! Laurie knew she was on to something, leading her on her path to creating Art4Healing®.
What We Do
Art & Creativity for Healing Inc. (ACFH) supports emotional healing for children, families, individuals, and military personnel using our Art4Healing® method.
We assist adults and children suffering from the emotional impacts of abuse, illness, grief, fear or stress. Our individual workshops and community programs offer expression, encouragement, clarity, and insight.
ACFH also partners with schools, shelters, and other nonprofit agencies to integrate Art4Healing® programs.
How We Do It
We give pain a voice and meaning by providing expressive abstract art workshops to support emotional healing.
We’re different from other art programs. Our Art4Healing® curriculum contains strictly guided exercises, rather than loosely formatted art sessions. These exercises are specially designed to elicit emotional responses. Participants leave encouraged, with enhanced clarity and insight.
Who We Serve
Our trained and certified facilitators share the unique Art4Healing® methodology. They’ve helped tens of thousands of people use art as a tool for self-expression.
We also offer the only accredited certification program in the Art4Healing® method. Certification training is provided solely by Art & Creativity for Healing, Inc.
Our workshops are in our studio in Laguna Hills and live via Zoom. Select courses are also offered online as pre-recorded curriculum.
We work with more than 35 non-profit program partners in Orange and San Diego counties, centered around five Core Programs.
Get Certified today
Art4Healing® International Certification
The ONLY globally recognized Art4Healing® Certification
We are proud to offer our Art4Healing® International Certification, exclusively available online.
To become certified online, students experience and complete Art4Healing® workshops and assignments through an online platform within a timeline of 9 months.
Students are matched with an Art4Healing® Coach who will answer questions and review their assignments and workshops they have facilitated.
Since the program’s inception, we’ve graduated facilitators who are spreading Art4Healing® to their communities – from New Zealand to Canada to right here in Orange County, California.
Unique
Our Certification is based on the unique Art4Healing® method, developed by our Founder, Laurie Zagon. It is the only internationally recognized certification of its kind.
Versatile
Graduates can use the Art4Healing® method in any setting where participants can benefit from emotional healing. These settings include (but are not limited to) places such as hospitals, schools, homeless shelters, mental health facilities, veteran facilities, senior citizen centers, etc.
Affordable
Our Certification Program includes an extensive and comprehensive curriculum, as well as one-on-one guidance with a Certified Art4Healing® Facilitator / Coach. At a fixed cost of $2500 (not including supplies), Art4Healing® Certification is an affordable education option.
Read our feedback
What They're Saying
Read what people say about how Art4Healing Workshops helped them overcome their pain or difficulty.
A Huge Relief
After hearing everyone share their stories, I felt compelled to share mine in this safe place. I have never shared these feelings with anyone before and it is a huge sense of relief for me.
Wounded Warrior Participant
Hopeful for My Dream
This workshop about hope made me feel so much better and hopeful for my future dream to have a house of my own and for my kids someday.
OC Rescue Mission Participant
Extremely Helpful
This workshop was extremely helpful in opening me up to my emotions and allowing myself to be vulnerable. I never imagined art would make me open up to my emotions.
La Habra Family Resource Center Participant
I Acknowledged Feelings
Art4Healing has helped me overcome and acknowledge feelings I didn’t know I had. I like that I can display all of my emotions. I’ve learned that painting helps so much with understanding myself.
Raging Colors Participant
It’s So Easy
I am amazed by how easy the process was for me and I felt a sense of relief to share my feelings in a non-judged artistic way.
Wounded Warrior Participant
Truly a Blessing
Coming to Art4Healing is truly a blessing. I am able to express my feelings in a way that I am limitless.
Wounded Warrior Participant
I Learned to Let Go
Amazing class. Helped me to express myself and open up. Taught me how to let go and allow my self to make mistakes. Without this class, I would still be stuck in my black isolated hole.
CPL Vanesia
Relaxed and Open Minded
Thank you very much to all donors for having this art class for us here at OC Rescue Mission. I really enjoyed taking this class. It opens up my mind to think of things and it relaxes me. Thanks a lot again.
OC Rescue Mission Participant
Easier Than Talking
I’m not good at talking about my feelings or sharing them with others, but it was much easier to paint them, see them, and then verbalize them.
Wounded Warrior Participant
There’s Still Happiness
I learned by doing this painting that there is still happiness in my life, it’s not all bad like I sometimes think – I can see good too.
Human Options Participant
No Pressure to Share
This workshop allows you to get it all out without pressure. It is very refreshing. It helps to be surrounded by those who also need it.
Wounded Warrior Participant
I Released Tension
Doing these exercises made me realize I have gotten away from art and doing creative things – it helped me to release some tension with all the difficult things going on.
Costa Mesa FRC Participant
I Want to Help Others
Painting made me realize how much I like to help others and it makes me feel good. I want to help people as much as I can.
Kid Works OC Participant
We Overcame Grief
“I wanted to thank you very much for the wonderful experience Jeff and especially Logan had yesterday at your Art Studio. I spoke to Jeff this morning, he said that yesterday was the most that little Logan had opened up since his mom passed away. Thank you again.”
Alexandra B.
My Paintings are Eye Opening
My paintings are eye-opening. They help me see how my depression, sadness, and challenges are taking over my life and artwork. They give me perspective of how overwhelming the bad things in my life are right now.
Wounded Warrior Participant
Seniors Can Share Too
I think this is a great opportunity for seniors to express their feelings and talk it out. Usually, it’s hard for seniors to get a chance to share feelings. This is the best opportunity, very helpful, and meaningful. I’m grateful for this class.
Costa Mesa FRC Council on Aging-St. Joe’s Heritage Center Participant
Things are Looking Up
I did this same workshop when I first came to Regina House and my paintings were dark and full of black. I am amazed to see my paintings tonight so bright and full of color – I really think I am getting better, things are looking up for me in my life and my paintings show it!
Regina House Participant
I Made Peace
“These workshops have been life-changing. I was mad at him, the world, the Church, and God. It is here in the workshop I made peace and can move on. Thank you to the instructor.”
-Participated in the weekly Human Option Shelter Art4Healing workshop
John
Opened Up to a Second Chance
I really loved how this class opened me up and I could express so much gratitude. It helped me realize I have a second chance to be a better mom and live a clean and sober life for my son.
Minnie St. Family Resource Center Participant