Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.
Learn More.

Learn more.

Due to road closures along Highway 1 to our north and south, Esalen is closed through April 11.
Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.
past workshop

Healing Through Creativity: Merging Art and Psychology for Personal Growth and Change

July 21–25, 2025

Pamela Hayes Malkoff

This workshop is more than a learning experience — it’s an invitation to connect deeply with yourself and others in a supportive and creative space. Together, we’ll explore the profound potential for healing and growth that arises when art and psychology converge. No artistic experience is necessary; this workshop is about creative expression, not perfection.

Integrating art therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this workshop combines two evidence-based emotional and psychological growth approaches. Creating art stimulates your brain, unlocking new pathways and possibilities. Art therapy offers a dynamic way to visually explore your thoughts and emotions, providing a unique outlet for self-expression and growth. CBT complements this process by helping you identify and challenge dysfunctional thought patterns, empowering you to shift your mindset and embrace change.

  • Bring your inner monster to life through art, and then engage with it through conversation to gain clarity and understanding.
  • Delve into themes of control, shifting perspectives, and transformation through the power of poetry.
  • Draw your own emotional landscape and gain practical tools to continue your healing journey long after our time together.
  • Compose your personal Declaration of Independence (to free yourself from what keeps you stuck) and collage your flag representing your new state of mind.

Led by a board-certified art therapist, this fully interactive workshop combines drawing, collage, painting, writing, and group dialogue. Together, we’ll explore the fears, anxieties, and barriers holding you back, empowering you with tools to create meaningful and lasting change.

Pamela Hayes Malkoff

Pamela Hayes Malkoff is a board-certified art therapist, the author of The Creative Cognitive Therapy Method, and an expert featured on SoulPancake’s The Science of Happiness. With 30+ years of experience, she’s taught at RISD, CSUN, TCS and lectured worldwide, blending art therapy and CBT to empower meaningful change.

Full Bio