Art & Creativity for Healing Inc. was founded in 2000 by Laurie Zagon, M.F.A, with a vision that the creative process and emotional healing often intersect when words are not adequate, and pain is too deep. The organization offers unique workshops that help children teens and adults suffering from illness, grief , stress and fear process their feelings using the venue of abstract painting on canvas. These methods enable participants to learn a new way of communicating through color and painting that encourages emotional breakthroughs and further enhances the therapy process. Unlike other art programs that employ a loose format of free expression, our curriculum contains strictly guided fine art exercises (guided by our trained and certified Art4Healing® facilitators) to help participants express themselves creatively, and to document their experience in a profound way, thus creating a healing environment for themselves. Over 30,000 children and adults have participated in the Art4Healing® workshops over the past 11 years.The organization also offers the first in the country Art4Healing® certificate program offered through Brandman University-Chapman University System. Students from all over the country have become certified in the Art4Healing®method so that they may utilize the methodology within their private practices, home schools, hospitals, treatment centers and nonprofit agencies. The certification is offered 3 times per year; Fall, Spring and a special 7-day summer intensive program for those living in other parts of the country.