CCT Foundation - Course 1
MEDITATION & CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIES
CCT Origins and Foundations
FALL 2026: Sept 14 - Oct 12, 2026 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. CEST (Paris)
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT (Toronto)
This five-week online course offers an introduction to the foundations of Contemplative Creative Therapy (CCT). It begins with a light and accessible overview of Buddhist history, psychology, and religious traditions, as well as their secularisation and integration in the West. Through meditation, Dharma, Dharma Art, creative expression, and embodied practice, participants will discover how contemplative and creative approaches can support awareness, integration, and therapeutic work.
The course also encourages thoughtful reflection and practices on Buddhism and colonialism, cultural appropriation, and the ethical integration of Buddhist and contemplative traditions within Western clinical contexts. The course is taught in English.
By exploring the deep roots of contemplative life in India. Our journey unfolds across five key topics, each offering a lens into the spiritual, philosophical, and artistic foundations of what would later inform Buddhist psychology and ultimately, Contemplative Creative Therapy.
It is intended as an introductory and interdisciplinary offering that blends historical awareness, contemplative insight, and experiential learning. It is designed to support those in therapeutic, creative, or spiritual fields who wish to deepen their understanding of the cultural and spiritual roots of CCT.
This course is not a comprehensive historical study of Buddhism or a deep dive into Asian art. Instead, it is an invitation—a contemplative and experiential framework for understanding how ancient Indian practices continue to inform modern therapeutic healing. Our approach blends psychology, creativity, and contemplative wisdom. The course is taught in English.
Required course book: Contemplative Creative Therapy: Integrating Buddhist Psychology, Meditation, and Embodied Creativity Methods in Clinical Practice by Emma Ates (2025). Participants are responsible for purchasing a copy before the course begins.
Course Details
Format: Five-week live online course
Number of modules: Five modules
Dates: September 14th to October 12th, 2026, from
Time: 4:30–6:30 p.m. CEST (Paris) / 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT (Toronto)
Course language: English
Course fee: € 180 for the complete five-module course
Online platform: Google Classroom
Course materials: Resources and materials will be available through Google Classroom
Required book: Contemplative Creative Therapy: Integrating Buddhist Psychology, Meditation, and Embodied Creativity Methods in Clinical Practice (ATES, 2025), available on Amazon International.
Recordings: Each live session will be recorded and made available through Google Classroom for registered participants
Completion document: Letter of Completion
Professional development: 10 instructional hours
Completion and continuing education:
Participants who complete the five modules will receive a Letter of Completion indicating the course title and total number of instructional hours. This course may be eligible for continuing education (CE) or continuing professional development (CPD) hours, depending on the participant’s country, profession, and regulatory or professional association. Participants are responsible for confirming eligibility with their relevant organization before registering.
Once your full CCT Foundations training pathway is available, you could then offer a separate CCT Foundations Certificate to participants who complete all required foundation courses.
Unable to attend every session live? Registered participants will have access to the course recordings through Google Classroom, allowing them to revisit the material at their own pace.
Course 1 - Overview:
This 4-module online course offers a foundational exploration of Contemplative Creative Therapy (CCT) by tracing its roots in ancient Indian traditions. It introduces the historical, philosophical, and artistic origins of meditation, Dharma, and Dharma Art—key elements that shape the contemplative and therapeutic practices within CCT. Blending Buddhist-informed psychology with creative expression, the course emphasizes the experiential integration of inner awareness, symbolic depth, and healing presence.
Purpose of the Course
This course introduces the foundational roots of Contemplative Creative Therapy (CCT) through an exploration of early Indian contemplative traditions. It offers a theoretical and experiential understanding of how ancient practices—such as meditation, the philosophy of Dharma, and sacred art—inform the therapeutic use of creative and mindful processes today. The course provides historical context, philosophical grounding, and cultural awareness to support the ethical and embodied application of CCT.
Participants will gain insight into:
• The historical and spiritual origins of meditation and yoga in India
• The evolving concept of Dharma as a principle of healing and inner alignment
• The emergence of Dharma Art as a visual and ritual expression of sacred truth
• The integration of contemplative practices into modern therapeutic settings
Key Themes:
• The origins and evolution of meditation in India
• The concept of Dharma as an ethical path and inner truth
• The emergence of sacred art as a contemplative expression
• The historical decline and modern revival of Buddhism
• Integration of ancient wisdom into contemporary therapeutic frameworks
Designed for:
This course is intended for psychotherapists, art therapists, mindfulness facilitators, somatic practitioners, educators, and mental health professionals who are interested in integrating Buddhist psychology, contemplative science, and creative expression into their clinical or teaching practice. It is also relevant for contemplative practitioners seeking to bridge personal insight with professional application.
While prior experience with meditation or creative arts therapy is not required, familiarity with basic contemplative or therapeutic frameworks is recommended.