Overview
Get an in-depth overview of the world of psychology through the lens of creativity in this 4-week short course. Psychology explores the workings of the mind, human behaviour and how we engage with the world around us. Within this broad field, Creativity Psychology has emerged as a dynamic area of study, with decades of scientific research, numerous dedicated labs, academic journals and major conferences worldwide.
This course delves into the developmental roots of creativity and how to nurture it throughout life. We’ll explore the factors that cultivate creative skills, but beyond that we’ll examine the conditions that enhance the joy and fulfilment of the creative process. We’ll investigate the mechanisms linking creativity with our mental and physical health. Finally, we’ll adopt a socio-cultural perspective to explore how creativity influences communities and shapes the world around us.
Staying true to the Catalyst approach, this course goes beyond lectures and exams. Together, we’ll engage with contemporary research and literature through seminar-style discussions. In hands-on workshops, you’ll gain practical, experiential understanding of each topic, and work toward applying science-based strategies to enhance your own creative practice.
Course structure
Topics covered
The course content will focus on the following subject areas:
- Creativity across the lifespan.
- Neuroscience of creativity.
- Emotional and psychological aspects of the creative process.
- Mindfulness and its role in creativity.
- Development of creative skills and expertise.
- Artistic expression and mental health.
- Productivity and professional creativity.
- Collaborative creativity and group dynamics.
- Cultural influences on creativity.
- Creativity, wellbeing, and nature.
- Leadership, communication, and feedback in creative environments.
- Creativity and storytelling for personal and collective meaning.
Weekly breakdown
Week 1 – Creative Lifespan Development
Project: Create something in a way that highlights the many facets of your own developmental system.
- Zoom out: big picture creativity.
- What is changing? types of creative development.
- The creative brain: developmental neuroscience.
- Spiralling: upward and downward cascades.
- Creating from the womb to the tomb: lifespan development.
- Where change happens: developmental contexts.
- Early life: creative foundations and exploration.
- Later life: sustainable creative mastery.
Week 2 – Optimal Experience and Peak Performance
Project: Create something in a way that is more engaging than ever before.
- Mindfulness and attention.
- Play, curiosity, and imagination.
- Flow states and the zone.
- Emotions and artistic expression.
- The creative process and productivity.
- Deliberate practice and expert performance.
- Professional creativity and burnout.
- Authenticity and creative personality.
Week 3 – Expressive Arts, Health, and Wellbeing
Project: Create something in a way that supports your mental and physical health.
- Mindfulness, art, and anxiety reduction.
- Neuroaesthetics.
- Nature-based art and wellbeing.
- Compassion and artistic mindsets.
- Color psychology and emotions.
- Sound and health.
- Creative writing for self-discovery.
- Movement and embodied expression.
Week 4 – Creative Leadership and Global Impact
Project: Create something in a way that builds healthy relationships.
- Psychological safety and emotional intelligence.
- Trust and communication.
- Feedback and iteration.
- Leadership and followership styles.
- Group problem solving.
- Group flow.
- Cross-cultural collaboration.
- Values, purpose and storytelling.
Skills gained
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the complexities of your personal creative development.
- Take greater control of your creative growth and direction.
- Experience deeper enjoyment and fulfilment in the creative process.
- Build and enhance key creative skills effectively.
- Use your creativity to make a meaningful impact on the world..
- Create in ways that support your physical and mental well-being.
- Improve experiences of creating and collaborating with others.
- Lead and facilitate successful creative collaboration within groups.
Progression
Whether you want to spend four weeks expanding your creative potential and connecting with like-minded individuals, or you’re preparing to advance to one of our longer HE Certificate, BA or MA programmes and need hands-on experience, this short course will equip you with the tools and insights to enhance your creative practice.
The course will also provide you with valuable skills that are in demand in the creative industries. You will develop and receive feedback on projects relevant for those looking to work as: artists, creative directors, arts facilitators, arts educators, creativity coaches, artist managers, or arts therapists.
Tutors
Our tutors are industry-acclaimed experts in their field, with a passion for passing on their knowledge to others. Here are some of the tutors that will be supporting you throughout your learning process.
Essential information
Tuition fees
Enrolment fee*: €495
Course fee: €1,755
Total: €2,250
Early Bird Discount: Enrol in a Summer Short Course before the end of February 2025 and receive a discount of €150 off the tuition fee.
Multi Course Discount: Enrol in both a Summer Short Course and a degree course with us in the same year, and receive a discount of €500 off the total tuition fee.
*Note: Enrolment fee is non-refundable.
Timetable and class size
We can’t provide an exact timetable until we know how many students will attend the course. However, you will have an average of 16 hours per week of workshops.
Our campus facilities are open for the students to use beyond the timetabled workshop hours. Our recording and production studios, digital workstations, communal workspaces and equipment from the tech shop are bookable from 10:00 until 19:45 during the Short Course term.
You can expect to be in a class of 12 to 16 students.
Entry requirements
The most important prerequisite for attending this course is that you must be passionate about developing your understanding of Creativity Psychology and applying this to your creative practice.
Our Short Courses are designed to be accessible to anyone, so we do not require any level of academic certification to apply. To qualify, you should usually be aged 18 or over. If you're coming from outside the EU, a holiday/travel visa will usually suffice.
For more information, please contact a member of the Admissions team. We love to chat! Please reach out to us at admissions@catalyst-berlin.com or call us at +49 30 2900 9052.
Application deadlines
Once a course is full, we will no longer accept more applications, so applying as soon as possible increases your chances of getting a place. The official deadline for applying to a Short Course is Friday 23 May 2025.
Open days, Q&As & taster workshops
Get a feel for Catalyst and our courses at a range of both online and in-person events. Join us at a Virtual Open Day or an Open Day at our campus in Berlin, check out our facilities with a campus tour, join an Admissions Q&A, or try a taster workshop.
Primer Workshop – Access to Higher Education
Designed for those wishing to join our main programmes, but lacking the formal education requirements to apply through standard entry.
These free workshops run at the same time as your short course programme and cover writing skills, reading, structuring arguments, debate and understanding context.
They utilise task and project-based learning methodology to ensure that you’re prepared and ready for our longer HE Certificate or BA programmes.