Expressive Arts Therapy

Trauma’s impact often requires approaches that address the sensory-based experiences many survivors report. Expressive arts therapy—the purposeful application of art, music, dance/movement, dramatic enactment, creative writing and imaginative play is a largely non-verbal way of self-expression of feelings and perceptions. More importantly, they are action-oriented and tap implicit, embodied experiences of trauma that can defy expression through verbal therapy or logic.

In this foundation course you will learn through discussion, readings, films, resources, and hands-on, interactive experiences just how expressive arts therapy helps individuals of all ages "come to their senses" in order to repair and recover from traumatic experiences. This five-session live webinar focuses on one of the four functions of expressive arts therapy: how arts-based methods can help us to self-regulate, become aware of our bodies, reduce distress, and restore the self through expressive approaches to health and well-being.

Topics and expressive arts therapy experiences include:

• The MSSS Model for expressive arts-- movement, sound, storytelling, and silence--and how to integrate it in psychotherapy, counseling, education, and coaching.
• The seven principles of Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy as a trauma-sensitive practice.
• How the Expressive Therapies Continuum inform the use of expressive arts in psychotherapeutic and counseling practice.
• How to integrate arts-based, play-based, and imagination to support restoration of the self.
• BLS [Bilateral Stimulation] in the expressive arts as a form of self-regulation and co-regulation with traumatic stress.
• Expressive approaches to grounding and anchoring as key elements of trauma intervention.
• Integration of somatic practices with expressive arts therapy.

We continually update our live webinar course content with readings, resources and links to relevant material. This live webinar course is given in a "drip format"-- each week you will have access to a new set of materials as we proceed through the topic, session by session. 

This course includes a Certificate of Completion for Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy Level One for 18 hours of Continuing Education/Professional Development-- see information below.

Course Meeting Dates [Tuesdays]:

January 12

January 19

January 26

February 2

February 9

All meetings are held from 12 noon- 3 pm, Eastern Time/New York Time; since we have participants from around the world, please be sure to check your time zone. 

There are limited recordings available for this course. All material covered in this course is also on the course site in the form of readings and resources and experiential assignments and discussions. By registering for a live webinar you do not have to take an extensive and required examination for continuing education. You are also required to keep your camera on so that the instructors can verify attendance; permission to have your camera off during the course must be for reasons of emergency or other acceptable reason. 

This course site closes 30 days after Session Five. Please be aware that you will no longer have access to the site after that time. Please be sure to download and save all resource materials before this end date and complete course at 100% in order to receive and download certificate for CE/PD credit.

Continuing Education Information

Counselors/National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6557. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC are clearly identified. Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute is an Approved Continuing Education Provider by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Our Texas Provider Number is 2318.

Art Therapy Credentials Board [ATCB]. The ATCB recognizes a variety of CEC activities, including those in the areas of professional and mental health counseling. These activities are clearly outlined in their recertification standards provided to all ATR-BCs in their recertification year and on their website. A minimum of six CECs must be earned in the area of ethics each cycle. If you are licensed as an art therapist in your state, please check with your state board to verify what types of CEC activities are acceptable for license renewal.

California Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers and Professional Counselors. As of July 1, 2015, the State of California /Board of Behavioral Sciences [BBS] amended its regulations for continuing education providers to include National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as a "board-recognized approval agency." If you are licensed as a marriage and family therapist, social worker, educational psychologist or professional clinical counselor in California, NBCC Approved Continuing Education Providers are recognized by the BBS to fulfill continuing education requirements. As of July 1, 2015, required CE hours can be accumulated through self-study and distance learning.

The hours accumulated in this course can be applied to achieving the EXAT or EXA-CE designations. 

Expressive Arts Therapist--Trauma Informed [EXAT] is a continuing education program designed to help you acquire the competencies necessary to apply Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy within the context of psychotherapy and counseling. To be admitted to this program and participate in the courses and practices to achieve this designation, applicants must be hold a master's degree or higher and be licensed or board certified mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatric nurses and addictions counselors. 

Expressive Arts Coach/Educator--Trauma-Informed [EXA-CE] is a continuing education program designed to help individuals in a variety of fields acquire the competencies necessary to apply trauma-informed expressive arts in your work. Applicants for this designation include individuals with degrees in the arts, humanities or education, health or other types of coaches, nurses and nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, physical therapists, emergency medical workers, acupuncturists, bodyworkers (massage therapists, Rolfers®, Craniosacral and Polarity therapists, Feldenkrais practitioners, yoga practitioners, and others), first responders, crisis center staff, educators, mediators, clergy, and chaplains.

Supplemental Text to Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy Level One