Join Us In-Person on October 16 and 17, 2025
We are so happy to be coming back to KMAC Contemporary Museum of Art this workshop! This course for any practitioner interested in expanding clinical skills for regulation and restoration creatively through Expressive Arts Therapy. Professionals and college level students are welcome to experience and learn evidence-informed approaches (yes, based on Department of Education grant research) to support clients and patients or all ages. This is a 15 hour continuing education workshop that includes an introduction to how expressive arts therapy enhances stress reduction, resources safety, and enhances self-awareness of the senses. The workshop focuses on the latest research and how creative approaches support the autonomic nervous system and self-awareness of body and mind to reduce distress.
Learn and practice how breathwork informs regulation and create "breath journal" for use with clients or your own self-care; how to introduce the foundations of rhythm, attunement, and synchrony through individual and group exploration; explore sensory-based practices that focus on interoception in simple, yet effective ways; and explore using expressive arts therapy methods of evaluation and "arts-based research" that you can use with individuals of all ages in sessions. And come away with an understanding of how expressive arts therapy resensitizes the body and mind-- putting us in states of both "creative FLOW" and "enlivening FUN."
Participants will be able to:
1) define expressive arts therapy as an intermodal, integrative approach to regulation and restoration for counseling, psychotherapy, play therapy, and coaching;
2) define the MSSS (Movement Sounding Storytelling Silence) Model of expressive arts therapy and how it informs counseling, psychotherapy, play therapy, and coaching practices;
3) define at least ten evidence-informed expressive arts therapy strategies that reduce stress;
4) define at least two ways to use breathwork as a cretive approach to body awareness;
5) define why interoception is important to understanding stress and self-regulation;
6) define the Circle of Capacity Model as a complement to the window of tolerance framework in counseling, psychotherapy, and play therapy;
7) define at least three creative practices interoception related to address stress reactions;
8) define at least three ways to apply bilateral movement, rhythm, sound, and drawing to address stress and regulate and restore the self;
9) define the terms synchrony, ventral vagal network, and social engagement;
10) define attunement as an essential concept in supporting stress reduction and trauma recovery through creative and playful practices;
11) identify why rhythm is the foundation of all expressive arts therapy practices;
12) apply at least two rhythm practices for regulation and attunement within counseling, psychotherapy, play therapy, and attachment work;
13) learn to apply the Expressive Arts Therapy Autonomic Wheel to work with people of all ages-- and ourselves, to understand our own nervous systems;
14) identify at least three creative self-care practices to address practitioner stress and distress.
As part of this in-person course, we will offer an additional live webinar that you can attend to meet other participants. Or you can choose to watch this webinar on your own time before our in-person meeting. We will orient you to the workshop, be available for questions, and introduce you to the concepts and practices that you will learn during our time together at KMAC.
Here is some information, we will be updating it regularly so please check back often.
Workshop Venue: KMAC Contemporary Art Museum,715 West Main Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202 502.589.0102
3 Hour Credit Live Webinar date Friday, October 10, 11am-1pm (join live via Zoom link emailed prior or watch replays on your Thinkific Course siteas needed).
Time: In-person on October 16 and 17, 2025, Check-in start at 9am and course begins at 9:30 am and ends at 4:30 pm each day with one hour for lunch on your own.
Registration Online Only: Please use the registration link to complete your registration; you can complete it by using one of the payment options.
Refund Policy. 50% refund before September 15, 2025; no cash refunds after September 15, 2025. However, you can always choose to retain your entire registration fee as a credit to apply to any in-person, live webinar series, or home study courses at our Institute. And of course if we have to cancel this event for unforeseen reasons, you will receive a complete refund of your registration fee.
Travel Insurance: It is strongly recommended that if you are traveling from out of state that you purchase travel insurance. If we have to cancel or reschedule this event, you will receive a full refund for your registration fee. However, any airfares or other transportation, and additional travel costs or disruptions are the responsibility of participants.
Continuing Education. Please read the Continuing Education section on this page.
We will send you additional information about the course several weeks before the event. This may include some simple supplies to supplement your experience and access to readings on the course site to prepare you for the worshop. This offering will be highly experiential! Come prepared to learn through hands-on practices and your lived experiences of course material!.
Because this is a continuing education offering, there are no student scholarships or reduced pricing. We recommend that you check with your university for availability of scholarships to attend this course.
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.
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.
International Expressive Arts Therapy Association [IEATA]. Many participants go on to apply for the REAT or REACE credential with IEATA and use our expressive arts therapy coursework to do so. Please check with IEATA to make sure you are meeting their current requirements for registration and let us know if you need additional information to help you qualify.
Psychotherapy and Counseling Fedration of Australia [PACFA]. Many of our Australian participants indicate that these hours are accepted by PACFA---Psychotherapy and Counseling Federation of Australia. Please check with PACFA to verify this and let us know if you require any additional information for this organization to qualify your professional development hours.
Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association [CCPA]. Many of our Canadian participants indicate that these hours are accepted by CCPA for certain professional development requirements. Please check with CCPA to verify this and let us know if you require any additional information for this organization to qualify your professional development hours.
CPD hours [Professional Development] are currently in the application stage. We also welcome teachers to this course; please contact us for additional information.
Credentialing boards in Canada, Europe, and Australia accept our courses for professional development. Please check with them to verify that this course applies to your goals for credentialing or renewal of registration, certification, or licensing.
