Expressive Arts Therapy

Course Meeting Dates:

September 12 

September 19

September 26

*Note: not meeting week of October 3rd due to holiday

October 10

October 17th

Course meets each date from 12 noon -- 3 pm Eastern Daylight Time Zone. You can join us LIVE each time schedule and/or catch the replays on the course site if unable to make the live zoom session! There will be recordings of the lectures and slide presentations posted to the course site for weekly. However, we do not post films of participants' discussions or experiential work to respect our learners' privacy.

Each session includes presentations on theory, practice, and research [generally the first hour]. The second hour is usually a hands-on expressive arts experience to help you understand the concepts and also to provide you will one or more practical approaches to using expressive methods. The final hour we encourage and facilitate discussion of what was experienced, have time for questions and answers, and summarize the session's key points and concepts.

This five session live webinar series highlights how two expressive arts therapy strategies are essential in the practice of EMDR-- Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) and Sensorimotor Expressive Arts Therapy.

Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) is a widely used approach in many current strategies to address trauma. It is found in practices like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and various forms of tapping and sensory integration methods. Sensorimotor Expressive Arts Therapy (SEAT)  complements BLS and incorporates developmental, brain-wise, and body-based concepts from contemporary and innovative trauma treatments. In contrast to protocols like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy® (SP) that focuses on talking about body awareness, SEAT values implicit communication -- the nonverbal expressions that reflect the body's experience of threat as well as safety.

The applications of these methods support the "Four Functions" of expressive arts therapy--- self-regulation, co-regulation, exploration, and restoration when it comes to trauma resolution (Malchiodi, 2020). This course  using expressive arts, bilateral stimulation and EMDR approaches, and sensorimotor expressive arts therapy. The well-researched concepts of Embodied Cognition, the Primary Regulatory Network for regulation, and cultural practices that use bilateral stimulation are central to this course. It is also a course option for those of you completing the Nature-Based Expressive Arts Practitioner Certificate or the Restorative Embodiment Practitioner Certificate and of course, EXAT or EXA-CE designations.

This course provides an introduction to the concepts of BLS and SEAT. It also provides strategies for combining and complementing methods found in EMDR, sensory integration, and tapping as part of overall trauma-informed intervention. This is not part of formal EMDR training, but we will be making reference to the principles and theories of EMDR throughout the course as well as other methods that focus on bilateral movement and stimulation. Because BLS and sensorimotor approaches are used by many EMDR practitioners and psychotherapists and counselors, particularly for traumatic stress, these strategies and principles are essential to effective applications with people of all ages.

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. 

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.