Introduction to Expressive Arts Therapy: Creative Strategies for Trauma Healing

Course overview

Expressive arts therapy is an approach to psychotherapy with roots in indigenous cultures and a rich history of evolution within modalities such as Jungian, person- centered, and Gestalt psychotherapy. Defined by its emphasis on the multi-modal process of healing (not relying on just one art form, rather, exploring many combinations for creativity), the strategies of expressive arts psychotherapy can prove useful to trauma therapists practicing in a variety of modalities. In this workshop, participants are oriented to the fundamentals of expressive arts therapy history and approach. Participants are then instructed on how to facilitate an expressive arts process to teach the clinical concept of grounding/anchoring. Participants will leave with an enhanced respect for how to foster client creativity in working with these concepts and their clinical intricacies. The role of creativity and the practice of making art are also discussed as mechanisms of action in processing traumatic experiences and promoting post-traumatic growth.