This course is designed as specialised advanced training for counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, psychologists and those who support mental health and wellbeing. It introduces the theories, principles, methods and evidence base for applying Expressive Therapies in counselling with adult clients.
The Expressive Therapies approach was developed from Creative Arts Therapies by Mark and Helen, weaving together creative arts, person-centred therapy, emotion-focused and somatic therapies, applied to client issues such as: relationships, grief and loss, anger, and self-judgement. The approach is infused with transpersonal perspectives and trauma-informed sensitivity. The evidence-base is drawn from the research literature, and clinical observations from a combined 70 years of consulting, supervising and teaching. The course weaves together theoretical, experiential and skills development activities, to ensure your confidence in applying Expressive Therapies with adult clients.
Therapeutic Writing, Visual Art, Music, Symbol Work, Self-Discovery Worksheets, Mindfulness, Visualisation, Self-Compassion, Body Focus, Emotion-Focused & Integration Processes, Dreamwork, and Therapeutic Photography.
Practical Activities
Drawn from the range of Expressive Therapies activities developed in Australia by the course creators over the last thirty-five years.
Therapeutic application themes
Relationships, grief and loss, anger, self-judgement, and trauma recovery.
Theoretical foundations
Drawn from the pioneers in Creative Arts Therapies, Rogers' Person-centred Therapy, Greenberg's Emotion-Focussed Therapy, Lowen's Bioenergetics, and Somatic Psychotherapy, Focusing, and Grof's Transpersonal Psychotherapy.
Workshop One
Orientation to Expressive Therapies and Symbol Work
Online Class One
Expressive Therapies: History, Theory and Evidence Base
Workshop Two
Art and Music in Therapy: Spontaneous and Guided Creativity
Online Class Two
What Neuroscience Tells us About Emotion and Body Awareness
Workshop Three
Emotion and Somatic-Focused Awareness
Workshop Four
Therapeutic Writing: Words, Metaphors and Poems
Online Class Three
Exploring the Evidence Base for Mindfulness, Self-Compassion and Self-Care
Workshop Five
The Inward Arc: Mindfulness, Self-Compassion and Spirituality
On completion of this course, participants will be able to:
While the focus of this course is professional development, it provides opportunities for participants to gain in self-awareness and personal growth. Experiences in the client role, provide a rich experience of the inner world that can enhance participants' professional relational effectiveness. Practitioners' own growth has a direct influence on clients' growth. Developing deeper self-awareness greatly improves the way we relate professionally, and care for ourselves personally.
This course is approved by the Australian Counselling Association and the Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia for professional development points.
MARCH - SEPTEMBER 2023
Brisbane, QLD
$885 per workshop
Trainers: Mark Pearson & Helen Wilson
16 days [106 hours]
5 x 3 Day Workshops over 7 months
3 x 2 Hour Online Classes
Workshops must be completed in order
Course materials will be provided once registration is complete