I was talking shop with some colleagues one day, (ex-officio board member and current advisor, Joe Madigan, PhD, ATR, and ex-officio board member Zandi Salstom, LMHC, ATR) including some shared stories about continuing education workshops we had recently attended. We all had similar experiences: large venues with mental health clinicians packed in rows like sardines, dry presentations, all lecture, you get the idea.
We imagined something different. We talked about how we’d love to be able to get CEs in a smaller environment, with more meaningful, experiential learning. And what if there were workshops that looked at some critical issues in psychotherapy and mental health through the lens of Art Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy? We searched and found nothing that fit the bill.
So why not start offering the kind of educational experiences that we were looking for? Hmm…an intriguing idea. We also looked at available post-grad training in our area, with the same model. Not much.
So what about offering not only CEs, but also a one-year Professional Training in Expressive Arts Therapy with an option to work towards Registration with the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association. That’s when the Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute and SeattleArtTherapy.org were born.
We have a growing list of amazing faculty, and bring our collective experiences, passion for this work, and our promise to make your experience working with us fulfilling, inspiring, and meaningful.
Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization offering CEs to Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers. Our programs are designed for all professionals and students who are in the mental health, psychology, and psychotherapy field.
Art is Healing. We hope to share our work with you, and the individuals, groups, and organizations that you work with.
Sibel Golden – PhD, LMHC, REAT
Executive Director
Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute (NWCEAI) is dedicated to being a leader in providing exceptional education and training in the field of Creative and Expressive Arts Therapy and Facilitation.
NWCEAI cultivates and honors creativity as integral to the human experience.
We advocate for the use of the arts as a recognized, respected, and meaningful part of what uplifts and celebrates individuals and communities in their pursuit of connection and well-being.
NWCEAI promotes the following values as essential to our success:
Personal Growth, Integrity, Excellence, Respect, Diversity, Openness, and a Holistic Approach to Human Creativity. We recognize that integrating these values into every aspect of our organization is the foundation of our student-centered approach and of our service to our community.
Education: providing training and experiences in Expressive Arts to increase the effectiveness of our students in the myriad ways they serve and enhance the quality of life for our global community.
Outreach: creating resources and opportunities that engender meaningful experiences through the arts.
Connection: facilitating professional and personal connections and creative community space.