In efforts to diversify, include, and make the field of Expressive Arts Therapy and Facilitation more equitable, Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute (NWCEAI) seeks to provide resources and opportunities for historically marginalized communities to pursue the Creative & Expressive Arts through training, continuing education, and other events.

It is NWCEAI’s utmost core value and mission for Faculty and Staff members to continue educating ourselves on how to pursue cultural humility as an organization. As a whole, NWCEAI strives to recognize and acknowledge with gratitude our intellectual and artistic debts to others. As an organization, NWCEAI works among people with diverse experiences and viewpoints and we are committed to constructive dialogue with humility and good will toward others. As a whole, NWCEAI acknowledges that positionality can lead to blind spots in privilege and is committed to using the methods of the creative and expressive arts to address and process these blind spots.

Initiative to provide education and training to clinicians, practitioners, and facilitators, of various backgrounds and educations:

Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute acknowledges the privilege and obstacles that come with obtaining training to become Expressive Arts Therapists and Facilitators.

NWCEAI trains clinicians, facilitators, educators, allies health professionals, community leaders of all backgrounds, specialties and modalities, and alumni from NWCEAI’s training program work in various fields, and with various populations including, but not limited to children, adults, refugees and the Queer community.

NWCEAI actively continues to train and provide opportunities for clinicians and facilitators of historically marginalized communities and those who work with vulnerable populations to learn more about expressive arts therapy and facilitation and take positions as faculty members, board members, and become valuable members in the expressive arts community.

NWCEAI continues to provide tuition scholarships to students of marginalized communities who wish to enroll into the Expressive Arts training programs, as well as to reduce accessibility barriers to our students and professionals of marginalized communities, who would like to participate in our workshops and events.

NWCEAI ensures that closed captioning and visual slide decks are available at all virtual events, training workshops, and classes. In addition to in-person events, NWCEAI provides virtual workshops and events to expand the reach to those outside of the Greater Seattle area.