Reclaiming Play: Expressive Arts Tools for Nervous System Renewal and Creative Flow

Date: Saturday October 11, 2025
Time: 10:00am–1:30pm Pacific Time (with a 30 minute lunch break)
Location: NWCEAI Studio: 1631 15th Ave. W. Ste 305 | limited to 15 participants
Available CEs: 3
Facilitator: Jacqueline Smith, MA, LMHC
Cost: $119.00

Registration Deadline: Wednesday October 8, 2025

This 3 hour experiential workshop invites therapists, educators, and coaches to reconnect with their own playful vitality as a pathway to professional renewal, nervous system regulation, and burnout recovery. Grounded in expressive arts therapy, parts work, and polyvagal theory, this session offers both theory and direct experience through movement, visual art, writing, sound, and gentle mindfulness.

Participants will be invited to explore glimpses of their personal play history and begin to reflect on internalized barriers to spontaneity and creativity. This workshop offers a taste — a soulful and trauma-informed introduction to expressive, body-based practices that support renewed access to joy, curiosity, and inner aliveness, both personally and professionally.

Learning objectives

1. Participants will learn how play supports nervous system regulation and emotional well-being.
2. Participants will reflect on internal and external barriers to adult play and creativity.
3. Participants will experience 3 or more expressive arts tools that support spontaneity, joy, and inner play.

Required Materials

All art supplies & materials are provided in studio!

Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute Cancellation & Refund Policy

Earning Continuing Education Credits

To receive a CE Certificate for completion of this workshop, you must officially register, attend the workshop/program in its entirety and complete an evaluation form after the workshop/program. The evaluation form is emailed from NWCEAI. After completing & submitting the evaluation form, a CE Certificate will be emailed to you within 5-7 business days.

Who is eligible to receive CEs?

• Nationally: Approved NBCC Provider for Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Social Workers (you are responsible for confirming that your organization/state will accept NBCC credits.)
• New York Licensed Creative Arts Therapists (LCATs)
• Washington State School Counselor/Teacher (OSPI) Approved by the Washington State Office of Public Instruction as a “Washington State approved clock hour offering workshop.”
• If you are outside of Washington State, we advise that you check with your state licensing board to confirm that they accept NBCC Approved CEs. 

Northwest Creative and Expressive Arts Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0123.

Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute (NWCEAI) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7104. Programs that do no qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute (NWCEAI) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.