Learn more about Professional training in Expressive arts 

If you missed one of our September information sessions, you can still join in as Dr. Sibel Golden shares about the program and rich opportunity to further your training in Expressive Arts! You can also view the video here.

In All of our Training

The origins of using the arts for healing can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where music, dance, visual arts, and storytelling were integral to cultural rituals and healing practices. These early societies recognized the profound impact of creative expression on emotional and physical well-being. Over time, the therapeutic use of the arts evolved, with significant contributions from various cultures and traditions, ultimately leading to the formalization of expressive arts therapy in the 20th century. Today, the arts continue to play a vital role in holistic healing approaches, promoting self-expression, emotional resilience, and personal growth.
 
The multimodality and intermodal nature of expressive arts is something that makes the approach unique. 
 
We offer specialized training focusing on individual modalities such as movement, visual arts, music, drama, and poetry. However, our curriculum emphasizes intermodal teaching and experiences, highlighting the distinctive aspect of expressive arts therapy: the ability to seamlessly incorporate multiple art forms within a single session.

What is Expressive Arts Therapy?

Expressive Arts Therapy is a form of therapy that integrates various creative processes such as music, dance, drama, poetry, and visual arts to foster self-expression, exploration, and healing. It encourages individuals to engage in the creative and artistic process as a means of communicating emotions, thoughts, and experiences that may be difficult to express verbally. Through creative expression, people can explore their inner world, gain insights into their feelings and behaviors, and develop new ways of coping with challenges. Expressive arts therapy is not focused on artistic skill or technique, but rather on the therapeutic benefits of engaging in the creative process itself. It is used in therapeutic settings to promote personal growth, enhance well-being, and facilitate healing across a wide range of populations and age groups.
 
Our theoretical foundation lies in the Humanistic/Existential approach. We integrate insights from various branches of psychology and creativity studies. Our attention extends to the historical and cultural roles of the arts in human existence, tracing its roots beyond Western psychology. Additionally, our work encompasses the spiritual or transpersonal dimension, honoring the holistic framework of Expressive Arts Therapy. 

What is Expressive Arts Facilitation?

 Expressive Arts Facilitation serves groups, organizations, and individuals. An expressive arts facilitator is skilled in guiding people through various creative processes to promote self-expression, well-being, and personal growth in areas such as leadership, education, community-building, healthcare, and coaching.
 
Expressive Arts Facilitators offer teaching and consulting across diverse disciplines like education, coaching, healthcare, community-building, organizational development, the non-profit sector, spiritual development, conflict resolution, and more. It’s important to note that while the work that Expressive Arts Facilitators do can be therapeutic, it is not psychological therapy.
 
Expressive Arts Facilitation work is both multimodal and intermodal. Multimodal means having fluency in multiple creative arts processes, while intermodal refers to the integration of two or more expressive arts modalities (such as visual art, movement, writing, music/sound, drama, etc.).