Expressive Arts in Clinical Practice

Creative expression in therapy - through art, dance, drama, music, writing - is actually an ancient Egyptian tradition that gained significance in healthcare through the 20th century. Today, we see expressive therapies being used from private practice to medical facilities to schools and beyond. In this course, we discuss the different types of expressive therapies including dance and art with two expert panelists in the field.

You will learn to:

• Describe the importance of dance, art, and other types of expressive therapies.

• Define the structure of an expressive therapy session.

• Explain the benefits of utilizing expressive therapy in your practice.

• Identify training requirements to become an art or dance therapist.

This course goes beyond words and gives space to all different types of communication with expressive therapy. With Danielle specializing in art therapy and Kimberlee specializing in dance therapy, our conversation is multi-faceted and filled with ways to bring creativity into the therapy room.

Expressive therapy allows kids to be kids and adults to get back to their roots: humans first language is being able to move and create something. This type of therapy approach looks at what clients create and how to adapt that into their story and perspective of the world.

Our expert panelists share why they chose expressive therapy and how much of trauma is not accessible by language, only by expression. Expression is a daily way of life, and these panelists capture this way of life to turn it into meaning.