NEWPORT, R.I. – A few spaces are still available for the 2010 three-weekend, noncredit training program in the Professional Applications of the Expressive and Creative Arts offered each year by Salve Regina University’s Expressive Arts Institute.
The emphasis in this program is on preparing psychotherapists, counselors, medical caregivers, teachers, pastoral counselors, corporate trainers, artistic/creativity-focused educators, and those in related fields to use and integrate the expressive and creative arts into the work they are presently doing. Session I is April 30, May 1, 2; Session II is June 18-20; and Session III is Sept. 10-12.
The expressive and creative arts are a highly effective, holistic process that facilitates physical and emotional healing, spiritual transformation, self-expression, self-discovery, conflict resolution, creative development, and the evolution of personal and global consciousness. This is not an art therapy program; it is a broad-based program focused on training human service professionals to use the expressive and creative arts as an educational process with any population. Thus it complements both the Holistic Counseling and Holistic Leadership master's programs also offered at SRU.
The expressive and creative arts are now being widely used in hospitals around the country as a complementary form of treatment for cancer, heart disease and many other chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Counselors and psychotherapists are integrating this process into their clinical work to help clients access, release and transform emotions not easily accessible through traditional forms of talk therapy; it is also an excellent tool for the constructive expression of painful or stress-producing emotions and negative thoughts. School systems are now using the expressive and creative arts at all grade levels to help students safely express their feelings, and develop positive self-esteem. Trainers in business and industry are using this process for team building, interpersonal communication and creative development.
The curriculum of this three-weekend professional training program will focus on using an multi-modal approach to the expressive and creative arts, concentrating specifically on an integration of the visual arts with dance/movement, sound/music and expressive writing. A bachelor’s degree is required for acceptance into the program, along with the intention and ability to use the training in a professional capacity.
Upon successfully completing the program, students will receive a Certificate of Completion as an Expressive Arts Educational Facilitator and CEU’s (Continuing Education Units). This training program is the prerequisite for a 15-credit graduate certificate program in the Professional Applications of the Expressive and Creative Arts offered through the Holistic graduate programs in Counseling and Leadership. This graduate certificate program is open to those who have completed the prerequisite and hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education, psychotherapy, medical caregiving, geriatrics, or other fields, such as business or the creative and performing arts who would like advanced graduate credits and more in-depth training in how to integrate the expressive and creative arts into their chosen profession.
The Expressive Arts Institute’s core faculty includes, Kate Austin, PhD; Christopher Carbone, M.A, RDT, C.H.H.C.; and Susan Fox, M.A.E.; C.H.H.C.; and Barbara Ganim, M.A.E.; C.H.H.C., the Program Coordinator and an Assistant Professor of Expressive Arts and Holistic Counseling. She is the author of the books Art and Healing (Random House 1999); Drawing from the Heart: A Seven-Week Program to Heal Emotional Pain and Loss (Quest Books, 2004); and co-author with Susan Fox of Visual Journaling (Quest Books 1999).
Ganim will teach the theoretical and scientific principles of the expressive and creative arts and their applications to a variety of professions. Adjunct professors: Kate Austin, will teach the experiential component of dance/movement; Christopher Carbone will present an introduction to the uses of expressive sound/music; and Susan Fox will provide students with a variety of in-depth multi-modal experiences with the expressive and creative visual arts.
Since acceptance into the program is limited each year to 20 students, those interested are urged to contact the program coordinator immediately. Tuition is $1,495. Anyone interested in more information about the expressive and creative arts programs at Salve Regina University or on the application procedure for the Expressive Arts Institute should contact Barbara Ganim at 401-341-2157 or visit the programs’ website at www.salve.edu.