NEWPORT, R.I. – A few spaces are still available for the 2011 three-weekend, non-credit 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 and 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 29, 30, May 1; Session II is June 17, 18, 19; and Session III is September 9, 10, 11.
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 professionals who understand the power of the arts to change the world one person at a time.
The program focuses on teaching people to use the expressive and creative arts as an educational process with any age group and population, thus it complements both the Holistic Counseling and Holistic Leadership master's programs also offered at Salve Regina.
The expressive and creative arts are now being widely used worldwide in a variety of human service arenas: Hospitals use it as part of their ongoing complementary treatment programs for patients recovering from cancer, heart disease and many other chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Counselors and psychotherapists integrate this process into their clinical work to help client’s access, release and transform emotions not easily accessible through traditional forms of talk therapy. It is also an excellent tool for the constructive and transformative expression of painful or stress-producing emotions and negative thoughts. School systems are also utilizing 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 incorporating this process into their employee and management programs to promote team building, interpersonal communication, and creative development. Life coaches are also using the expressive arts to help their clients explore heart-centered ways of living that will bring them a greater sense of meaning and purpose.
The curriculum for this three-weekend professional training program will focus on using a 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 up to 60 CEU’s (Continuing Education Units). This training program is the prerequisite for a 15-credit Certificate of Graduate Studies program in the Professional Applications of the Expressive and Creative Arts offered through the Salve Regina University’s Holistic Graduate programs in Counseling and Leadership. The Expressive ad Creative Arts Graduate Certificate program is open to those who have completed this 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 Christopher Carbone, Katherine Carbone, Susan Fox, and Barbara Ganim, the program coordinator and senior lecturer in the Expressive Arts and Holistic Counseling graduate programs. She is also 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).
Since acceptance into the program is limited each year to 18 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.