Somatic & Emotion Focused, Creative Arts-based Counselling for Emotional Integration
Singapore – In Person – Starts Sept 2023
Five 3-day In-Person Training Workshops: 15 days over 9 months.
Trainer
Dr Mark Pearson
Co-Trainer
Paula Huggins
Expressive Therapy is an activity-based, invitational, self-discovery approach, encouraging insights and change from within the client. The methods and attitudes are client-centered; recognition and value are given to the significance of the client’s personal interpretations and meanings.
This highly experiential in-person course offers training in creative arts-based, emotionally expressive methods and inner-life skills that promote emotional integration, self-awareness and resilience in children and adolescents.
It includes Emotional Literacy Activities, Emotion-focused and Resilience-building Processes, Symbol Work for Enhanced Communication, Somatic Self-Expression, Art and Music in Counselling, Therapeutic Writing, Body Focus, Visualisation, Role-Play, Relaxation and Mindfulness.
The activities have been developed from an expanded understanding of therapeutic approaches, with a rapidly evolving research base.
The course focuses on activities that can be used when working with children from 6 to 19 years. Research and supervision reports indicate that Expressive Therapy provides substantial long-term benefits such as an increase in resilience, self-motivation, increased attention span, less aggressive behaviour and a stronger sense of self.
DATES
15 in-person training days, spread over 5 workshops of 3 days each with a total of 105 hours. An extensive training manual will be provided at each workshop, as well as a digital Book of Readings.
Workshop One: 7 – 9 September 2023
Supporting Emotional Expression through Art, Music and Movement
- Theoretical background for Expressive Therapies
- Empowerment in client-centred practice
- Multiple Intelligences in counselling
- New ways to help clients talk about themselves
- Developing trust and encouraging interest in self-discovery
- Introduction to Therapeutic Writing
- Introduction to emotional processing methods
- Use of drawing for reflection, expressive release and integration
- Contraindications for emotionally activating activities
Workshop Two: 30 November – 2 December 2023
Exploring Family Issues: Processing Strong Emotions
- Exploring family of origin issues using art and Symbol Work (miniatures)
- Emotion-focused processes
- Supporting the resolution of grief
- Safe anger release and integration
- Bioenergetics and somatic self-expression
- Therapeutic writing and worksheets for expression and integration
Workshop Three: 14 – 16 December 2023
Symbol Work, Group Work & Transforming Trauma
- Symbol Work: communication catalysts and non-threatening ways to open up
- Identifying family dynamics with miniatures
- Role-play with miniatures for a stronger sense of self
- Trauma-informed therapeutic practice and care
- Building Resilience
- Expressive Therapy in Group Work, group dynamics and bonding games
- Illustrated Case Stories
Workshop Four: 14 – 16 March 2024
Balancing Emotional, Cognitive and Somatic Processes
- Reviewing Foundation Principles of Expressive Therapies
- Emotion-focused processes: Resolving reactivity
- Body Focus: enhancing somatic resolution
- Music to build emotional literacy and as a therapeutic tool
- Time-line life reviews
- Research and background literature.
Workshop Five: 6 – 8 June 2024
Inner-Life Skills for Self-Awareness and Self-Esteem
- Approaches for teaching relaxation and mindfulness
- New possibilities for self-awareness through visualisation and imagination
- Engaging parents and carers in the therapeutic process
- Somatic self-expression through bioenergetics
- Enhancing emotional stability.
ETA’s style of Expressive Therapies integrates many person-centred, psychodynamic, attachment, emotion and somatic-focused activities, and is based on the framework and methods of Jungian, Gestalt, Emotion-focused and Transpersonal Therapy, as well as the long history of creative arts therapies.
Requirements for Participation and award of ETA’s Certificate in Expressive Therapies with Children, and Adolescents
- Two written assignments: a 1500 word literature review plus a reflective practice essay.
- Attendance at all 15 training days.
- Participants must hold a qualification that allows them to practice in a therapeutic role (counselling, psychology, social work, art therapist, play therapist, psychotherapist, teacher etc.) and be in good standing with their relevant professional body (if they are working with clients).
Expressive Therapy is an activity-based, invitational, self-discovery approach, encouraging insights and change from within the client. The methods and attitudes are client-centred; recognition and value are given to the significance of the client’s personal interpretations and meanings.
The activities have been developed from an expanded understanding of therapeutic approaches, with a rapidly evolving research base.
On completion of this course, students will be able to:
Understand the principles of emotional resolution in counselling
Describe basic theory of emotion-focused processes
Utilise a range of appropriate expressive counselling techniques
Demonstrate a client-focused approach to using Expressive Therapies
Assess the suitability of Expressive Therapy’s strategies for individuals
Understand and demonstrate how to plan an Expressive Therapy counselling session
REGISTRATION OPTIONS
AND FEES
To be awarded ETA’s Certificate in Expressive Therapies participants MUST attend all five workshops. Participants who do not meet the requirements for attendance will receive a confirmation of participation certificate but not the full award.
Participants can choose from two options:
- Register for Workshop One or Two as a stand-alone option and then Register for any of the other Workshops after completion of Workshop either One or Two (subject to availability of places); or
- Register for Workshops One – Five
- Register for 4 Workshops as a block. The block must include either workshop one or two.
- If you wish to register for 2 or 3 workshops as block the price will be pro-rated.
If you have attended Workshop One or Two you are eligible to join any of the other workshops as individual workshops. However, to be awarded the Certificate you must attend ALL five in any order (as long as you have attended workshop one or two first).
PRICING
Workshop 1 or 2 (as standalone)
Early Bird SG$1265
Full Payment received one calendar month before the workshop starts.
Full Price SG$1325
Full Payment received by the date of the workshop starting.
Workshop 2 (as standalone)
Early Bird SG$1265
Full Payment received by 27th October 2023
Full Price SG$1325
Full Payment received by 28th October 2023 onwards (prior to workshop commencing)
Four Workshops (must include either Workshop 1 or 2)
Early Bird SG$4860
Full Payment received one month prior to first workshop you plan to attend.
Full Price SG$5100 to be received the day before the workshop you plan to attend commences.
Full Certificate Course – Workshops 1 through 5
Early Bird SG$5825
Full Payment received by 4th August 2023
Full Price SG$6125 (5th August 2023 onwards)
Payment can be made in installments – please ask for more details when registering.
COMMENTS ON THE COURSE
“I found it enriching and it affirms what I already believe: that the integrative approach at the core of expressive therapies is integral to healing as it addresses the whole person (heart, body and mind) and works towards wholeness and well-being for our clients” Christine, School Counsellor (2023 graduate)
“The course was informative, experiential, and delivered with amazing gentleness by knowledgeable trainers who drew from their own considerable experience to provide examples that enhanced the learning. The course activities were fun, engaging and safe. I feel ready to use my learning with clients”. Yoke Wah – Counsellor (2023 Singapore Graduate)
“It’s been a transformative 15 days with Paula and Mark. I really appreciate the thoughtful guidance and effective pedagogy that you have brought and shared with us. Thank you for creating a safe space for us to learn and hone our craft. It is THE BEST!” Wynne Yang, Counsellor (2023 Singapore Graduate)
“And just like that – over 100 hours of learning done! What an incredible experience with wonderful peers and phenomenal trainers! Thank you Paula Huggins and Mark Pearson! I’m so excited to integrate these new learnings and experiences into my work.” Kristi, School Counsellor (2023 Singapore Graduate)
“This was my first experience with expressive therapies and now I can’t imagine myself working without using what I’ve learned in these workshops! The course was well-structured and the facilitators were absolutely brilliant, warm and engaging. Mark and Paula helped us to learn expressive therapies in a friendly and professional way.” Mara, Counsellor (2023 Singapore Graduate)
“I have really grown both as a person and practitioner through attending this course. The experience I carry with me is a reminder that Expressive Therapy is a way of being and not just doing activities with our clients. Mark and Paula create a wonderful holding space to allow us to learn, reflect and grow to become more attuned to our clients and ourselves as therapists.” Deborah, Senior Counsellor (2023 Singapore Graduate)
“I loved the course. It was well-paced. The trainers were well-knowledged, passionate, warm with a good dynamic between them. The manuals were clear and helpful. The experiential activities were very creative and have been easy to implement with clients. It has been so useful to expand my work with clients using expressive therapies approach.” Priya, Counsellor (2023 Singapore Graduate)
“I truly felt empowered, inspired and at home with this entire course. It is the best training I’ve ever attended. The trainers were so nurturing, so accepting, so warm, well-prepared, well-delivered, well-structured, and well-coordinated. Thank you!” Counselor (name not shared) (2023 Singapore Graduate)
