Expressive Arts, Mindfulness & EMDR Therapy: A Comprehensive Course for EMDR Therapists

Expressive arts therapy is an approach to psychotherapy with roots in indigenous cultures and a rich history of evolution within modalities such as Jungian, person-centered, and Gestalt psychotherapies. Defined by its emphasis on the multi-modal process of healing (exploring many combinations for creativity rather than relying on just one art form), the strategies of expressive arts psychotherapy can prove useful to trauma therapists practicing in a variety of modalities. In this dynamic, self-paced course, participants are oriented to the fundamentals of expressive arts therapy history and approach. Participants are then instructed in how to facilitate an expressive arts process to teach the clinical concepts of grounding and managing emotional affect through widening the window of distress tolerance. Both grounding and widening the affective window of tolerance are vital practices in trauma-focused care. Participants will develop an enhanced respect for how to foster client creativity in working with these concepts and their clinical intricacies. The role of creativity and the practice of making art are also discussed as mechanisms of action in processing traumatic experiences and promoting post-traumatic growth.

The content is then directly translated to EMDR therapists for implementing expressive arts strategies in EMDR therapy Phases 2 and 7 with specific focus on how dual attention stimulus can be used to strengthen connection to expressive/creative resources. The great volume of writing and case material on using creativity to developmentally tailor the standard EMDR protocol for children is also reviewed and referenced in this discussion. Participants will brainstorm how to implement content from the overall workshop to EMDR therapy case conceptualization and treatment planning within the scope of the AIP model.