PUB HLTH 7019 - Expressive Therapies: Creative Arts in Counselling

Counselling with expressive and creative arts therapies is an area of specialised competencies that requires an advanced person-centred perspective. Expressive and creative arts therapies involve flexible application of skills and knowledge to the practice of counselling and psychotherapy. This course will introduce theory, research and skills in a range of strength-based modalities that utilise the creative arts. Expressive therapies skills and approaches are designed to provide highly flexible, individualised and evidence-based ways of supporting a wide range of clients across the lifespan, who present for counselling with a variety of presenting issues. Expressive therapies can be most valuable in support of the development of emotional regulation, self-reflection, self-awareness and self-discovery. Presented in a seminar format, this course introduces students to a range of modalities, that include the use of metaphor, symbol work, art, therapeutic writing, music in therapy, and somatic-focused activities. Reviews of recent research, and the use of non-verbal, creative arts-based activities will be integrated into a highly experiential skills-based program.