Welcome to the Expressive Therapies Institute of Australia

Mark and Helen's latest book: 

Using Expressive Arts to Work with mind, body and emotion. Theory and Practice. - Jessica Kingsley Publications, London. Distributed in Australia by Footprint Books - www.foortprint.com.au  Phone 02 9997 3973

 

 

Expressive Therapies are new tools for working with people. They are easily used because of the way they allow the individual to access the sub-conscious at their own pace and level compared with conventional cognitive and linguistic methods. They are self-balancing, self-regulating and non-intrusive.

Obviously they will not be applicable in every case, but their effectiveness in a growing number of counselling situations across all age groups has brought them into serious prominence.

The Expressive Therapies are: Sandplay Therapy, Symbol Work, Dreamwork, Process Drawing, Mandala Artwork, Emotional Release Processes, Bioenergetics, Body Focus, Movement and Dance, Visualisation, Expressive Writing - process, reflection and completion.

Expressive Therapy techniques are applicable to children, adolescents and adults alike. Our book, Sandplay & Symbol Work (2001) is still Australia’s only text on the subject of Sandplay Therapy and our own creation of Symbol Work, and is in use as a text in a number of countries.

We have worked with a number of world experts including Stan Grof (Grof's Holotropic Paradigm) and Ruth Amman (Sandplay Therapy pioneer and President of the International Society for Sandplay Therapy).

Thank you for coming here.

This website will tell you in detail what we do and how this might be applicable and of value to you both personally and professionally.

This is our introductory page so please read to the end and then choose the other areas you wish to visit from the menus.

 

 

Among professionals, many counsellors and psychologists find that ET training gives them valuable, practical counselling skills. Our ET courses have Australian Counselling Association Recognition.

Counsellors and Guidance Officers in schools, government and in private practice find them useful, beneficial tools in day-to-day work.

Teachers have found ET techniques can help children self-manage problems and improve behaviours.

'The child does the work itself, coming to realisations easily and intuitively with marked improvements in personality, application and learning skills. In the case of one 8 year-old girl , if she arrived at school in a distressed state she would ask to use the sand-play area and, usually within half to three-quarters of an hour, she would return to the class and announce she was now ready to go to work - a huge transformation'

AV

Teacher,

Sunshine Coast, Queensland

 

And, in the words of an already highly qualified Art Therapist:

'My confidence has grown. I am happy now to try new activities and to make changes to suit the needs of children. ET is infectious, and I want to know so much more. This feels the right thing to be doing. It marries with Art Therapy well.'

Liz Kinnane - Art Therapist / Counsellor, Melbourne

(see also our new, pro-active groupwork programme for use in schools The Innerspace Programs.

Because of their inherent safety, Expressive Therapies can also be highly applicable to Trauma Victims. (see 'Sandplay in Trauma Healing' the second article within the Sandplay Therapy section)

We offer Introductory to Graduate Level Courses in all ET the modalities: Sandplay Therapy, Symbol Work, Dreamwork, Process Drawing, Mandala Artwork, Emotional Release Processes, Bioenergetics, Body Focus, Movement and Dance, Visualisation Expressive Journal Writing - process, reflection and completion.

Summary:

Clients were;

1. less troubled by incidences
2. more in control of feelings
3. less depressed
4. less defensive
5. more open to change
6. participated more fully in sessions
7. had improved self-esteem
8. accepted reality more easily

In addition, there were outcomes beyond the counselling room including;

1. an exhibited emotional well-being and a calm state at school and at home
2. reduced aggression and a positive improvement in behaviour
3. improved relationships and positive feedback from school staff
4. increased self-acceptance
5. confidence in engaging in school activities
6. improved participation in school work
7. self and peer-referral to counselling

Sandplay and Symbol Work were found to be the most helpful ET modalities and the modalities most favoured by clients. Sandplay uses more of the multiple intelligences than other counselling modalities (O'Brien & Burnett, 2000) and therefore offers more choices in emotional processing for clients.

We offer professional Certificate courses and training workshops – one-day, two-day and 15-day - throughout the year in Brisbane, Cairns, Victoria, Perth, Sydney, Northern NSW, Singapore and in Kuala Lumpur.

Whatever course you select, throughout the process and afterwards we are wholely supportive of you. We and our trainers offer a high level of care and supervision for all our students.

To the many social workers, teachers, counsellors, therapists, psychologists and others whom we have already trained in these areas, thank you for your acceptance and enthusiasm for ET.

Based on the initial experience of two teachers in one Queensland school with sandtray work, all the teachers in that school are now being trained in the programme by one of our graduates – a child behavioural specialist.

May we suggest that you start your exploration of Expressive Therapies with Sandplay Therapy

• Home
• About Us
• The Expressive Modalities
  • Sandplay Therapy
  • Symbol Work
  • Dreamwork
  • Art Therapy
  • Mandala Artwork
  • Emotional Release Process
  • Bioenergetics
  • Body Focus
  • Movement & Dance
  • Visualisation, Relaxation & Meditation
  • Expressive Writing / Journalling
  • Transpersonal Psychology
• ONE DAY TRAININGS
• CERTIFICATE COURSES
• INNERSPACE GROUPWORK PROGRAMS
• Phillip Island, Vic. Courses
• Brisbane Courses
• Cairns Courses
• Perth Courses
• Courses in Sydney - 2012
• Helen Wilson - Private Practice in WA
• Course Summaries
• Institute Training Staff
• Institute Publications
• Links - Practitioners
• Newsletters & Previous Articles
• Tell a Friend
• Courses Around Australia - 2012
• Northern NSW Courses - Mullumbimby
• Singapore and Malaysia