Expressive Therapies Australia - Expressive Therapies
Back to Previous Page

Certificate in Expressive Therapies
with Children and Adolescents.
 
Somatic Focussed, Creative Counselling
for Emotional Integration
 
PHILIP ISLAND, SUNSHINE COAST, Malanda -CAIRNS.
 
This course has been offered around Australia, and internationally, for over 30 years!
Created by Dr Mark Pearson and Dr Helen Wilson

Recognised for PD points by the ACA and  PACFA
 
Widen your skills base! Expand your creativity as a counsellor!
Renew your passion to help young people!
 
Based on the material in Mark Pearson and Helen Wilson's books:
EMOTIONAL RELEASE FOR CHILDREN (2004)
EMOTIONAL HEALING & SELF-ESTEEM (2004)
SANDPLAY & SYMBOL WORK (2001)
USING EXPRESSIVE ARTS (2009)
 
COURSE AIMS
The course aims to equip counsellors, psychologists, guidance officers, educators, parents and child-care professionals to apply Expressive Therapies frameworks and exercises with children and adolescents in their particular area of expertise.

The course assumes that participants already possess some basic counselling training or skills. Although participation in the course is open to all, Certification is awarded only to participants with previous qualifications or extensive experience in counselling, health and welfare, psychotherapy, psychology, education, social work, nursing or child care or a related field.

This is a highly experiential course that offers training in emotionally expressive methods and the inner-life skills that promote emotional healing, self-awareness and self-esteem in children and adolescents. The methods that will be presented have been used with children from 6 to 19 years, and many counsellors have adapted them for use with infants and adults with substantial long-term benefit.

ET is based on the framework and methods of Jungian, Gestalt, Reichian and Transpersonal Psychology. The course is made up of lectures, demonstrations, experiential work, debriefing sessions, peer facilitation, background reading and assignment writing. This course has been offered annually around Australia since 1989. Individual and small group supervision for course graduates is available throughout the year.

Counselling modalities introduced and practiced during the course are: Emotional Release Processes, Symbol Work, Bioenergetics, Art as Therapy, Journal Writing, Body Focus, Visualisation, Gestalt Role-Play, Relaxation and Meditation. There will be a focus on developing client trust, self-discovery, emotional release and integration.

COMPONENTS OF THE COURSE
Participants can begin the course at workshops 1, 2 or 3.
 
WORKSHOP ONE:
Support Emotional Expression - Art, Music and Movement
 
- Theoretical background for client-centred practice.
- Multiple Intelligences in counselling
- New ways to help clients talk about themselves.
- Developing trust and encouraging interest in self- discovery.
- Use of drawing for expressive release.
- Introducing emotion-focused processes.
- Contra-indications for emotionally activating activities
 
WORKSHOP TWO:
Exploring Family Issues - Processing Strong Emotions
 
- Exploring family- of-origin issues using art and symbols.
- Emotion-focused processes:
    - supporting the release of grief
    - safe anger release and integration
- Bioenergetics, de-armouring and movement therapy.
- Expressive writing and worksheets for communication and integration.
 
WORKSHOP THREE:
Symbol Work, Group Work and Transforming Trauma
 
- Symbol work in contemporary counselling.
- Role-play for a strong sense of self.
- Safe processes for traumatised clients.
- ET in group work and group dynamics.
- Illustrated case study stories
 
WORKSHOP FOUR:
Balancing Emotional, Cognitive and Somatic Processes
 
- Foundation principles of Expressive Therapies.
- Dealing with reactivity and anger.
- Body Focus - supporting kinesthetic resolution.
- Music as a therapeutic tool - recorded and live.
- Research and background literature.
 
WORKSHOP FIVE:
Inner-Life Skills for Self-Awareness and Self-Esteem
 
- Approaches for teaching relaxation and self awareness.
- Visualisation and imagination for enhancing self esteem.
- Family and group communication games.
- Liaising with parents and carers.
- Course Review
 
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
These include the completion of two short written assignments and attendance at all training days. It is a principle of ET that facilitators personally experience the exercises they will use with clients so as to be able to present them safely and confidently. Be prepared for a rich and intense time of professional and personal development.
 
RESEARCH ON EXPRESSIVE THERAPIES
Mark has completed a research project on the effectiveness of ET in school settings, finding that in the opinion of guidance officers and school counsellors who have completed this training course, the use of expressive emotion-focused tools is highly effective (Aust. Journal of Guidance & Counselling, Dec 2003). Sandplay Therapy, the use of art in therapy, the use of journal writing and expressive therapies generally have a long history of research and documentation which will be discussed during the course.

COMMENTS ON THE COURSE

Working with children through the processes of Emotional Release and Sandplay has proved extremely effective. Tapping into emotions and imagination enables children to 'tell their stories' in powerful and healing ways.
Hazel Jeremy, Co-ordinator, Lifeline Family Support Programme, CAIRNS
 
I have found this to be a tremendously exciting and rewarding course involving an ongoing process of theoretical development and experiential learning in which personal and professional development is inter-woven in an immensely satisfying way. Mark and Helen provide a safe, supportive environment in which participants undertake a transformative personal journey that simultaneously develops highly effective therapeutic skills."
Dr Jenny Campbell, Lecturer, Faculty of Education, QUT, BRISBANE
 
"The course was experiential, transformative and creative. ET for children and adolescents is one of the most authentic and effective healing tools that I have experienced."
Primrose White, Psychologist,
Convener of APS interest group on Child Psychology,
MELBOURNE
 
DURATION:
Five 3-day workshops = 15 days.Total: 105 hours
 

PLEASE REFER TO THE CALENDAR FOR TIMES AND PLACES


TRAINERS:
Dr Mark Pearson - Sunshine Coast
Dr Helen Wilson - Singapore, Sunshine Coast
Paula Huggins - Sandplay trainer in Singapore
Jo Ablett - Phillip Island, Vic.
Keran Thomas - Malanda - Cairns

 
TIMES:
Each day from 9:00am to approx. 5:00pm each day. (last day of each workshop ends at 4:00pm)
 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

If you would like detailed brochures on this or any other of our courses, please email us:  info@expressivetherapies.com.au  
 



| Privacy | Terms of Booking |
  Copyright 2024   Expressive Therapies    Website by Michael Vaney Marketing