Expressive Arts

"CREATIVITY IS LIKE FREEDOM: ONCE YOU TASTE IT, YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IT. IT IS A TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE, ENHANCING SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-EMPOWERMENT," NATALIE ROGERS, THE CREATIVE CONNECTION®: EXPRESSIVE ART AS HEALING.

This unique 16-Unit certificate program integrates experiential learning, in-depth theory and practice in the person-centered philosophy of Carl Rogers and the expressive arts: movement, sound, visual arts, creative writing and psychodrama. It is transformative work awakening creativity, encouraging authenticity and fostering self-empowerment

Participants come from around the globe to learn how to use the expressive arts in counseling, teaching, mediation, social action and group facilitation, or to awaken personal growth and creativity. They attend 6 residential week-long courses over two years at a Westerbeke Ranch, a lovely retreat center in Sonoma County in northern California.

Questions we will explore

How does the creative process connect us to body, psyche, soul and world?
How does the person-centered approach enhance emotional intelligence, healing, relationships and manifesting our potentials?
How do we use expressive arts in counseling and psychotherapy practice?
How do we use expressive arts in groups, such as bereavement and recovery groups?
How does inner peace connect to world peace?

This Program is For

Anyone wishing to use person-centered expressive arts in their work lives or mental health practices. This includes psychotherapists, social workers, pastoral counselors, teachers, nurses, educators and individuals in organizational development. It is also appropriate for those wishing to re-awaken their authentic selves and creativity as a way to enhance their work and personal lives.

Educational Concepts

Using the expressive arts in psychotherapy is a natural evolution. We are coming to understand the need to engage in processes that awaken and integrate all aspects of self: the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Expressive arts does just that - it is a non-verbal language that helps both the client and the therapist to communicate at a deep level.

The Creative Connection® process, as developed by Natalie Rogers, interweaves the expressive arts - movement, art, sound, writing and guided imagery - to tap into the deep wellspring of creativity that is within each person.

Course Descriptions

* Participants must be able to attend all 6 courses

I. Nourishing the Soul

January 22-28, 2011

The creative spirit within each individual longs to emerge, to be known and celebrated. Yet out of fear, shame, shyness, or just plain reluctance, people put a lid on the deep well - the source - of their creativity. The creative process puts us in touch with our soul, our spirit, our inner wisdom. This initial intensive course provides experience in self-expression through the creative arts - movement, art, music, and writing. This can be a sacred and often mystical experience, transforming pain, anger, fear, and grief into forms that can nourish the soul. This course focuses on the inner journey through a creative process in an accepting, non-judgmental and often playful environment. No art experience necessary.

II. Client-Centered Expressive Arts for Counseling and Communication Skills

April 7-13, 2011

In this course emphasis will be on the theory and practice of the person-centered approach and using the expressive arts in counseling. Using the expressive arts for psychotherapy will be taught via counseling demonstrations and communications triads. Although “Counseling Triads” are used to learn empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard, this method is also useful to non-counselors to practice good communication skills. Theoretical presentations and discussion will follow those experiences. Readings, discussions, and videotapes of a counseling session will ground the experience in theory and concepts. Applications with various client populations will be discussed. Videotapes of Carl Rogers and Natalie Rogers and others in counseling sessions will be studied.

III. Expressive Arts and the Wisdom of the Body

Sept 2-8, 2011

To build trust in the wisdom and wholeness of body, mind, emotions and spirit, students will use expressive arts to explore inner polarities, body awareness, self-image, and metaphor in health and healing issues. Putting society’s ideas of body image aside, a deeper wisdom is discovered. The relationship of childhood experiences to present day body awareness and comfort will be explored through the arts, reading, discussion and writing.

IV. Expressive Arts for Social Change

January 21-27, 2012

This course explores experiential, creative approaches to peace and conflict resolution. We will discuss how we can recognize and appreciate our differences and how to use expressive arts for healing the wounds of social and natural trauma.. Students will learn to use person-centered communication skills and the expressive arts to help clarify thoughts and feelings, explore interpersonal communication in emotionally charged situations and envision solutions for personal transformation and social change. Also, the use of expressive arts for healing the wounds of social and natural trauma will be studied.

V. Expressive Arts: Group Dynamics and Facilitation

April 20-26, 2012

The goal of this course is to give students the opportunity to create and facilitate person-centered expressive arts sessions. With faculty guidance students design and facilitate a two and a half hour workshop for their peers, while keeping in mind the needs of participants during this weeklong course. Students "go behind the scenes" of person-centered facilitation to learn how group dynamics influences workshop design. Learning to give and receive honest, supportive feedback helps students reflect on their strengths and growing edge. Observing sessions offers a more objective learning position regarding group dynamics.

VI. Expressive Arts: Group Dynamics and Facilitation

September 1-7, 2012

The theory of person-centered group dynamics and encounter groups will be studied through reading, viewing videotapes of Carl Rogers and others who facilitate encounter groups, and by discussing our own process. This week gives students a second opportunity to design and facilitate a session with peer feedback. This strengthens the student’s skills in creating a positive, nurturing environment for others. Particular attention is paid to the application of person-centered expressive arts with various populations such as play therapy, educational and personal growth groups.

Learning Guides and Required Papers

Students will receive a Learning Guide (Syllabus) via email for each course. A 10 to 12 page process paper is required after each course except the last one.

Location

These retreats will take place at the lovely Westerbeke Ranch in the town of Sonoma, an hour north of San Francisco. Comfortable sleeping cottages, gourmet food, a swimming pool, as well as our large meeting room are set in the rolling hills of Sonoma County.

More info at: www.westranch.com

Faculty

Shellee Davis, MA, REAT, co-created the Saybrook Expressive Arts Certificate Program and was Co-Director and faculty with Natalie Rogers at the Person-Centered Expressive Therapy Institute for 18 years. She also teaches Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy (PCEAT) training programs in Japan, South Korea and at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. She co-founded PCEAT programs at World College West, New College of California and in England, and has taught workshops in Italy. Shellee also has training in Mediation, Authentic Movement, dreamwork and teaches Qi gong.

Sue Ann Herron, PhD, worked in telecommunications over 20 years specializing in leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation where she developed and implemented innovative business practices and then was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a high-tech company. She left the business world to get her PhD in Psychology, with special emphasis in Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy. Her dissertation is titled Natalie Rogers: An Experiential Psychology of Self-Realization Beyond Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. She has facilitated workshops for graduate students, women's spirituality groups, and bereaved children and co-facilitated a PCEAT training program for South Korean therapists with Dr. Natalie Rogers, and for Japanese students with Shellee Davis. She is on the faculty of the Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology program at Saybrook, where she is the Director of the Person-Centered Expressive Arts Certificate Program.

Natalie Rogers, PhD, REAT, author of The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts as Healing, and Emerging Woman founded and was the senior faculty at the Person-Centered Expressive Therapy Institute (1984-2004). She has lectured and led PCEAT trainings internationally. Dr. Rogers practiced as a psychotherapist for 30 years and facilitated seven summers of Person-Centered Approach workshops with her father, Carl Rogers. Natalie will be present one day at each of the 6 courses. She is a Distinguished Consulting Faculty at Saybrook University.