Curriculum & Core Competencies
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The Certificate of Expressive Arts Therapy Program requires that participants meet 75 hours of educational requirements and 25 hours of supervision requirements. Read more about supervision requirements and learn about our REAT supervisors on the Supervision in Expressive Arts page.
The Institute for Creative Mindfulness offers many online and in-person courses that meet the 75-hour supplementary educational requirement in Expressive Arts Therapy set by the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA). Successful completion of your 75 hours covers the competency areas of group expressive arts therapy process, individual expressive arts therapy process, and approaches to, or styles of, Expressive Arts Therapy in practice and study, i.e., various approaches used by the applicant in integrating multi-arts in therapy. ICM requires that the 75-hour supplementary educational requirement includes participation in at least one Intensive Training Program and the distance-based Process Not Perfection Book Course |
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Intensive Training Programs
Program participants must complete at least one of the below listed intensives as part of the program requirements.
Non-Compulsory Intensives
If choosing Expressive Arts Therapy Module C: EMDR Therapy Training as your intensive, program participants must enroll in either Expressive Arts Therapy Module D or Module E to meet your group competency requirement.
Program participants must complete at least one of the below listed intensives as part of the program requirements.
- Expressive Arts Therapy Module A: Principles of Mindfulness, Movement, and the Expressive Arts (Live Intensive Format or Distance-Based Format; successful completion of the live component constitutes certification as a Dancing Mindfulness facilitator)—25 total hours: The training itself is 16.25 hours. An additional 8.75 hours are awarded upon successful completion of the recommended reading (Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation) and a follow-up paper to be reviewed by a supervising REAT. In this independent portion of the study, you are asked to reflect on your personal process with engaging in the integrated expressive/creative arts components in each of the core chapters and discuss multi-modal applications for using the Dancing Mindfulness practice along with 2-3 other expressive arts in a clinical setting. Additionally, you are eligible for separate basic certification as a Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator after completion of this live module. A list of currently scheduled trainings and information on the distance training can be found at dancingmindfulness.com.
- Expressive Arts Therapy Module B: Trauma-Focused Approaches to Meditation, Breath Work, and Yoga-Based Somatic Movement in Clinical Settings (Live Intensive only)—18.5 total hours: The training itself is 18.5 hours and must be taken in person or as an interactive online training as available. An additional hours may be awarded upon successful completion of the recommended reading (list of choices provided at the training) and a follow-up paper to be reviewed by a supervising REAT. In this independent portion of the study, you are asked to reflect on your personal process with engaging in the exercises offered in your chosen book and discuss multi-modal applications for using practices explored at the training along with 2-3 other expressive arts in a clinical setting.
- Expressive Arts Therapy Module C: EMDR Therapy Training—42 total hours: The training is broken up into Parts 1 and 2, each of which is 21 hours and must be taken in person. There is a 10 hour supplementary consultation component which can done via phone or teleconference. To count these hours, part of your expressive arts supervision must focus on the blending of EMDR therapy and expressive arts therapy. Specific attention is paid to how EMDR therapy can be used to help clients process material that may emerge in the art making process. An emphasis on the interplay and complementary nature of the two modalities is a major feature of this module. For more information about EMDR training see our EMDR Therapy Training page. (NOTE: If choosing the EMDR Therapy Training as your intensive, you must enroll in either Expressive Arts Therapy Module D or Module E to meet your group competency requirement.)
Non-Compulsory Intensives
If choosing Expressive Arts Therapy Module C: EMDR Therapy Training as your intensive, program participants must enroll in either Expressive Arts Therapy Module D or Module E to meet your group competency requirement.
- Expressive Arts Therapy Module D: Dancing Mindfulness Annual Facilitators & Friends Retreat - 16 total hours: In addition to attendance at the retreat held every spring, participants must also complete a supplementary paper or submission demonstrating how you utilized three or more expressive art forms during the retreat and how you plan to implement your learning in clinical settings. Standard CE credits available for certain retreat sessions. For more information click HERE
- Expressive Arts Therapy Module E: Between-The-Holidays Expressive Arts Therapeutic Retreat - 16 total hours: In addition to attendance at the retreat held between Thanksgiving and Christmas, participants must also complete a supplementary paper or submission demonstrating how you utilized three or more expressive art forms during the retreat and how you plan to implement your learning in clinical settings. For more information click HERE
Distance Based Courses
Program participants must complete the distance based Process Not Perfection Book Course.
The Wisdom of the Body: A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women (2017)
The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within (2015)
The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom (2011)
Water, Wind, Earth, & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements (2010)
Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction (2010)
Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Christian Practice (2013)
Lectio Divinia—The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart Centered Prayer (2011)
Mindfulness and the Arts Therapies: Theory and Practice (Laury Rappaport & Jared Kass, Eds.)
Expressive Arts Therapy for Traumatized Children and Adolescents: A Four Phase Model (Carmen Richardson)
Attunement in Expressive Arts Therapy: Toward an Understanding of Embodied Empathy (Mitchell Kossak)
Integrating the Expressive Arts into Counseling Practice: Theory Based Interventions (Suzanne Degess-White & Nancy Davis, Eds.)
The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts as Healing (Natalie Rogers)
The Four Fold Way (Angeles Arrien)
Program participants must complete the distance based Process Not Perfection Book Course.
- Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions in Trauma Recovery Book Course Based on the Content of the Innovative New Volume - 20 total hours (required for certificate track completion): Readers are invited to work through the book's processes and submit a portfolio for review. For more information click HERE.
- Dancing Mindfulness Book Course: Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation - 12 total hours: A book course sponsored by Curious.com with supplementary reaction piece required for submission. *NOTE: This course can only be counted if you did not use the Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator Training Intensive (Expressive Arts Therapy Module A) toward your hours.
- Introduction to Expressive Arts Therapy Course with Dr. Marich - 6 total hours: The distance based version of Dr. Marich's live course, available on our distance learning platform. This course along with many others is also offered live several times a year. See our Select Calendar of Events for live offerings.
- Abbey of the Arts Retreats & Courses: You may count up to 2 courses or retreats/pilgrimages offered by Abbey of the Arts, an expressive arts based ministry and program operated by our associate Christine Valters Paintner, Ph.D., REACE. The Abbey of the Arts offers a variety of programming, both online (courses, virtual retreats) and in-person (pilgrimages, retreats). Depending on the length of the course, retreat, or pilgrimage, you can be awarded 8-16 hours for each program you select (consult with Dr. Marich for specific details on transfer of hours). Please visit the Abbey website to browse your options. A brief reflection paper submitted to Dr. Marich discussing clinical applications of the content you studied in the course is required for the hours to count.
- Book Courses with Dr. Paintner's Work: Additionally, you may work through the following books by Dr. Paintner and submit a reflection paper to Dr. Marich highlighting your personal process and clinical applications of the skills covered in each book (8 hours of credit awarded for each book):
The Wisdom of the Body: A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women (2017)
The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within (2015)
The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom (2011)
Water, Wind, Earth, & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements (2010)
Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction (2010)
Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Christian Practice (2013)
Lectio Divinia—The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart Centered Prayer (2011)
- Other Eligible Books: You may work through the following books and submit a reflection paper highlighting your personal process and clinical applications of the skills covered in each book (8-12 hours of credit awarded for each book depending on the depth of content):
Mindfulness and the Arts Therapies: Theory and Practice (Laury Rappaport & Jared Kass, Eds.)
Expressive Arts Therapy for Traumatized Children and Adolescents: A Four Phase Model (Carmen Richardson)
Attunement in Expressive Arts Therapy: Toward an Understanding of Embodied Empathy (Mitchell Kossak)
Integrating the Expressive Arts into Counseling Practice: Theory Based Interventions (Suzanne Degess-White & Nancy Davis, Eds.)
The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts as Healing (Natalie Rogers)
The Four Fold Way (Angeles Arrien)
Live/In-Person Courses
- Select Expressive Arts Trainings with Dr. Marich: See our Calendar of Select Expressive Arts Trainings for events and workshops coming to your area.
- Conference Work with Dr. Marich: Any conference presentation you may have attended with Dr. Marich on Dancing Mindfulness, creative mindfulness, or trauma-informed interventions where the expressive arts were implemented (consult with your supervisor for courses that qualify and exact transfer of hours). Click HERE for a full calendar of public appearances and conferences by Dr. Marich.
- Transfer from Other Expressive Arts Courses: You may request to have up to 12 hours of coursework from another expressive arts education program transferred in to this certificate program for the completion of your 75 hours. All requests for transfers will be individually evaluated.
Supplementary Paper/Project Requirements
The purpose of supplemental reaction papers (which can include other submissions of expressive media such as video, audio, or visual art forms) is to assess your ability to analyze the information received during a course and demonstrate your ability to implement this learning in a clinical environment.
The overall learning objectives for the supplemental reaction papers on which you will be evaluated are:
(a) To describe three key points of learning from the primary experience (e.g., attending an intensive or retreat; reading a book or taking an approved supplemental course)—lower levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
(b) To report your personal experience with working through at least three or more exercises described in the supplementary reading for an intensive, or in the case of a book course, the book itself. Emphasis expected to be placed on the multi-art nature of your participation with these exercises—lower levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
(c) To introduce a brainstorm of how you would apply the concepts that you learned in the main course or reading alongside three other expressive arts forms; this objective is especially important if the intensive or course you took (or the book you read) focused primarily on one expressive art form—lower/middle levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
(d) To propose a plan for implementing elements of your brainstorm into a clinical setting in concert with evidence-based clinical modalities (e.g., DBT, CBT, experiential, Gestalt, EMDR therapy) in both individual and group settings. This objective can be met using step-by-step instructions for implementation, similar to a handout you may give a group—higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
(e) To recommend, in conclusion, at least two ideas of how you would integrate other expressive arts forms into an intensive training experience (in the case of Dancing Mindfulness & Yoga for Clinicians); for books or other courses, you may also make recommendations for how the author or course leader could have integrated expressive arts forms they didn’t consider or how they may have emphasized integration of the expressive arts more robustly-- higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
Length of reaction papers/projects: Generally your work is evaluated in terms of quality rather than quantity; as long as the objectives are being met in a way that reflects the Bloom’s taxonomy expectation, you have “passed” that objective. All objectives must be met/passed for the credit to be granted. If there is a problem with the quality as assessed by Dr. Marich, specific feedback will be given and you will be given a chance to recreate/resubmit.
We are aware that navigating this collage of options can be confusing. Please feel free to reach out to us via email if you have specific questions.
The purpose of supplemental reaction papers (which can include other submissions of expressive media such as video, audio, or visual art forms) is to assess your ability to analyze the information received during a course and demonstrate your ability to implement this learning in a clinical environment.
The overall learning objectives for the supplemental reaction papers on which you will be evaluated are:
(a) To describe three key points of learning from the primary experience (e.g., attending an intensive or retreat; reading a book or taking an approved supplemental course)—lower levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
(b) To report your personal experience with working through at least three or more exercises described in the supplementary reading for an intensive, or in the case of a book course, the book itself. Emphasis expected to be placed on the multi-art nature of your participation with these exercises—lower levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
(c) To introduce a brainstorm of how you would apply the concepts that you learned in the main course or reading alongside three other expressive arts forms; this objective is especially important if the intensive or course you took (or the book you read) focused primarily on one expressive art form—lower/middle levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
(d) To propose a plan for implementing elements of your brainstorm into a clinical setting in concert with evidence-based clinical modalities (e.g., DBT, CBT, experiential, Gestalt, EMDR therapy) in both individual and group settings. This objective can be met using step-by-step instructions for implementation, similar to a handout you may give a group—higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
(e) To recommend, in conclusion, at least two ideas of how you would integrate other expressive arts forms into an intensive training experience (in the case of Dancing Mindfulness & Yoga for Clinicians); for books or other courses, you may also make recommendations for how the author or course leader could have integrated expressive arts forms they didn’t consider or how they may have emphasized integration of the expressive arts more robustly-- higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
Length of reaction papers/projects: Generally your work is evaluated in terms of quality rather than quantity; as long as the objectives are being met in a way that reflects the Bloom’s taxonomy expectation, you have “passed” that objective. All objectives must be met/passed for the credit to be granted. If there is a problem with the quality as assessed by Dr. Marich, specific feedback will be given and you will be given a chance to recreate/resubmit.
We are aware that navigating this collage of options can be confusing. Please feel free to reach out to us via email if you have specific questions.