Curriculum

25 Hours

The Visual Arts studio course encourages a self-directed exploration and understanding of visual art media, processes, and visual arts language, including an introduction to working with photography and digital media. The course will introduce a training model that provides a framework for working with phenomenology are a core philosophy and practice in expressive arts therapy theory. The course will follow a format of in class discussion, lecture, and video presentation.

25 Hours

The Poetry, Storytelling and Narrative studio course introduces students to theories of therapeutic writing while exploring a wide variety of writing practices that may be used in both individual and community engagement. The course prioritizes Poetry, Storytelling and Narrative writing as an expressive tool that can be effectively used in diverse cultural settings, with a range of ages and a range of literacy competency. The course will follow a format of in class discussion, lecture, and video presentation.

25 Hours

The Sound studio course will explore sound and music for individual and group. The physical and cultural elements of sound are multifaceted, and this course will build upon these personal and cultural interconnections. The frames of listening/un-listening, attunement /accompaniment, resonance/dissonance, collaborative improvisation and the making of low skill instruments will be explored. The course will follow a format of in class discussion, lecture, and applied practice.

25 Hours

The Drama and Play studio course engages students in an ongoing exploration into how dramatic writing and play (theatre) may be incorporated into an expressive arts therapy practice. The course will include cultural and personal historical understandings of drama, performance and play and will move toward individual and group explorations that develop sensitive and supportive therapeutic skills that can be applied in a range of settings. The course will follow a format of in class discussion, lecture and in class presentations.

25 Hours

The Movement studio course immerses students in an exploration of creative movement, improvisation and the importance of being grounded and present in the body. There will be an emphasis on strengthening somatic awareness as an important therapeutic skill, including trauma informed practices.The course will follow a format of in class discussion, lecture, and video presentation.

25 Hours

The Intermodal Training course offers an opportunity forstudents to integrate their understanding of the material covered in the previous modalities. The course will follow a format of lecture, in class presentations, respectful feedback and discussion.

25 Hours

In this course we will explore what it means to walk alongside each other and our clients.We each hold a unique position in this world based on our culture, heritage, and national origins. These along with generational impacts, gender, disability, spiritual orientation, and social economic position all influence our ways of being in the world. In particular, we will examine the history, current realities, resilience’s, and strengths of Indigenous people in Canada. Our indigenous and settler instructors who have longstanding experience of working alongside using an expressive arts therapy frame,we will explore themes of land, transformation and allyship. The course will follow a format of ceremony, lecture, discussion, and class presentations.

Trauma Informed Practice

This course will work toward establishing a model for trauma informed practices in expressive arts therapy. The course will offer opportunity to review theory and practice models that support anunderstanding of the field of trauma work. The course will follow a format of lecture, discussion, and experiential learning

25 Hours This course aims to examine expressive arts practice with diverse populations through a Social Justice lens. The course will be guided by the use of published expressive arts writings that engage the use of expressive arts in various settings and contexts. The course includes an exploration of models of practice that align with a social justice perspective and support the resource-oriented approach of expressive arts therapy. The course will follow a format of lecture, discussion, and class presentations.

25 Hours This course highlights the role of expressive arts practice in groups with children, youth, adults, and communities. The course promotes awareness of our individual interactive style and its impact on various cultural and interest group settings. Students will be introduced to the theory, method and practice of effective group development and effective community engagement in a range of settings. The course will follow a format of lecture, discussion, and class presentations.

25 Hours This course explores the developmental stages across the lifespan, using frameworks from various theoretical and cultural models, including the expressive arts approach. It addresses issues of nurturance, practitioner relationship, assessment, diversity, intersectionality, trauma-based practices,and cultural considerations. Family practice and explorations of theories of play and imagination are part of this survey course. The course will follow a format of lecture, discussion, and class presentations.

25 Hours This course introduces frameworks for understanding and evaluating health and illness. Course objectives include the development of an understanding of medical expertise, psychopathology and the DSM, cross-cultural models of health and illness including Salutogenesis and the resource-oriented approach of expressive arts therapy. Trauma informed practice will be referenced and discussed. The courses will follow a format of lecture, discussion, film, and class presentations.

25 Hours This course will introduce traditional and contemporary theories and practices of psychotherapy and counselling. We will begin by situating the field in relation to indigenous, historical, and sociocultural roots. Expressive arts therapy theory and its intersections of influence will be discussed and woven into the frameworks of theories presented. These topics will be reviewed through lecture, discussion, and practice.

25 Hours This course will explore the professional relationship and the understanding of ethics in expressive arts practice. The course will examine the assessment criteria, methods, and skills, that support a resource oriented, presentation of client work. The development of professional communication skills, the writing of notes, and the presentation of evaluative material is included in this course.

25 Hours The Expressive Arts Method and Practice Course introduces students to the theory and method of expressive arts practice. The coursework introduces and develops the various themes that are present in therapy practice and their relationship to using the arts in therapy. This course is taught through lecture, video, and readings.

25 Hours The Nature Based Expressive Arts Practice Course introduces students to expressive arts practiceand the land. It includes an exploration of ecological and environmental practices in the arts. We do this with respect to the land with a view toward understanding what it means to be guests on lands that are unceded and that belong to the Nations which always inhabited and still inhabit these lands. This course will begin in ceremony on traditional Squamish territory.

50 Hours The course will examine readings in the field of expressive arts therapy and related practice methodologies. The course will be delivered through an online platform and will require interactive commentary on the material presented.

This course will introduce students to research methodology with an emphasis on arts-based research. The course will follow a format of lecture, readings, discussion.

25 Hours This course highlights the role of expressive arts practice in community. Students will be introduced to the unique theory and practice of community arts. The principles of community arts can be effective in community arts practice, in advocacy, social learning, conflict resolution, group facilitation, strategic planning and collaborative partnership building. Teaching will follow a format of lecture, discussion, and experiential learning.

50 Hours The Expressive Arts Practicum Supervision course provides guidance and reflective learning that supports the student in their practice work in the community. The course supports the student in the practical work of expressive arts practice.

150 Hours

Each student will complete 150 direct contact hours while participating in an off-site practicum. Students enter diverse community settings where they have the opportunity to apply the principles of practice learned in class. The practicum integrates experiential learning, theory, and practice; students embody their work as professionals and develop strength and clarity in their own unique application of the practice.

Some examples of our placement’s sites are as follows: schools and educational settings, agencies for specific populations such as diverse needs or elder-care, residential in-care settings such as women’s shelters, addictions treatment and harm reduction facilities, community arts organizations, community development organizations and more. Students are encouraged and assisted in developing placements in areas of particular interest to them. Students are supported by a liaison person from the hosting organization who acts as their supervisor while onsite and have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other professionals. Whenever possible, students are mentored at sites where expressive arts graduates are employed

150 Hours Each student will complete 150 hours of indirect client administration related to their practicum work, which involves planning, organizing, and reviewing materials.