Counseling Theories and Techniques: Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy
Course Description
Summary
This course explores the major theoretical orientations in counseling, including psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, and integrative approaches. Students will study the principles, techniques, and application of each theory, gaining practical skills for working with diverse client populations. Emphasis is placed on developing a personal counseling framework and integrating theory with practice through role-plays and case studies. Students will explore the theories, principles, and interventions of Expressive Arts Therapy, and how they have in the present and historically been embedded into practices to grow healing within the individual, the family, and larger systems within cultures.
This course also includes the Basic Counseling Skills Workshops which takes place at Residency and over the course of the semester. Participation in these workshops in a required component of successful completion of this course.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy, including its historical development and its integration with major counseling orientations, such as psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral approaches.
- Apply Expressive Arts Therapy principles and techniques to diverse client populations, utilizing creative modalities to foster healing at the individual, family, and systemic levels.
- Develop a personal counseling framework that incorporates Expressive Arts Therapy interventions, integrating theory with practice through role-plays, case studies, and reflective exercises aimed at addressing cultural and systemic factors in healing.