Natalie Rogers

The process

Expressing

Dancing

Artist at play

Joy!

Saybrook University announces the continuation of

The Certificate Program:
Expressive Art for Healing and Social Change: A Person-Centered Approach
2013/2014

Faculty:
Shellee Davis, Sue Ann Herron, and Natalie Rogers

This unique 16-unit certificate program combines experiential learning, 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.

Starting January 4 - 10, 2013, provided the minimum enrollment of 15 is filled (Limited to 21). Enrollment is open to Saybrook and non-Saybrook students. Please let us know of your interest as soon as possible.

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:
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. 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 individuals communicate at a deep level. Also, using the expressive arts in psychotherapy is a natural evolution allowing the client to tap into and share unconscious material through the arts.

Graduates of this Program
Saybrook University has awarded 42 completion certificates to PCEAT students during the previous six years of this 400-hour training program. Students came from a wide variety of professional backgrounds including therapists, artists, teachers, business consultants, a physician, an engineer, a scientist, nurses, people from organizational development, sales and marketing, social work, and telecommunications. They came from Argentina, Venezuela, Japan, South Korea, England, France, and Finland and the US.

Brief Course Descriptions

(Participants must be able to attend all 6 courses)

I. Nourishing the Soul
January 4 - 10, 2013
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
April 21 - 27, 2013
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
August 30- September 5, 2013
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 3 - 9, 2014
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 1
April 18 - 24, 2014
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 2
August 15 - 21, 2014
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 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. westranch.com