Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy(WCC and East West Center for Counselling and Training)

 “Diploma Course in Expressive arts therapy”

Chennai’s East West Center for Counselling and Women's Christian College, Chennai present a year-long course in Expressive arts therapy, Dec 2012 to Nov 2013.

Training in the various arts therapies is very rare in India especially since none of our colleges/ universities offer this course anywhere in India.  With last year’s batch being the first to take this course up, this training is organised and facilitated by experts in Counselling.  This grounding of therapies through arts in the practice of Counselling/ psychotherapy is one of this Course’s unique qualities and contributions.

In addition, one of the East-West Center for Counselling’s specialties is modifying Western therapeutic approaches for use in the Indian context; this would also be a major theme of the course.

The Department of Psychology, WCC was started in 1973 as an undergraduate department. It currently offers M.Sc., in Applied Psychology with two branches (i) Counselling & Psychotherapy (ii) Organizational Behaviour. The M.Phil. Program (full time) was introduced in 2001 and Ph.D. Program (full time) in 2005. In 2004-05 the U.G.C. career-oriented courses were started.  This comprises of Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Human Relations, offered to students of all departments. Equipping students with professional and personal skills that empower them and enhance their employability is one of the objectives of the department.

In this course, seven individuals trained in the Australia, USA, Canada and India would teach the various modalities of Expressive arts therapy.  They would be organised by Ms Magdalene Jeyarathnam, Director of Chennai’s East West Center for Counselling, who along with faculty of the psychology department WCC, will also teach Counselling Skills and Ethics throughout the year-long Course.

Upon completion of the Course, participants would receive a diploma certifying them to have undergone 200 hours of training in Expressive arts therapy. 

About Expressive arts therapy:

Expressive arts therapy is the practice of using storytelling, singing, instrumental music, movement and dance, drama, and visual arts, all together, in an integrated way, to foster human growth, development, and healing.

Expressive arts therapy is predicated on the assumption that people can heal through use of imagination and the various forms of creative expression.

An Expressive arts therapist may specialise in a particular modality, but Expressive arts therapy is an inter-modal therapeutic discipline in which the therapist and client may move freely between drawing, dancing, music, drama, poetry, etc. 

In Expressive arts therapy, when the therapist and client see fit to do so, they discuss the client’s feelings and thoughts that have arisen in the client in the process of the client expressing him/herself in the artistic process.

Expressive arts therapy focuses on the client’s experience of expression, and on reflection upon the client’s feelings and thoughts that may have arisen during this experience.  The artistic product is of secondary importance.

Expressive arts therapy utilises a gentle non-judgmental approach, enabling the client to become aware of what is happening in his/her unconscious - through artistic expression, and then reflection upon and discussion about this expression.

Expressive arts therapy uses creative processes in therapeutic, rehabilitative, community, or educational settings to foster health, communication, and expression; promote the integration of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning; enhance self-awareness; and facilitate change, including in relation to personal growth and community development.

Expressive arts therapy can be practiced with individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Training Team

 Sue Daniel - Psychodrama (December)

Sue Daniel is the director of the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, which celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 22 July 2011.  Her background includes a variety of areas such as early childhood education and special education, psychology, individual and group psychotherapy, counselling for couples, adolescents and families, philosophy, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.  More on Sue and her work. www.psychodrama-institute-melbourne.com. Sue is a TEP (Trainer, Educator and Practitioner) of Psychodrama, Founder of the Moreno Psychodrama Society, and a member of the Board of Directors  of the IAGP (International Association of Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes www.iagp.com ). Currently she is a co-chair of the IAGP Education Committee.  Her visit to Chennai sees the start of a joint collaboration between the IAGP and East West Center For Counselling & Training.

 Jennie Kristel - Playback Theatre, Expressive Art therapy (February)

Jennie Kristel M.A., CET is a Certified Expressive Arts  therapist and Reiki Teacher/practitioner in private practice. In her 20 +year career, Jen has used the arts (including visual, movement, psychodrama, and Playback Theatre) in both clinical and non-clinical settings.  Jen is an adjunct professor at Burlington College, in Burlington Vermont and since 2003 also teaches Playback Theatre and the use of Expressive therapies internationally, and has been working in conjunction with the Centre for Counseling since 2009.  She is on the Board of Directors of the Centre for Playback Theatre. Her website is www.journeyworksvt.com and her blog is jenniekristel.wordpress.com

Dr Eric Miller - Storytelling (July)

Dr Eric Miller directs the World Storytelling Institute ( www.storytellinginstitute.org ) here in Chennai.  He leads various types of Storytelling Workshops. Last year he completed his PhD in Folklore from the University of Pennsylvania.  He has been associated with the Center for Counselling since 2006.

Magdalene Jeyarathnam - Counselling Skills and Ethics (July)

Magdalene Jeyarathnam, is a practicing counsellor and counselling trainer. She has worked as a counsellor, counselling supervisor and counselling trainer for 18 years. She has developed counselling training modules, protocols and guidelines for counsellors in India and other countries especially in South East Asia. She works as a consultant to several UNICEF, WHO, World Vision projects. She is a member of the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes.

Dr. Veena Easvaradoss, Ph.D.

Dr. Veena Easvaradoss, Associate Professor of Psychology, Women’s Christian College, Chennai, has over 20 years of professional experience in clinical and counselling psychology. She has obtained her doctoral degree from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore. Her clinical practice includes being Clinical Psychologist on referral for several schools, NGOs and corporates. She has facilitated at a number of workshops on counselor training including Grief Counselling, Counselling for teachers, Coping with Stress, Counselling Skills, Behaviour modification, Parenting, Suicide Prevention, Learning problems, Tsunami volunteers' counselling training among others.

Preetha Ramasubramanian – Dance Movement Psychotherapy (July)

Preetha  Ramasubramanian is a Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist trained in the UK. She was awarded a distinction from Goldsmiths College, University of London for her work with the forensic population.   She has worked with children having severe behaviour problems, trauma, autism, cerebral palsy, abuse, etc… both in mainstream schools and in special schools. She has also worked with drug users, sex offenders, and adults with criminal background having severe mental health issues. At present Preetha works with both children and adults in private practice.
Who should attend this training?

This is an intensive programme for those in the helping profession - (open to men and women) Therapists, HR (psychology), Social Workers, Counsellors, Psychologists, NGO workers and those who are working with children will benefit from this course.

How is this training delivered?

The training is divided into 3 modules lasting 10 days each and takes place entirely in Chennai. At the completion of each module participants will have to complete projects and assignments of 15 hours. Each participant apart from the class hours will complete 200 hours of project work/ assignments.

Training Calender 2012 to 2013

Module One - Dec 14 to 23, 2012

December 14 to 18 ,2012: Psychodrama - Sue Daniel, Australia

December 19 to 23 2012:  Counselling, Storytelling Therapy - Dr Veena Esvardoss, Dr Eric Miller and Magdalene Jeyarathnam

Module Two - Feb 16 to 25, 2013

Feb 16 to 25 2013:  Playback theatre & Expressive Art therapy - Jennie Kristel, USA

Module Three - July 8 to 17, 2013

July 8 to 12, 2013: Music Therapy - Dr Sumathy Sundar, India

July 13 to 17, 2013:  Dance Psychotherapy- Preetha Raghuraman, India

The diploma will be issued only on completion of:

• Attendence
• Trainer's evaluation
• Assignments
• Final Project
• Written Exam (one)
• 40 hours of personal (individual) therapy sessions

Training Venue - Women's Christian College, Nungambakkam, Chennai

Course Fee - Rs 75,000/=

For further details:

Application forms will be available after July 1^st 2012 with Dr Veena Esvaradoss, Psychology department, WCC and at the East West Center for Counselling's office.

For further details - 

Contact Course Co-ordinator - 9884700104


Center for Counselling - (044) 42080810/+ 91 9884100135    

WCC - (044) - 28275926/ 28231676/ - ext 323(psychology department)