Annual International Conference on Expressive Arts therapy 16, 17 February 2017 @Women's Christian College, Chennai

Annual International Conference on Expressive Arts Therapy: Expressions of the Soul

Presented by

Theme - Building Professional Networks.

February 16, 17 (Thursday and Friday) - 2017 

Pre Conference 15 (Wednesday) - 2017

Experiential Workshops, Panel discussions and Paper Presentations

About the Conference:

Expressive Art therapy is a relatively new form of therapeutic practice that allows an individual to communicate their feelings and thoughts in a more visual and imaginative way. The establishment of this practice came way in the mid-1990s. Some researchers and psychologists believe that expressive therapy allows for a more holistic approach, which combines various forms such as imagery, dance, music, poetry, story-telling, dream-work, etc. In ancient times, the arts were used to celebrate and mourn the rites of passage in one’s life as well as to welcome the changes that one would witness; such as the annual seasons, the cycles of nature, and the movement of celestial bodies across the skies (Sourcebook in Expressive Arts Therapy, Atkins & Williams).

About the Organisers :

Women's Christian College

Women's Christian College was founded in 1915 by the united effort of 12 missionary societies in Britain, Canada and U.S.A., and was the first private women's college in Madras. The college has successfully completed 100 years of exceptional educational services to women and offers programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level.  The college, an autonomous institution from 1982, affiliated to the University of Madras, has strength of 3330 students and 160 faculty members and is a Government aided minority institution. The college has been re-accredited by NAAC with Grade A is identified as a centre with a Potential for Excellence by UGC. The Department of Psychology was established in the year 1973. The Department of Psychology is reputed for its student-centeric approach, its unique and innovative courses and its commitment ot academic excellence.  

East West Center for Counselling & Training

East West Center for counselling was founded by Magdalene Jeyarathnam and registered in 2007.  We are an Expressive Arts therapy Center and we depute therapists to schools, colleges and corporates. Our clientele are from ages 3 to 75, we work with individuals, couples, families and groups. We have been pioneering Expressive Arts therapy workshops and trainings since the inception of our organisation in various cities, towns - large and big in India. In collaboration with Women’s Christian College we jointly teach and award a one year long Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy Course since 2011. This course is the first course that began in India as an Expressive Arts therapy diploma and now has completed 5 years and this year we have the 6^th batch of students. Our students come from various parts of India and beyond.

Objectives of the conference

1.       To build awareness about Expressive Arts Therapy.
2.       To introduce participants to the relevance and uses of various art modalities in Expressive Therapies.
3.       To facilitate the development of related professional associations, with codes of ethics and practitioner guidelines.
4.       To provide updates on current trends in practice and research in Expressive Arts Therapy.
5.       To introduce the role of Expressive Arts Therapy in HR, Coaching, Counselling, Clinical, Educational and Community settings.

Thrust Areas  

1.                  Individual modalities in Expressive Art Therapy - dance / music / art / storytelling / drama / etc.

2.                  The Intermodal approach in Expressive Arts Therapy.       

3.                  Empirical papers evaluating Expressive Arts Therapy interventions and effectiveness.

4.                  Assessment in Expressive Arts Therapy practices.

5.                  Expressive Arts Therapy case studies.

Outcomes of the Conference

1.                  Sharing knowledge. Understanding best practices and new techniques. Improving quality of work.

2.                  Interacting with experienced therapists and exchanging competencies. Facilitating future collaborations.

3.                  Learning new techniques from experts. Building skills.

4.                  Launching an Expressive Arts Therapy Association to enable professional development and support.

Call for papers

Participants are requested to submit original research papers for oral presentation. The abstract should be sent to (Conference ID) by 30th December 2016. The full paper should be sent before 15^th January 2017. The paper has to be typed in Times New Roman font 12 pt, with 1.5 line spacing and 1” margin. Documentation has to be done as per APA Format (6^th ed). At least one author has to attend the conference for presentation. The papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings with an ISBN number.

Queries may be mailed to -  conference@centerforcounselling.org

Organising Committee

Dr Ridling Margret Waller - Principal, Women's Christian  College.

Conveners -  Dr Veena Easvardoss & Ms Magdalene Jeyarathnam.          

Organising Secretaries - Dr Sumathi D & Dr Eric Miller.     

Treasurer – Ms Nazneen Mogrelia 

Registration

Conference Delegates:  Rs 2,000/. This covers the fees for the 16^th and 17^th, the Conference Proceedings Book and CD and lunch and tea on both days.

Student registration:  Rs 500/.  This covers the fees for the 16^th and 17^th, lunch and tea on both days, and the Conference Proceedings. Student registrations can be made through their institution as cash payment. 

Pre conference workshop:  Rs 1,000/. This covers workshop fees on the Feb 15^th .

Payment can be made through cheque / DD in favour of “E -W Center for Counselling & Trg Pvt Ltd”. Please write your name on the back of the cheque and attach the registration details. (Please scroll down for the Registration Form).

Fill In your Registration form and post your Cheque or Demand Draft to the following address:

CASA  BLANCA 2, Apartment 2A, DR THIRUMURTHY NAGAR MAIN ROAD, NUNGAMBAKKAM, CHENNAI 600034.

Please click here to register online

Resource Persons

Dr Eric Miller - PhD in Folklore, Founder of World Storytelling Institute, Member of  Healing Story Alliance. Originally from New York, USA 

Dr Karen Estrella, PhD Coordinator, Expressive Therapies Division, Lesley University, MA, USA. She is a registered music therapist, art therapist and expressive arts therapist.

Ritu Shree - Works at Children First - Child and adolescent mental health institute in New Delhi and is currently pursuing her PhD in Expressive Therapies at Lesley University.

Tripura Kashyap - Dance therapist, Co-Founder, Creative Movement Association of India, lives in Bangalore

Magdalene Jeyarathnam - Expressive Arts therapist, Founder East West Center for Counselling, An Expressive Arts therapy Center based in Chennai

Oihika Chakrabarti - Art therapist, Founder/ Director Manahkshetra Foundation, Kokotta. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Art therapy.

Preetha Ramasubramanian - Dance Movement Therapist, Founder - Kinesthetics, Chennai. Teacher on the Diploma in Expressive Arts therapy course at WCC.

Brinda Jacob- Janvrin - Expressive Arts Therapist, Director of SMART studio, Bangalore.

15th Feb 2017 - Pre-Conference choices

1. Building Empathy using Dance Movement Therapy – Preetha Ramasubramanian
2. Storytelling for Self-Development – Dr. Eric Miller, USA/India
3. Psychodrama : Enhancing Creativity and Spontaneity – Magdalene Jeyarathnam
4. Art Therapy - Oihika Chakraborthi

Conference Schedule

16th February 2017 (Day 1)

8.30 - 9.30           Registration      

9.30 -10.00          Inauguration Session (Auditorium)

11:00 – 11:15      Tea

11:15 – 12:15      Plenary I --

    Why Expressive Arts Therapy is a Separate Mode of Therapy,

     Dr. Karen Estella

12:15 – 1:15        Plenary II --

    Expressive Therapies Focussing on Dance and Movement, Ms. Ritu Shree

1:15 – 2:15          Lunch

2:15 – 3:45          Concurrant Workshops,           

   “Expressive Arts for Personal and Professional Effectiveness”:

     Dance Therapy, Ms. Tripura Kashyap

     Visual Art Therapy, Ms. Oihika Chakraborthi           

                             Therapeutic Uses of Story and Storytelling, Ms. Regina Ress               

                             Expressive Arts Therapy, Ms. Brinda Jacob-Janvrin  

3:45 – 4:00           Tea

4:00 – 5:30           Plenary III --

    Expressive Arts Therapy and Behavioural Change, Ms. Magdalene Jeyarathnam

17th February 2017 (Day 2)

9:00 – 10.15         Plenary IV --

                             Expressive Arts Therapy in Clinical Settings, Ms. Brinda Jacob-Janvrin

10:15 – 10:30      Tea    

10:30 – 1:00         Panel Presentations:

    “Self-discovery through Expressive Arts for Human Resource Development.”

     Moderators, Dr. Veena Easvaradoss and Dr. Susan Thomas.

     1) Visual Art, Ms. Oihika Chakrabharti

     2) Psychodrama, Ms. Magdalene Jeyarathnam

     3) Dance and Movement, Ms. Preetha Ramasubramanian

     4) Storytelling, Dr. Eric Miller  

1:00 – 2:00           Lunch  

2.00 – 3.30            Paper Presentations.

                             Track 1, Expressive Arts Therapy. 

     Track 2, Individual Expressive Therapies.

                             Track 3, Applications of the Expressive Arts - I.

                              Track 4, Applications of the Expressive Arts - II.

3.30-4:30              Valedictory Function (Auditorium).

4:30                        Tea

Click here to Register online