What Happens in an Expressive Arts Therapy Session? A Beginner's Guide | East-West Center

 

Conversations on Healing

with Dr. Magdalene Jeyarathnam

"A space to explore creativity, relationships, emotional wellbeing and the courage to become more fully ourselves."

 

Conversation #2

What Happens in an Expressive Arts Therapy Session?

Stepping into a safe space for creativity, reflection and healing.

What Can You Expect?

Walking into your first Expressive Arts Therapy session can feel exciting, curious or even a little uncertain. Many people worry that they will be asked to paint, sing or perform. The good news is that there is no pressure to be artistic. You are invited simply to come as you are.

A Warm Welcome

Every session begins by creating a safe and respectful space. Your therapist may invite you to settle into the room, notice how you are feeling and become present. Confidentiality, respect and emotional safety are important foundations of the work.

Beginning the Conversation

Some sessions begin with talking. You may share something that has happened recently, describe a feeling, or simply say, 'I don't know where to begin.' There is no expectation that you must have all the answers.

Exploring Through Creativity

Depending on the session, you may be invited to draw, work with colour or clay, write a poem, move to music, tell a story, use role-play, or explore an image or symbol. These creative activities are never about producing perfect art. They are gentle invitations to discover what is alive within you.

Reflecting Together

After the creative experience, you and your therapist reflect together. Rather than interpreting your work for you, the therapist asks thoughtful questions that help you discover your own meanings and insights.

Every Session Is Different

No two sessions are the same because no two people are the same. Some sessions feel joyful and playful, others quiet and reflective. The pace is guided by your needs and your readiness.

From the Practice of Dr. Magdalene Jeyarathnam

A participant once told me after her first session, 'I thought I was coming to learn painting. Instead, I discovered something about myself.' That is the essence of Expressive Arts Therapy. Creativity becomes a bridge—not to artistic achievement—but to self-understanding, courage and hope.

A Question to Carry With You

If you could express one feeling today without using words, what colour, movement, image or story might represent it? Sometimes curiosity is the first step towards healing.

More information about the first Expressive arts therapy diploma in India: https://www.centerforcounselling.org/portfolio/diploma-in-expressive-arts-therapy/

What Is Expressive Arts Therapy? A Complete Beginner's Guide | East-West Center

Conversations on Healing

with Dr. Magdalene Jeyarathnam

"A space to explore creativity, relationships, emotional wellbeing and the courage to become more fully ourselves."

Conversation #1

What Is Expressive Arts Therapy?

Discovering healing through creativity, imagination and human connection.

Estimated Reading Time: 8–10 minutes

Have You Ever Found Yourself Searching for Words That Wouldn't Come?

Sometimes our deepest emotions cannot easily be expressed through conversation alone. Expressive Arts Therapy offers another pathway into healing through creativity, imagination and reflection.

What Is Expressive Arts Therapy?

Expressive Arts Therapy is a psychotherapy approach that integrates art, music, movement, drama, storytelling, poetry and other creative processes to help people explore emotions, relationships and life experiences. You do not need artistic talent; the emphasis is on expression rather than performance.

Who Can Benefit?

It can support people experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship challenges and life transitions, as well as anyone seeking greater self-awareness and personal growth.

From the Practice of Dr. Magdalene Jeyarathnam

Many people begin by saying, 'I'm not creative.' Yet a simple drawing, story or movement often opens conversations that words alone could never reach. Creativity is a human capacity, not a talent reserved for a few.

A Question to Carry With You

If you could express your feelings today without using words, what colour, image, movement or story would represent them?

More information about the first Expressive arts therapy diploma in India: https://www.centerforcounselling.org/portfolio/diploma-in-expressive-arts-therapy/

Expressive Arts Therapy Promotional workshop at Women's Christain College, Chennai

Various activities were conducted  in the session using Expressive Arts Therapy. Active participation from the Psychology students of Women's Christian College made the workshop more interesting.

TTK Hospital workshop on 15th November 2019

In the TTK workshop the participates had experiential learning on Expressive Arts Therapy

Expressive Arts Therapy - Batch 4 - December 2014 (Storytelling and Psychodrama)

East West Center for Counselling and Training, along with Women's Christian College 

is proud to present the annual Expressive Arts Therapy 1-year Diploma Program

The Expressive Arts Therapy program has completed its first module in December 2014 (8th to 19th), which encompassed the Storytelling and Psychodrama components. This module was conducted by Dr. Eric Miller and Dr. Herb Propper respectively. 

Year long Expressive Arts Therapy Course

 “Year-long Diploma Course in Expressive arts therapy”

Chennai’s East West Center for Counselling and Women's Christian College, Chennai presents a year-long course in Expressive arts therapy, Dec 2011 to Nov 2012.

Training in the various arts therapies is very rare in India especially as none of our colleges/ universities offer this course anywhere in India.  In this Course, the training is organised and facilitated by experts in Counselling.  This grounding of arts therapies 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 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 Venue - Women's Christian College, Nungambakkam, Chennai

Course Fee - Rs 75,000/=

For further details:

Application forms will be available after Nov 10th with Dr Veena Esvaradoss, Psychology department, WCC and at the East West Center for Counselling's office.

Center for Counselling - (044) -42080810/ +91 9884100135
WCC - (044) - 28275926/ 28231676/ - ext 323(psychology department)
email-info@centerforcounselling.org

Expressive arts therapy workshop 27 Sept to 20 Oct, 2010

Center for Counselling is organising a series of workshops on Expressive Arts therapy. We are honored to host Jennie Kristel (to read more about Jennie look up http://centerforcounselling.blogspot.com/2009/07/art-therapy-workshop-jen-kristel.html)

Workshop One: Sept 27th until Oct 1st 2010. Below are some pictures of the work we did.

We did movement, music, art, masks, mandalas, clay, poetry writing, collage, stick wrapping and dream circle.

We did sociometry, locograms, spectograms and barometers to build group trust and safety.

It was a riot of colors and creativity while processing several emotions and feelings. Look at some of the photos taken on the last day of the workshop.

Workshop 2: Oct 4 to Oct 8, 2010

All participants were from World Vision. It was easy to put together this training as some of the participants had already attended the training I conducted last year on Child centered counselling, they came back because they had given a good feedback to World Vision. We have a history of conducting trainings with World vision either for their staff or for the children they work with directly. I am particularly thrilled that participants had come from Kolkotta, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to attend this training. A big thanks to a special person in World Vision who made this possible - Dr Anita Victor who had the faith in me, that I will recommend only the best for her and her team. We did drawing, movement, clay, collage, singing, painting, games, sculpting, puppets and creative writing.

Participants got a certificate of 25 hours of training at the end of the 5 days.

Workshop 3: Meeting the past year students.....

A small group of us met to connect with Jennie this year. Rupa, Bhuvana, Raji and I got together for some intensive work over the weekend. We did some incredible work together. Dolls, clay, murals, movement, sound and painting.

Workshop 4: Oct 11 to 13, 2010

Women's christian College - Psychology department

A special thanks to Ms Veena professor in the Psychology department and dean of the student hostel. Another ally to Center for Counselling. She never says "no" to any of my recommendations and suggestions. A big thank you to Veena - my friend and colleague.

Workshop 5: Oct 14 - 15, 2010

Stella Maris College - Social Work Department

My own department! My college! The special connections I have has made this possible. My teachers who are so dear to me, who believe and trust me, I am ever so grateful to my department for helping my vision materialise in college.

Sr Colleen North, Mrs Sandra Joseph, Ms Benita, Mrs Sheila and the other wonderful staff for making this possible. There were 34 students and one professor who participated.

Workshop 6: 20 Oct, 2010

Faculty of Social Work Department, Stella Maris College

We had a very intense workshop as a small group. We did some very interesting and thought provoking activities. All the workshops and trainings are completed and we had another successful collaboration with Jennie Kristel, Journey Works, Vermont, USA.