Live Online Presentations
Trainers: Mark Pearson & Helen Wilson
Creative Counselling with Adult & Adolescent Clients
This course will be of benefit to those who conduct therapy with adult and adolescent clients, individually and in groups. Therapeutic writing helps clients know themselves, and write their way to wellbeing. Participation in the training does not require any previous experience - or specific skills - with creative or therapeutic writing. It brings together a range of current literature on the theory, evidence-base, principles and practice of writing for therapeutic purposes. Among its unique features are our own dynamic Expressive Therapies activities developed and tested over the last 35 years.
Therapeutic writing within counselling incorporates reflection, followed by expressing cognitive, emotional, somatic and transpersonal experiences. This supports psychological, emotional resolution, and contributes to physical wellbeing, motivation and psychological clarity.
The course will introduce and provide opportunities for exploring a wide range of practical therapeutic activities for engaging adult and adolescent clients. Therapeutic writing is an expressive therapy that can be combined with the use of art, music and movement, and be safely incorporated into both face-to-face and telehealth counselling.
On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
FEBRUARY - APRIL 2027
$795
Online Interactive Modules
5:30pm - 8:30pm [AEST]
6 Modules & Assignment Research [30 hours]
6 x 3 hour Live Online Modules over 3 months
FREE ORIENTATION SESSION
Foundations, evidence base and practice
This training introduces counsellors to the background, history, evidence base, and practice of the Australian multi-modal creative arts approach known as Expressive Therapies. This Expressive Therapies approach was developed from Creative Arts Therapies by Mark and Helen, weaving together creative arts, person-centred therapy, emotion-focused and somatic therapies, applied to client issues such as: relationships, grief and loss, anger, and self-judgement. Modalities discussed: Applications of visual art, Symbol Work (miniatures), use of music for connection with emotions.
26 APRIL 2027
$155
Online Interactive Module
5pm - 8pm [AEST]
1 session [3 hours]
Increasing Self-compassion
Over the years clinical observations and clinical supervision have confirmed the centrality of the need for clients and professionals to address reducing harsh self-criticism. This practical two-part live online training offers creative arts-based and self-reflective approaches for identifying and disempowering automatic negative thoughts critical of the self. The Expressive Therapy tools of visual art, symbol work, and self-discovery worksheets will be introduced. The eight step pathway to mastering the inner critic will be presented. Along with mindfulness and self-compassion practice, we will explore understanding of, and separation from, self-criticism. This live online training, while focused on supporting adult clients, provides much that can also be applied with younger clients.
10 & 17 MAY 2027
$285
Online Interactive Module
5pm - 8pm [AEST]
2 x 3 hour Modules [6 hours]
Resolving Emotional Distress with Art, Music and Movement
Ways of responding to children's challenging behaviours that emerge from emotional distress have evolved over recent years. In counselling trauma-sensitive and attachment-focused therapies have incorporated creative arts methods, to access underlying challenges and give voice to previously unacknowledged issues. The evidence base for multi-modal Expressive Therapies has consolidated significantly over the last few decades, along with evidence for the use of art, music, somatic and emotion-focused methods.
This training of 2 x 3 hour live online sessions, introduces the basic theory and core activities for applying Expressive Therapies in support of young clients whose behaviour, attention, and relational skills have been impacted by emotional distress. The program is highly experiential and practical. The detailed training manual supports integration of the ET activities into integrative counselling.
14 & 21 JUNE 2027
$285
Online Interactive Module
5:30pm - 8:30pm [AEST]
2 x 3 hour Modules [6 hours]