As mental health professionals navigate increasing rates of burnout, compassion fatigue, and chronic stress—both within themselves and among their clients—the ethical responsibility of self-care has never been more relevant. While ethical codes emphasize competence, client welfare, and the recognition of impairment, many clinicians continue to struggle with consistently implementing and prioritizing self-care practices amid the ongoing emotional demands of therapeutic work.

This experiential training explores clinician self-care as an ethical practice rather than a luxury or afterthought. Using mindfulness and expressive arts approaches, participants will learn practical micro self-care strategies that can be integrated into daily life, clinical practice, and moments between sessions. These accessible interventions are designed to support regulation, resilience, creativity, and sustainable therapeutic presence while also providing tools that can be adapted for clients experiencing stress, anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion.

Drawing from the expressive arts concept of edges—the places where growth, discomfort, creativity, and possibility meet—participants will explore their own professional and personal edges related to boundaries, emotional labor, burnout, and self-care. Rather than pushing beyond limits, clinicians will learn how to recognize, respect, and work skillfully at their edges in ways that promote both ethical practice and long-term sustainability.

The training also addresses ethical considerations in the use of expressive arts techniques, including scope of practice, informed consent, interpretation, cultural humility, and responsible use of creative interventions. Through experiential exercises, clinical instruction, and reflective discussion, participants will leave with practical tools for supporting both their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the clients they serve.

This 6 hour CEU workshop invites clinicians to view self-care not as something separate from ethical practice, but as an essential foundation for providing competent, compassionate, and sustainable care throughout the lifespan of a professional career.

While this training welcomes professionals across disciplines, it is developed and taught by a counselor and is grounded in the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and REAT ethical guidelines. Attendees seeking ethics CEU credit outside the counseling profession are encouraged to check with their licensing board to determine applicability to their specific credential.

Format: Live experiential training combining instruction, guided activities, and case study discussion. All art supplies are included in the cost of $235. 6 hours of CEUs with a break for lunch on your own.

Training Location: My-T-By-Design Therapeutic Art Studio, 392 E Sunbridge Dr, Fayetteville, Arkansas