Expressive Arts Therapy is a multimodal therapeutic approach that integrates creative processes—such as visual art, movement, writing, and music—to support insight, emotional healing, and personal growth. The focus is on the process of expression rather than artistic skill, helping clients explore experiences that may be difficult to access through words alone.

A defining characteristic of expressive arts therapy is its multimodal process, which intentionally incorporates more than one creative modality in a session—for example, beginning with a short meditation, moving into art making or movement, and then transitioning to reflective writing.

Expressive arts can deepen insight, support nervous system regulation, and expand nonverbal and symbolic expression. Clinicians learn to weave visual art, writing, movement, sound, and imagery into evidence-informed treatment plans while honoring scope of practice and client consent.

No artistic skill or any formal arts background is required! We focus on clinical application, process, and embodied exploration rather than artistic skill, and we emphasize how to safely and ethically adapt expressive arts for diverse clients and settings.

Our programs are designed for licensed or license-eligible mental health professionals, graduate students in mental health fields, and related clinicians (e.g., social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists) with an interest in expressive arts in therapy.

The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) provides guidelines and pathways for becoming a certified Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) and using expressive arts as a clinical model and not just interventions. However many evidence based therapeutic models include creative interventions toward treatment goals. The purpose of EAC is to provide trauma-informed, ethical support for any licensed counseling professional including creative techniques in their therapeutic practice.

Yes. Our facilitators are licensed or license-eligible mental health professionals and/or expressive arts specialists with advanced training and experience in both clinical work and creative modalities, and they clearly identify their credentials and roles.

Registration happens through our website event pages, where you can see dates, times, fees, and details. EAC is in direct communication with IEATA and Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling to confirm that trainings offered are CE compliant.

As of now all trainings scheduled offer 6 hours of CEUs with a 1 hour lunch break on your own. All art supplies are included for $235.

Not at this time. The dream is for EAC to grow, adding more Registered Expressive Arts Therapists to provide trainings, as well as community and organization specific offerings.