Brain-Wise, Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy in Medical Settings

This presentation provides an overview of how the expressive arts [art, music, dance/movement and imaginative play] are brain-wise interventions that are essential in the psychosocial care of patients. These sensory-based approaches encourage individuals of all ages to become activeparticipants in their own recovery as well as support and enhance stress reduction and self-expression when words are not enough. Five key areas that demonstrate why expressive arts are important to overall patient wellness are presented through lecture and short films. The emphasis is on trauma-informed care as a way to help patients move from being survivors to thrivers and through engaging them in expressive arts intervention that support self-regulation, sense of safety, resilience and wellness behaviors. Attendees will participate in several hands-on expressive arts activities throughout the day that are used to address psychosocial care in children, adults and families.

Learning Objectives - Participants will learn:

1. Working definitions for art, music, dance/movement, drama and play therapy as they apply to the psychosocial needs of patients;

2. Five factors that define trauma-informed practice and the application of expressive arts to patient care;

3. At least five reasons why expressive arts therapies complement overall psychosocial intervention;

4. At least three arts-based interventions that address patients’ psychosocial needs including self-regulation, safety, resilience, and wellness behaviors.

Presenters:

Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT

Cathy Malchiodi is an art therapist, visual artist, research psychologist, andauthor in the   fields of art therapy, trauma-informed practice, and art in healthcare.

Cathy is a leading international expert in the "healing arts" fields of art therapy, art in healthcare, and expressive therapies, and has 25 years experience intrauma intervention and trauma-informed practice. She has published numerous books, including, The Art Therapy Sourcebook, Handbook or Art Therapy, Expressive Therapies, Understanding Children's Drawings, and Creative Interventions with Traumatized Children, all of which have become standard texts; she has also published more than 50 invited book chapters and refereed articles and reviews in various mental health journals. A popular speaker, Cathy has given over 300 invited keynotes, workshops, and courses throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe. She has been an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University's Expressive Therapies Department for over 20 years and has been a visiting professor and lecturer at numerous universities throughout the US.

She is a research psychologist, a Board Certified and Licensed Professional Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Certified Trauma and Loss Educator with expertise in trauma informed care, interpersonal violence intervention and disaster relief with children, adults, and families. She is the originator of the practice of "trauma-informed art therapy," an approach based on resilience-enhancement, mindfulness, sensory-based intervention, and body/mind principles.

Cathy has provided consultation, service, and expertise to a wide variety of community, national, and international agencies, including the International Child Art Foundation, Department of Defense, Issues Deliberation America/Australia, American Art Therapy Association, International Medical Corp,and Save the Children Foundation. Cathy has also served on the boards of American Counseling Association (ACA), distinguished as the first Representative from the Association for Creativity inCounseling (ACC); President of the Counseling Association for Humanistic Education and Development (C-AHEAD); American Art Therapy Association (AATA); Delegate to 20/20 National Future of Counseling Task Force with ACA; Research and Ethics Committees of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare; International Advisory Board, International Child Art Foundation; Advisory Board for Alzheimer's Association of America; and on numerous national and international boards in mental health, education, counseling, arts, and public service. In honor of her clinical and academic contributions, Cathy is the first and only person to have received all three of the American Art Therapy Association’s highest honors: Distinguished Service Award, Clinician Award, and Honorary Life Member Award. She is the recipient of Kennedy Center Honors and a Very Special Arts (VSA) Award for her art therapy work in Hong Kong and Beijing and is the recipient of the Willam Steele Award for her outstanding contributions to the field of trauma intervention with children.