Background: Incorporating creative techniques into therapeutic process can stimulate motivation for clients to actively participate in their recovery. Attendees will acquire experiential skills, based primarily on the principles of rhythmic synchrony, kinesthetic awareness and kinesthetic empathy, to enhance clients’ engagement with their authentic self. Teaching methods will be didactic and experiential
Content Outline:
Content Outline:
1 Introduction
2. Objectives
3. Definitions and Concepts: ( didactic & experiential)
Embodiment
Rhythmic Synchrony
Kinesthetic Awareness
Kinesthetic empathy
Clinical examples
Adapting creatively for work in office
- Balancing Boundaries in experiential work
4. Closure & Q & A
Rollo May wrote in his famous book, The Courage to Create, that “Creativity is the process of bringing something new into being. Creativity requires passion and commitment. It brings to our awareness what was previously hidden and points to new life. The experience is one of heightened consciousness: ecstasy” (1975). May’s profound words ring of experiences in treatment that support the use of creative processes, which are always available to us, but may be difficult to access.
Incorporating creative techniques into the therapeutic process can stimulate motivation for clients to actively participate in their own recovery. Presenters will facilitate and present innovative ways to “lean into” client’s fears with them through use of creative problem solving to assist them in managing their discomfort and emotional distress.
Working with clients expressively empowers them to understand their resistance and translate the ensuing experiences into metaphorical insights which, in turn, facilitate engagement with the client’s authentic self – so critical to the therapeutic alliance. Principles of rhythmic synchrony, kinesthetic awareness and kinesthetic empathy, implemented through clinicians’ own creative processes, will allow for the transformation of ordinary experiences into extraordinary therapeutic skills. Teaching methods will focus on folding these new skills into clinicians’ existing skill set to maximize positive change
Susan Kleinman, MA, BC-DMT, NCC, CEDS, is creative arts supervisor and dance/movement therapist for The Renfrew Center of Florida. Ms Kleinman is a trustee of the Marian Chace Foundation, Past President of the American Dance Therapy Association, and a past Chair of The National Coalition for Creative Arts Therapies. She has published extensively, presented widely, and is the recipient of the American Dance Therapy Association’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award and The International Association of Eating Disorders Professional’s 2014 Spirit of iaedp Award. Her work is featured in the documentary entitled Expressing Disorder: Journey to Recovery
Rebecca Berman, LCSW-C, MLSP, CEDS, is the Clinical Supervisor at The Renfrew Center of Bethesda and one of Renfrew’s Trauma Experts. She specializes in treating eating disorders, self-injurious behavior, and trauma. She presents at workshops and trainings on a variety of topics involving eating disorders. Ms. Berman also maintains a private practice in Arlington, VA. Ms. Berman is a member of the Eating Disorders Coalition, the Academy of Eating Disorders, the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, Binge Eating Disorder Association and the National Association of Social Workers.
