Psychotherapy Theories & Pract

Catalog description

This course studies foundational theories and practices of psychotherapy including expressive arts therapy, emphasizing the therapeutic relationship as central to all approaches. The curriculum integrates current research and theory on psychotherapy, healing, and the role of the arts in human growth and health. The syllabus covers psychodynamic, Jungian, cognitive-behavioral, existential-humanistic and postmodern approaches, with a focus on social justice critiques in the field. Students explore liberation psychology and relational-cultural theory as core EXA frameworks while examining EXA interventions through each approach. Along with studying Western psychotherapy, the course includes indigenous and cross-cultural wisdom traditions. Social forces shaping human experience-race, class, gender, and more-are woven throughout. Students will consider which therapeutic approach best suits which client and therapist, engaging with various modalities, some more personally resonant than others. RESTRICTED TO EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY STUDENTS