Discusses the use of creative arts therapies at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice. Examines the creation of career patterns and the need for self-care in the workplace. Students develop a plan that will lead them to licensure in their state of practice and/or credentialing in the creative arts therapy association of their choice (NADTA, AMTA, AATA/ATCB).
The courses acquaints the student with ways in which the creative arts therapies can be used at various levels of social work & ministry practice. It addresses various creative art modalities and their potential use in social work settings. The course requires students to research their state licensing requirements as well as the creative arts therapy association of their choice to determine their eligibility for licensure/credentialing. Students will turn in a plan for becoming credentialed in one of the associations (at minimum) and/or licensed as a social worker in their state. The course reviews the pros and cons of becoming state-licensed practitioners as Christians and also reviews credentialing options as an alternative to state licensing.
The course enables students to imagine how various creative arts therapy approaches might translate to the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work & ministry practice. This course will also examine career patterns, self-care in the workplace, and a detailed discussion about licensure and credentialing. The last part is important because many Christian practitioners decide not to become state-licensed for reasons of personal conviction. The final aspect of this course helps students to determine if they should take a licensure path, if they can operate in their state as “pastoral counselors”, or if they simply want to add a creative arts credential to their ministry efforts.
This course will rest on the Psalms that encourage us to praise the Lord with music and dancing (Psalm 149:3, 150:4).
This course will encourage missional Christians to further develop their skills in matching creative arts to sharing the gospel.
This course will consider the creative arts therapies in the context of social work practice. This course will help students understand how to utilize various creative arts therapies in the context of working with individuals, groups, and communities. This course will also help students to place their experience and education in the context of licensure and credentialing.
The arts transcend language barriers. This course will help students to use skills that speak to all cultures by improving their ability to show, not tell.
This course is practical in the sense that it takes knowledge acquired in the two prerequisite courses and ties them together, allowing students to determine how they might use these skills in their own ministry or career.
Creative arts, by nature and definition, is an experiential medium. Students will be equipped to take the lessons learned from the course and apply them directly in their church or missionary assignments.
