It is with great pleasure that we offer the Expressive Therapies training for the first time, in the UK. This approach to counselling is growing rapidly in Australisia and results from feedback are most encouraging.
Carole and I have had the benefit of working directly with Mark and Helen for some years, and we are really appreciative of their friendship, encouragement and professional approach to this work.

The methods and psychological frameworks used in this training course (originally known as Emotional Release Counselling - ERC), and now called Expressive Therapies (ET), were first
developed and synthesised in Australia in 1987 by Mark Pearson and Patricia Nolan. Since 1989 the course has evolved and been developed by Mark Pearson and Helen Wilson and
conducted throughout Australia, and since 2001 in South East Asia.

The year 2008 marks nineteen years of continuous presentation of the course. Through the course hundreds of counsellors, social workers, psychologists, guidance officers and
child- care workers have been trained to use these methods in schools, hospitals, private practice, welfare agencies, youth refuges and with families.

The exercises have been developed to meet the needs of counsellors dealing with children and adolescents exhibiting emotionally driven behaviours.

The ET texts by the course creators are now published internationally and are used in several Australian university and TAFE courses. The methods are, and have been, the subject
of a growing number of university research projects. Mark's research on ET was published in 2003 in the Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling.

This course is recognised by The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) for professional development. It is endorsed by the Selangor Play and Expressive Therapies Association, Malaysia.

Course Aims:

This course aims to equip counsellors, social workers, psychologists, guidance officers, educators and child-care professionals to use the ET framework and exercises with children and
adolescents - one-on-one - within their particular area of expertise. Without prior training, completion of this course does not qualify participants to practice as a counsellor.
Although prior training is not a prerequisite for entry into the course, it is assumed that participants have some counselling training and experience.

Course Structure:

The course is made up of 15 training days (105 hours), conducted over five three-day workshops and involves background reading and assignment work. The course is presented through lectures, demonstrations, individual and group experiential work, debriefing sessions, peer facilitation, background reading and assignment writing. It is expected that, during the course, participants will become well acquainted with the texts in the Essential Reading list.

The Certificate:

Award of the Certificate is available to participants who have completed all training workshops and the two written assignments, and with previous qualifications - or extensive experience - in the fields of counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, education, social work nursing or child care. Other participants receive a Statement of Attendance.

You can find further information on the website:

Expressive Therapies - Expressive Therapies Institute of Australia.

Reading Lists

Essential Reading:

Pearson, M. & Nolan, P. (2004). Emotional Release For Children - Reparing the Past Preparing the Future. London: Jessica Kingsley Press.

Pearson, M. (2004). Emotional Healing & Self-Esteem - Inner-Life Skills of Relaxation, Visualisation and Meditation - for Children & Adolescents. London: Jessica Kingsley Press.

Pearson, M. & Wilson, H. (2001). Sandplay & Symbol work - Emotional Healing & Personal Development with Children, Adolescents & Adults. Melbourne: ACER Press. * *Available directly from ACER Press - email: sales@acer.edu.au

Articles: (copies available at no cost from ETIA - info@expressivetherapies.com.au)

Pearson, M. (2003). Guidance officer and counsellor perspectives on using expressive therapies to support students. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, Vol 13 (2), pp. 205-224.

Pearson, M. and Wilson, H. 'Using expressive counselling tools to enhance emotional literacy, emotional wellbeing and resilience: Promoting therapeutic outcomes with Expressive Therapies.' Counselling, Psychotherapy and Heath (CPH Journal -Australia)

Other Recommended Reading:

Axline, V. (1971). Dibs: In Search Self. Personality Development in Play Therapy. London: Penguin.

Greenberg, L. (2002). Emotion-Focused Therapy - Coaching Clients to Work Through Their Feelings. Washington: American Psychological Association.

Grof, S. (2000). Psychology of the Future - Lessons from Modern Consciousness Research. New York: State University of New York.

Junp C. G. ed. (1964). Man And His Symbols. USA: Dell.

Lowen, A. and Lowen, L. (1977). The way to Vibrant Health - A Manual of Bioenergetics. Harper & Row: New York.

Pearson, M. (1997). The Healing Journey- A Workbookfor Sef-Discovery. Melbourne: Lothian Books. (out of print - photocopies available from Expressive Therapies Institute)

Pearson, M. & Wilson, H. Expressive therapies: Working with body, mind and emotions. London: Jessica Kingsley Press.

Perls, F. (1969). Gestalt Therapy Verbatim. New York: Real People Press.

Oaklander, V. (1988). Windows to Our Children. A Gestalt Therapy Approach to Children and Adolescents. New York: The Centre for Gestalt Development.