Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator Training
Expressive Arts Therapy (Module A)


December 13-15, 2024

Friday, December 13, 2024: 10:00 am-6:00pm ET

Saturday, December 14, 2024: 9:00 am-5:00pm ET

Sunday, December 15, 2024: 9:00 am-3:00pm ET



Mindfulness is the simple practice of noticing without judgment and returning to the present moment. Moreover, the efficacy of mindfulness-informed clinical interventions are well-established in peer review literature, and the ways of teaching clients mindfulness skills for coping and distress tolerance are ever expanding in the clinical literature. Mindfulness, psychodrama, meditation, and yoga are modalities that can promote wellness and recovery, and the larger traditions of Gestalt psychotherapy and person-centered therapy have a rich tradition of drawing from their wisdom in clinical work. In this module of a larger expressive arts therapy training developed by Dr. Jamie Marich, using dance/movement and mindfulness, in conjunction with the other expressive arts, in a trauma-informed system of care is instructed. Dance becomes the primary avenue through which to access mindful awareness and connect to the multi-modality possibilities within the expressive arts therapies. For more information, see our website.

Objectives:

  1. Define mindfulness from several different perspectives and explain how movement practices can fit the definition of mindfulness.
  2. List the seven primary qualities of mindful living as described by Jon Kabat-Zinn and explain how these relate to human wellness.
  3. Discuss the seven elements of the Dancing Mindfulness practice as an expressive arts therapy framework (i.e., breath, sound, body, mind, spirit, story, and fusion) and how each of the elements can be used to practice the qualities of mindful living and align with other clinical applications of mindfulness
  4. Identify at least three elements of psychotherapeutic approaches that appear in Dancing Mindfulness (e.g., Gestalt, psychodrama, mindfulness, movement/dance therapy, coping skills/breath work/somatic therapy, EMDR/bilateral reprocessing).
  5. Describe the benefits of a movement-based, holistic practice for emotional healing.
  6. Define what it means to be a trauma-sensitive professional, discussing how to keep a group of people safe, either in a community or clinical setting, while doing movement work, and describing triphasic (three-stage) model of trauma treatment.
  7. Explain the rationale of accessing body-based coping as optimal for recovery and wellness.
  8. Facilitate a group of individuals in the Dancing Mindfulness practice.
  9. Describe the subtle differences between facilitating Dancing Mindfulness in community versus clinical settings and apply them accordingly.
  10. Explain how dancing and other movement-based or spiritually-based practices found in the community qualify as "coping skills" for recovery and wellness.
  11. Articulate how engaging in movement-based wellness programs like Dancing Mindfulness can promote one's own sense of self-care as a professional. 
  12. Present the benefits of a practice like Dancing Mindfulness in your community to yoga studio owners, clinical/program directors, etc. 
  13. Articulate the basic tenets of expressive arts therapy as a multi-modal approach to healing and discuss how Dancing Mindfulness fits into this paradigm; develop programs of implementation in clinical or community settings accordingly.

Policies

Technological Requirements: Attendance at all live sessions on the indicated dates is mandatory for completion of this course. These live lecture and practicum sessions will be hosted by the video conferencing platform Zoom. Links for joining these live sessions via zoom are included in the course portals. These links will prompt you to download the Zoom software if you have not already done so, and will then connect you to the session. Please plan on joining a few minutes early for troubleshooting if you are not already familiar with the platform. For more information on how to join a Zoom meeting, please read through the following article: https://www.howtogeek.com/662339/how-to-join-a-zoom-meeting/. You are STRONGLY encouraged to also have a wired headset with a microphone or AirPods (or a similar Bluetooth product with earbuds and a microphone). By registering for these trainings, you acknowledge that you meet the technological requirements needed to participate.

Cost & Refund/Cancellation Policy: The cost of this training is $395.00, which can be paid at one time or in two monthly payments of $197.50. By registering for these trainings, you acknowledge you have read and agree to Mindful Journey' Organizational Policies, which stipulate the terms for refunds, cancellations, and resolving grievances and disputes. 

Professionalism: You will show up on time and be fully present for each session, acting in a professional manner. You will reach out to your faculty member or any assistants if any unexpected problems arise. Staying present for online learning can come with its unique set of challenges, and you agree to take full responsibility for addressing your needs in the area of grounding and self-care during the training. You agree to refrain from all alcohol and illicit drug use during the training and agree to speak with your faculty member or any assistant if you anticipate that your impairment due to prescribed medications might pose a problem during the training. The faculty and staff reserve the right to remove trainees at any time if trainee creates an unsafe environment for you or for other trainees, or for any other reason, at their sole discretion.

Confidentiality: There is no client relationship or other privilege that would create a duty rising to the level of clinical confidentiality in this training setting; however, you are expected to respect the confidentiality of other trainees in the group, and your trainer will explain the importance of confidentiality. Trainees who observe a problem with another trainee are expected to bring the problem to the lead trainer or other training staff. Similarly, if a staff member observes an issue with professionalism, they reserve the right to discuss that issue with the lead trainer.

Preparedness for Doing Your Own Work: Throughout the training, you will be expected to participate in working practicum experiences in order to receive the certification. If you are currently in counseling or being treated for a mental health condition, it is recommended that you speak with your provider, alerting them that you are participating in the training. If you have received a major mental health diagnosis (past or present), you acknowledge that you are taking this training and engaging in this practicum at your own risk, and that you will alert faculty or training staff before or during the training if any complications arise. You acknowledge that everyone taking part in the practicum experiences is new to Dancing Mindfulness and agree to keep the space as safe as possible for all involved. If any problems arise, you agree to address them with faculty or staff members. You also warrant that you are in good enough of a physical condition to take this multi-day training and that if you have any concerns, you have addressed them with your treating physician. You may participate in the training in a sitting position throughout the training, and we will cover appropriate modifications that can be made to address physical concerns or limitations, however, these modifications are not a substitute for professional medical advice. 

Correspondence from Training Organization: The Institute for Creative Mindfulness regularly sends correspondence about the training, including an email confirmation at registration and several emails leading up to each training. The emails presently come from [email protected]. If you are not receiving these emails, you are required to check your Spam folder as correspondence from new organizations often ends up there. Once you receive your first correspondence, please save the email to your address book. If you have not received a confirmation email or other correspondence from the organization within seven days of the event, it is your responsibility to reach out to us by email or phone. 

Email [email protected]  with any questions or concerns. 

Continuing Education Approvals

This is live interactive webinar based training. This is a beginner level course. Attendance at all live sessions, and course evaluation is required to receive CE Certificate. Course evaluations are made available after all live sessions have been completed within this course portal. Upon completing the evaluation, participants will be able to download their CE certificates. CE certificates will be downloadable for thirty days after the training.


The approval for continuing education credits is currently pending from the American Psychological Association and EMDR International Association. Upon completion, this course will provide 18 continuing education credits for individuals working to obtain the Certificate of Expressive Arts Therapy through Mindful Journey Center.


Instructor(s)

Irene Rodriguez, LMHC, REAT

Irene M. Rodriguez, M.S., LMHC, REAT, is the founder and director of Mindful Journey Center. She holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Irene is a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT), an EMDRIA-approved consultant and trainer. She is also a Certified Laughter Yoga Facilitator and Meditation Facilitator. Irene co-authored a chapter on EMDR Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy with Dr. Jamie Marich in the book EMDR Therapy and Creative Arts. Irene is known for her supportive approach to training, meeting trainees where they are and helping them develop skills with compassion and guidance. Her career began in community mental health, and she has since specialized in areas such as addiction, complex trauma, attachment, dissociation, mindfulness, expressive arts, and compassion fatigue. She creates workshops and trainings that foster a sense of community, fun, and a non-judgmental environment for enhancing learning.

Embrace a path of creativity for healing and transformation through Dancing Mindfulness.

Course curriculum

    1. Dancing Mindfulness Trailer

    2. Paint Me a Picture

    3. Raag Against the Machine

    4. Pink Lincoln

    5. Butterfly Tango

    6. Hinei Mah Tov

    7. Journey Blind

    8. Morning Prayer

About this course

  • $450.00
  • 15 lessons
  • 0.5 hours of video content