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Overview

Through the REACE registration process, IEATA recognizes individuals who bring creative process and awareness of multi-modal expressive arts into a variety of environments. We acknowledge facilitators who use expressive arts as tools for conflict resolution, organizational development, education, personal or professional growth, the healing arts, spiritual enrichment and more. While this work may be of therapeutic value, it is not psychotherapy nor does this registration give recipients authority to conduct psychotherapy.

The Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator uses a variety of arts processes such as visual art, movement or dance, creative writing, voice techniques, music and poetry. She or he understands the potential in using expressive arts in the above contexts and has working knowledge of the various art processes and materials.

These individuals may have formal training through academic settings or training institutes, or may have acquired experience through developing personal skills and applying them to existing jobs, or by creating work situations through a dedication to the arts and a desire to serve. There are two distinct tracks in this application process: a formal training pathway and a non-formal pathway. Each applicant should choose the one that best fits his or her education and experience.

While the expressive arts therapy environment requires an in-depth understanding of human development and psychological growth, those in the Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator field will have a broad spectrum of educational and/or professional backgrounds. These professionals may work in organizational development, management, health care, service organizations, primary, secondary or adult education, and a wide spectrum of additional environments.

We expect these individuals to have a solid understanding of human development and group dynamics. We hope they have the wisdom to steer clear of doing psychotherapy, unless appropriately trained and/or licensed, and should maintain a referral list of therapists where appropriate. They are encouraged to use the REAT referral list on the IEATA web site. Expressive Arts Therapy hours cannot be used as part of the Consultant/Educator application.

The REACE must hold to the highest level of integrity. In applying for REACE registration, the applicant should have a deep and heartfelt understanding of the ethics involved in working closely with individuals. In aligning with the IEATA mission and in receiving IEATA’s recognition at this level, REACEs will be expected to subscribe to a code of ethics required of all registrants, thus ensuring the safety, well-being and profound respect for those with whom they work.

The Consultant/Educator can be a facilitator for groups or individuals, for organizations and in academic settings. Some examples of Consultant/Educator roles and settings include:

• Facilitate or teach in a private institute or academic setting
  
  
• Guide or facilitate individuals seeking to reframe their lives
  
  
• Use the arts to assist a group or individuals exploring personal growth
  
  
• Bring the arts into schools or the private sector to work with at-risk youth
  
  
• Work with those facing the challenges of physical illness and/or death and dying
  
  
• Work with organizations and leaders to facilitate conflict and to assist in team building

By virtue of this diversity, Consultant/Educators come from a variety of training backgrounds. It is essential that the background supports the Consultant/Educator’s ability to interact an ethical and professional manner. He or she must be mature, professional and effective in facilitating conflict and in listening to honest feedback from group members.

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General Registration Standards and Requirements

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Please note: The REACE General Standards and Requirements have been revised as of September 1, 2011. All applications submitted after September 1, 2011 must reflect the revised standards and requirements.

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS YEAR ROUND. You may send your completed application at any time.

Before mailing your application, please email consult-educators@ieata.org to get the correct mailing address.

You will be notified once we have received your application and all necessary documents. Incomplete applications will be returned to you until all parts are ready for review. Please allow three to six months for a review of your application.

Two Pathways to Registration: Formal and Non-Formal Training

The expressive arts field has evolved over the last two decades into a recognized and viable profession. Historically, many individuals explored the arts from a place of passion and personal enrichment. Today there are many academic and training resources available to those wishing to enter the expressive arts field as a profession. Expressive arts is a widely used term to describe a multi-modal approach to arts education, consulting and facilitation. Still, many people have worked independently in the service of others without labeling their work as such. Their path has been self-directed, with a natural inclination toward cross-fertilization in the arts. For the purpose of the registration process, we are identifying two pathways – the Formal Training Pathway and the Non-Formal Training Pathway – outlined below. Through these two pathways, we honor both the formal academic/training path, truly a leap of faith for creative individuals entering this profession, and the non-formal self-directed path, passionately invented by pioneers in the field.

Registration Requirements

REACE Personal/Professional Competency

Completed applications should thoroughly document proof of the following competencies required for REACE registration. This should be evident through the Autobiographical Statement, Statement of Philosophy, portfolio entries and all application materials. We suggest you read these over before embarking on your application process to align yourself with the standards for registration.

General Competencies:

• Use of a variety of expressive arts modalities in facilitation, consultation or educational work

• Fluency in multi-modal expressive arts process: understanding how each arts modality deepens and builds on the other, and knowledge of how to choose modalities to best meet clients’ needs
  
  
• Demonstration of personal use of and comfort with a variety of expressive arts modalities for personal growth and professional development
  
  
• Ability to practice expressive arts consultation/education work in a manner that encourages self-exploration and discovery through the arts
  
  
• Encouragement of clients/students to use expressive arts to express thoughts, feelings and/or to find resolutions
  
  
• Ability to work with diverse populations and to support and encourage a wide variety of creative processes
  
  
• Ability to work in concert with the student/client to set goals and to explore a variety of methods (using expressive arts) to reach goals
  
  
• Ability to articulate the philosophical perspectives that guide the consultation/ educational work being done
  
  
• A firm understanding and adherence to a professional code of ethics for Registered Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator, as a representative of IEATA

Requirements

You must meet the following criteria for registration. Please submit four completed packets and title appropriate sections in your application to assist us in our review. Regarding experience, as the expressive arts field is still developing as a profession, we expect that expressive arts consultant/educators often work on a part-time basis. Therefore, we are looking for the amount of hours worked, rather than years of experience. These hours may stretch over a time period of five to 10 years or longer. Where you can identify years of experience, please do so, even if the hours were minimal. There is much to be said for longevity in the field.

A. Formal Training Pathway Only

I. Education

A Master’s degree in one of the following fields (it must be clear how this field relates to your work as an Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator). Three copies of official transcripts are to be mailed to the Consultant/Educator Committee directly from the academic institution in a sealed envelope. The envelope should show a seal or signature of the Registrar across the back of envelope. Only transcripts for MA or relevant degree are necessary.

Expressive Arts • Psychology • Education • Educational Psychology • Counseling • Spiritual Development or Pastoral Field • Social Work • Business Management • Organizational Development • Any of the Creative Arts

Note: You may qualify for registration if you have a Master's degree in a related field not specified above. As stated above, it must be clear how this degree relates to your work as an Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator. Please describe this relationship in the Education and Training Document.

II. Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator Work Experience

In addition to the Master’s degree, 2,000 hours of related work experience is required. This experience might consist of facilitating individuals or groups, and/or working with organizations. It is important that you describe how your work experience demonstrates multi-modal expressive arts consulting and education. We are aware that many consultant/educators work part-time, often establishing their roles in a developing profession. Please indicate the number of hours worked over a time frame of several years, specifying the hours worked per year as accurately as possible. For individuals with a crossover practice, such as expressive arts therapy and expressive arts consulting/education, it is very important that the work hours described fall under expressive arts consultation and education only. If you are also a therapist, you may not include these hours, as the REACE is designated solely toward Expressive Arts Consulting and Education.

Work experience hours need to be direct service, usually face-to-face contact. Paperwork and preparation time are not considered expressive arts work experience. Work hours completed as part of an educational requirement (practicum, internship) are not accepted as work experience for the REACE. We do accept work experience that may have happened prior to or simultaneous with an educational program. Work Experience hours submitted for the REACE may not be submitted at a later date for the REAT. In addition, work experience hours, which have already been submitted prior for the REAT, may not be included here.

100 hours of work experience may be accepted for expressive arts research and articles and publications under the category of Research and Publications. Please see this area of the application for additional information.

Note: In completing the document for Work Experience we ask that you attach an additional page(s) that gives details of work done in each position. (See the Work Experience form in the REACE application for guidelines.)

III. Expressive Arts Education and Training

Applicant must show proof of an additional 200 hours of experience exploring multi-modal arts. This may be through a training/educational program, arts classes or through self-generated experience. Expressive Arts Training may include coursework in art, dance/movement, drama, music, poetry, psychodrama, and courses in expressive arts education and consultation. It is very important that education and trainings have prepared an applicant to fulfill the competencies required to work in an integrated multi-modal arts process. The IEATA website provides a detailed listing of various expressive arts education and training programs (see note below).

In completing the document for Education and Training, we ask that you attach an addendum (detailed description of expressive arts training and in addition, fliers, brochures, certificate of completion or other verification.) Please see the Education and Training form in the REACE application for guidelines.

Note: The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) provides these resources as a courtesy for those interested in exploring the expressive arts. IEATA assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. IEATA is not connected with any listed organization and does not endorse any educational institution as an official expressive arts training program. Individuals seeking a career in the expressive arts are encouraged to seek appropriate counseling from the institution of their choice. IEATA and its representatives are not able to provide recommendations for any of these programs.

B. Non-Formal Training Pathway Only

I. Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator Work Experience

Where no Master’s degree exists, a total of 3,800 hours of expressive arts consulting and education work experience is required. This experience might consist of facilitating individuals or groups, and/or working with organizations. It is important that you describe how your work experience demonstrates multi-modal expressive arts consulting/education and fulfills the competency requirements. We are aware that many consultant/educators work part-time, often establishing their roles in a developing profession. Please indicate the number of hours worked over a time frame of several years, specifying the hours worked per year as accurately as possible. For individuals with a crossover practice, such as expressive arts therapy and expressive arts consulting/education, it is very important that the work hours described fall under expressive arts consultation and education only. Please do not include your therapy hours. If you are also a therapist, you may not include these hours, as the REACE is designated solely toward Expressive Arts Consulting and Education.

Work experience hours need to be direct service, usually face-to-face contact. Paperwork and preparation time are not considered expressive arts work experience. Work hours completed as part of an educational requirement (practicum, internship) are not accepted as work experience for the REACE. We do accept work experience that may have happened prior to or simultaneous with an educational program. Work Experience hours submitted for the REACE may not be submitted at a later date for the REAT. In addition, work experience hours, which have already been submitted prior for the REAT, may not be included here. Volunteer hours may be included.

100 hours of work experience may be accepted for expressive arts research and articles and publications under the category of Research and Publications. Please see this area of the application for additional information. Note: In completing the document for Work Experience we ask that you attach an additional page(s) that gives details of work done in each position. (See the Work Experience form in the REACE application for guidelines.)

II. Expressive Arts Education and Training

Applicant must show proof of 200 hours of expressive arts education and training. While applicants in the Non-Formal Training track may not have pursued formal training in the expressive arts, we expect that applicants have explored the various creative arts, however self-directed. This may be through self-generated experience such as educational courses, workshops, mentoring specifically geared toward applicant’s field of specialization or through a training/educational program. Expressive Arts Training may include coursework in art, dance/movement, drama, music, poetry, psychodrama, and courses in expressive arts education and consultation. Please list any formal workshops/classes attended, or describe as best you can, your experience in pursuing your knowledge of the various art modalities. This might include personal forays into exploring various materials, seeking an understanding of the relationship between the different art mediums, exhibiting your artwork, collaborative projects, etc. It is very important that education and trainings have prepared an applicant to fulfill the competencies required to work in an integrated multi-modal arts process. The IEATA website provides a detailed listing of various expressive arts education and training programs (see note below).

In completing the document for Education and Training, we ask that you attach an addendum (detailed description of expressive arts training and in addition, fliers, brochures, certificate of completion or other verification.) Please see the Education and Training form in the REACE application for guidelines.

Note: The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) provides these resources as a courtesy for those interested in exploring the expressive arts. IEATA assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. IEATA is not connected with any listed organization and does not endorse any educational institution as an official expressive arts training program. Individuals seeking a career in the expressive arts are encouraged to seek appropriate counseling from the institution of their choice. IEATA and its representatives are not able to provide recommendations for any of these programs.

C. Required of Both Pathways

Note: All written material will be treated confidentially.

IV. Cover Letter of Intent

Please include a cover letter of intention with your application. The letter should express your reasons for applying for the REACE. It will be helpful to include your anticipated role as well as settings in which you see yourself working as a REACE. The salutation in your letter should be addressed to the REACE Review Committee.

V. Autobiographical Statement

The consultant/educator is in a unique position to make inroads into environments that traditionally have not integrated expressive arts. This path requires unique training, creative thinking, confidence and a commitment to inner work. We request a 7-10 page essay (typed, 10-12 point, double-spaced) which describes your experience with the arts, past and present, and your personal growth work, particularly with the arts, including any therapy or spiritual/personal work completed related to the arts. Include any other relevant personal information you’d like to share. Include a self-assessment of your strengths and challenges. We would like to understand how the expressive arts have impacted your personal growth and professional development.

VI. Statement of Philosophy

Our field is defining itself through our many voices. This category provides an opportunity for you to crystallize your thoughts and ideas, and to describe your professional work and underlying philosophy. This should include both your facilitation philosophy and your philosophy in using the arts. We request a 7-10 page essay (typed, 10-12 point, double spaced) that describes how your philosophy is integrated into your work with individuals. Include your understanding of group process where applicable and your understanding of prominent ethical issues in your current consulting/education work. Additionally, please include any major individuals (mentors, consultants) and processes that have influenced your work. Successful applicants will demonstrate a depth understanding and experience in integrated multi-modals arts processes and clear fulfillment of required competencies, training and work experience for the REACE registration.

VII. Portfolio

Portfolio Entry 1– Case Study
The case study documents provide an example of your work and philosophy with a particular individual or group within a multi-modal expressive arts approach. The case study explores observations of an individual or group in process, either within a session or over a period of time, and illustrates the effects of the process, as well as the outcome and your findings. For example, where did the individual or group start (their intentions and expectations for the process, and yours as facilitator)? How were they affected and changed by the work? You may want to consider a hypothesis.

The case study should describe the population served, the process and structure, challenges you met, as well as any conclusions and how they relate to your philosophy. Please limit your writing to three to five pages (typed, 10-12 point, double-spaced). If you include support material such as samples of artistic work created, please limit this also to no more than five pages. To protect the privacy of individuals, please use initials when referring to clients.

Portfolio Entry 2 – Personal Process
To truly understand the process through which an expressive arts consultant/educator guides others, it is important that he or she has firsthand knowledge of working with the expressive arts. Please submit a 3-5 page entry in which you share your personal work with the arts. This might be photos of art, poetry or other creative writing, or a description of a movement or music experience. Please include a brief description of your process (within the three to five pages). Here’s a chance to be creative.

VIII. Adjunct to Training and Work Experience

Describe any additional educational or professional activities that support your work as a Consultant/Educator: certifications, conference presentations, publications, specialized training, additional workshops, etc. Please include specific training or educational development that has helped you understand group dynamics and human development.

IX. Resume

Please submit a resume, which includes the following:

• Contact information: name, address, phone number, email

• Career objective: a statement of short and long-term goals

• Educational history: Most recent program listed first

• Relevant employment history: Most recent program listed first

• Professional memberships and any awards or certificates held

• Relevant interests or activities in which you are currently involved

• Please name three references who have knowledge of your work

X. Ethical Guidelines Agreement

Your original signature confirms your full understanding and agreement to uphold the code of ethics set forth by IEATA for the REACE registration. (The Agreement is contained in the REACE application.)

XI. Letters of Reference

Please request three letters of reference from professionals who have supervised your work or have facilitated with you. It is preferable for at least one of the references to be an IEATA member, and for the references to be working in the field of expressive arts or at least very familiar with the field. Current references are best, although it is understood that expressive arts consulting and education work may have occurred over a span of time. Those writing letters will need to submit four copies, one with original signature, directly to the IEATA Consultant/Educator Committee. Please have them use the Letter of Reference form in the application packet.

XI. Research and Publications

Applicants may submit up to 100 hours of work experience related to expressive arts research and the writing of expressive arts consulting and education articles that have been published in a professional journal or publication. Please include a detailed record of hours, a paragraph description of each writing project, and copy of the article as part of the application. For books and larger publications, a short summary and link to more information will be sufficient.

XII. Promotional Material

Please provide samples of brochures, flyers, outlines of workshop formats, business cards, promotional kits, website address, videos or any additional artwork or pictures that depict the work you are doing.

XIII. Official Transcripts

Three official copies of transcripts must be sent directly to the Consultant/Educator Committee. Only transcripts for relevant degree are required. For questions, please contact, consult-educators@ieata.org or call Kathleen Horne, 941-365-6466.

REACE application

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Ethical guidelines
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