Expressive Therapy Clinic offers a unique opportunity for health care professionals to participate in a Addiction program specifically designed for clients who have problems with addiction and substance abuse. The adding of especially tailored DBT approaches and Skills that are focused on addressing emotional dysregulation, impulsive control, addictive and compulsive behaviour which makes their lives challenging to deal with. Manual and handouts included. (Optional creative exercises are also added and no talent is required). As an Art Psychotherapist as well as a Counsellor and DBT Consultant over the last 20 years I have found that learning skills both verbally and non-verbally can be an advantage for clients.

In many mental health disorders substance abuse is a common form of self-medication. Sufferers often endure immense suffering and use substances or destructive behaviours to feel different or change the intensity of their emotional experience.  Some mental health conditions can provoke a complete shut off from reality and increase the chance of a dissociative state. Often when this happens substance abuse or destructive addictive behaviour seems the only way for people to feel that they can endure the pain of the symptoms of their conditions.

The knowledge gained is especially helpful for Health Care Professionals, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Drug and Alcohol specialist counsellors, Art therapists, support workers.

CPD approved with ACA and PACFA and listed on APS Webpage.  Other Health organizations will also give PD points for Expressive Therapy Clinic’s programs.

The verbal learning in videos and the manual would take around 2.5 hours.  If creative exercises are added this program would be considered to be around 5 to 6 hours for participants.