Division of Expressive Therapies

Lesley's Expressive Therapies Program trains students in the therapeutic use of the arts. Expressive therapists integrate the modalities of dance, drama, literature, music, poetry and the visual arts with the practice of psychotherapy. The program offers a master's degree, with specializations in art, dance, music, psychodrama/drama and expressive therapies; a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Expressive Therapies (CAGS); a Certificate of Expressive Therapy for Mental Health Professionals, as well as a Ph.D in Expressive Therapies. (Please visit any of the underlined programs for information on pre-requisite requirements and programs of study.)

The Expressive Therapies Program was established more than 35 years ago; the first graduate school in the United States to train professionals in this emerging field. Today, the Program - the largest of its kind in the world - remains at the forefront of expressive therapies training. Lesley's focus on training students to use all the art modalities in their clinical practice, as well as its concentrated focus on specific modalities, is as unique today as it was when the Program began. The Program's vanguard reputation and outstanding faculty continue to attract students nationally and internationally.

The success and growth of Lesley's Expressive Therapies Program is due to the combination of experiential learning with applied clinical work, strong academic curriculum, and artistic practice. The Expressive Therapies Program is based on the following curriculum objectives and training assumptions:

• Engagement in the arts and creative expression can be important aspects of the healing process.
• Students in the Program continue to develop as artists and performers.
• Participation in a learning community that emphasizes understanding of group dynamics and systems.
• An exposure to a variety of arts is required for all expressive therapists.
• Students develop in their particular specialization, visual arts, dance, psychodrama/drama expressive arts and music as well as expressive arts therapists.
• Fundamental knowledge of mental health counseling is basic to all training in expressive therapies.
• Extensive field work (minimum of 150 hours of practicum and 900 hours of internships which meet LMHC requirements) provide students with a strong foundation of applied clinical practice.

Student Body

Expressive therapies students typically range in age from post-college to 65, with a strong representation of international students. Many have had formal training and professional careers as artists. Some already have advanced degrees in related fields. Others have less background in art but are committed to helping people through the creative process. Students who enroll directly from undergraduate school usually have had clinical experience as part of their academic programs. This diverse student population provides a stimulating mix of personal, academic, and career experiences to the Program.

Field Experience

Clinical field work is emphasized throughout the Expressive Therapies Program. Clinical sites include hospitals, community mental health centers, adult day treatment programs, geriatric centers, schools, and clinics that provide treatment for specific groups of people such as families or those with addictions. In addition to being supervised by specialists in their specialization, students generally work with multidisciplinary teams and receive supervision from other mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors.

During their first year, students do a 150-hour clinically supervised practicum and a 300-hour internship, with a minimum of 15 hours per week. Their next clinical internship is 600-700 hours, with a minimum of 20-24 hours per week. The Field Training Office works closely with placement sites to ensure that students receive diverse and personalized training experiences.

Orientation to Expressive Therapies

The Orientation to Expressive Therapies is the first required core course. During the Orientation, faculty and incoming students meet to begin exploring the expressive use of the arts with other students in their core modality, with faculty in other modalities, and with the entire group of new students. Students also meet with their faculty advisor to review individual courses of study, and the Field Training Office provides information and guidance in finding a practicum site.

Modality Groups

Modality groups are determined by students' specific areas of interest in art therapy, dance therapy, psychodrama/drama therapy, music therapy, or expressive arts therapy. They first meet together during the Orientation, where they begin to learn how to use their chosen modality for self-expression and connecting with others. During the first year, students continue to meet weekly with others in their modality in a fall theories course facilitated by a core faculty member in that modality, and in their year-long clinical supervision courses, as well as other modality-specific coursework. The modality group becomes a cohesive learning community, with peer learning as an important component of the experience.

Licensure and Accreditation

The 60-credit Expressive Therapies Programs are designed to meet the academic and field training requirements for licensure as mental health counselors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Students who wish to seek licensure as mental health practitioners in other states are advised to review their state regulations. Lesley also offers license consultation for other states.

The Art Therapy Specialization is approved by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). The specialization in Music Therapy is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), with graduates being eligible for certification as music therapists. The Dance Therapy Specialization is approved by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA). The Psychodrama/Drama specialization is currently being reviewed for approval by the National Association of Drama Therapy (NADT).