Continuing Education
April 25
You are invited to a…
Nazareth University Workshop:
"The Interweave of Art Therapy, EMDR and IFS"
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2025
Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Where: Nazareth University in the Shults Center Forum
Cost: General Admission: $140
Campus Map: Shults Center
Registration: Register by April 23
Continuing Education:
7 NYS CEs available for Creative Arts Therapists, Social Workers, and Mental Health Counselors
Course Instructors:
Elizabeth Davis, MFA, MS, ATR-BC, LCAT
Peggy Kolodny, MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT
Couse Description:
This highly experiential master class will provide a foundational overview of the integration of art therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), following the tri-phase–model of trauma treatment (Cloitre et al, 2012). This model includes in Phase One establishing safety and stabilization, Phase Two, trauma processing and grieving, and in Stage Three, rehabilitation and community (Herman, 1992). IFS and EMDR are both established evidenced-based therapeutic approaches for the treatment of trauma (Samhsa, 2019). The integration of art therapy into these complementary therapeutic approaches will be explored, demonstrating how expressive arts can enhance, support and scaffold the efficacy of these models for complex trauma across the lifespan.
Integrating expressive arts with EMDR (Shapiro, 2018) and/or IFS (Schwartz & Sweeny, 2020) is a pioneering field with evolving publications and trainings (Davis, Fitzgerald, Jacobs, & Marchand, 2023; Kolodny & Mazero, 2023; Wood, 2015). Trauma therapists are driven to seek effective approaches that can shorten the duration of treatment while increasing client’s ability to manage the process (Kolodny & Mazero, 2023). Shapiro (2018) recognizes innate healing as a foundational tenet of EMDR; this internal wisdom can be seen in IFS’s concept of Self as well (Twombly & Schwartz, 2008). EMDR and IFS therapists have recognized the benefits of integrating these two models (Twombly, 2022, Fisher, 2017; Hersey, 2021) with Brown (2020) stating “…their integration has been found to enhance the efficacy of both modalities in the treatment of C-PSTD…” (p. 112). Twombly & Schwartz (2008) state “…IFS is an elegant, efficient and powerful ego state treatment modality that, when used with EMDR, can increase its range of effectiveness…” (p. 296). Many EMDR therapists become trained in IFS and vice-versa. IFS can be the initial approach with intermittent use of EMDR, or the therapist can begin with EMDR, using IFS when needed during the phases. Expressive art therapists (Davis et al, 2023; Kolodny & Mazero; 2023; Davis, 2021; Gomez & Krause, 2013; Wood, 2015; Tripp, 2007) have recognized how IFS and/or EMDR have overlapped with creative approaches. Compatible concepts include somatic awareness via body scans; internal use of metaphor to foster distress tolerance; creative safe space imagery and containers; and attachment repair narratives and visualizations (Brown, & Elliot, 2016).
Both presenters are licensed art therapists trained in advanced IFS and EMDR. Learning methods include theoretical underpinnings through PowerPoint lecture, case examples, and multiple art experientials followed by group discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in several art directives specific to the phases of EMDR and IFS as we move through the tri-phase trauma model. Emphasis will be on establishing safety, somatic awareness, regulation, grounding, containment, and attachment resourcing. Art-making enhances this process by bridging the internal world with the external world. This externalization is a healing benefit of creative therapies, offering distance and perspective by increasing awareness and understanding of our internal images, emotions and somatic experiences (Skov, 2015), promoting communication between the internal parts/unconscious and allows for metaphoric, symbolic, somatic, affective, and literal expression (Cappachione, 2000; McNiff, 1992). As art therapist pioneer Elinor Ulman stated, “Art is the meeting ground of the world inside and the world outside”, (Art Therapy Theory and Practice, 1975, p. 21)
Prior knowledge of EMDR, IFS and/or expressive arts are not required to benefit from this workshop as learned creative skills can be integrated into diverse clinical practices. For participants trained in EMDR and/or IFS, this workshop will increase clinical proficiency.
Objectives: At the end of this course, participants will be able to…
1. Define 3 or more basic principles of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of treatment that can be applied to clinicians’ current therapeutic approaches.
2. Identify the 8 phases of EMDR
3. Give three examples of how art therapy principles overlap with IFS and EMDR
4. Describe 4 developmentally sensitive ways of integrating the creative arts into the phase model of EMDR to improve efficacy of treatment
5. Clarify 3 or more ways that IFS, EMDR, and art therapy theory overlap and complement each other to promote transformation for clients in both individual and group settings.
6. Identify the tri-phase model of trauma treatment proposed by ISSTD for the treatment of complex trauma
Course Schedule:
9:00- 9:15 Introduction
9:15 -10:00 EMDR- basic introduction with case examples
10:00- 10:20 Bilateral art-making
10:20- 11:00 IFS overview with case examples
11:00- 11:15 Body scan art experiential
11:15-12:00 Complex Trauma overview
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Phase one of the tri-phase trauma model integrated with EMDR, IFS and art therapy (experientials: History-taking, Sanctuary Place)
2:00-3:30 Phase two of the tri-phase trauma model integrated with EMDR, IFS and art therapy (experientials: Dual Awareness, Containers)
3:30 -3:45 Break
3:45 - 4:30 Phase three of the tri-phase trauma model integrated with EMDR, IFS and art therapy (experientials: Resources)
4:30-5:00 Discussion and questions
Prerequisites:
Participants do not need prior training in IFS, EMDR, and/or Art Therapy. Principles from these approaches will be taught in a way participants can immediately use ethically and appropriately to inform their work, however this workshop does not count towards EMDR/IFS training credits or certification. We hope to motivate participants to continue pursuing formal training. Participants who have already trained in Art Therapy EMDR and/or IFS will find value in this training in enhancing their clinical work.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Written cancellation must be received via email by April 23 for the full refund of the workshop fee. Please send an email to Colleen Weldgen (cweldge7@naz.edu) if you need to cancel. Programs may be canceled by the Nazareth University Creative Arts Therapy Department based on low attendance. Full refunds will be issued.
Statements of Relationship:
Nazareth University is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0482.
Nazareth University is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Art Therapists #CAT-0036.
Nazareth University is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0222.
Elizabeth Davis, MFA, MS, ATR-BC, LCAT
