Externalization of Graphic Imagery
Do your clients suffer from nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive thoughts?
Do you know how to capture your clients’ traumatic experiences and transform them into a visual language?
Do you understand how symbolic and metaphorical expression can be used as an intervention?
This workshop will examine the effective use of art in the treatment of trauma and explore how symbolic and metaphorical expression can be a creative, right-brain intervention, giving voice to the most unspeakable experiences.
Externalization of Graphic Imagery
Nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts are three of the most common symptoms reported by children, youth and adults who have experienced trauma. These effects are often the result of graphic imagery that is stored in limbic memory, inaccessible through cognitive methods alone.
Externalization of graphic imagery through the creation of two and three-dimensional art has the ability to lessen the cathartic communication of raw emotions and avoid the repetition of troubling memories. Capturing traumatic experiences and transforming them into a visual language leads to emotional reparation and recovery.
This workshop will examine the effective use of art in the treatment of trauma and explore how symbolic and metaphorical expression can be a creative, right-brain intervention, giving voice to the most unspeakable experiences.
Presenters will use specific case-related examples to demonstrate the method. The workshop is relevant to all professionals working with persistent nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive thoughts.
While most treatment providers are not trained as Art Therapists, all trauma treatment providers will need to use Expressive Arts in a helpful way.
Presenters will demonstrate a 5-step protocol for the Externalization of Graphic Imagery. Participants will have the opportunity to practice the protocol.
Date & Time
Date: November 30
Time: 9am – 3:30pm EST
Cost: $149 plus H.S.T.
Groups of 10+ receive a 15% discount. (Choose “group” ticket in Eventbrite.)
****Session recording will be available to participants until Feb 28, 2024.****
Email institutetraining@georgehull.on.ca with any questions.
Instructor
Geraldine Crisci, M.S.W. is a mental health professional with 40 years experience in the field of trauma. She is a private practitioner who provides assessment and treatment to children, youth and their families. She is also a professional trainer providing educational programs to mental health, protective services, law enforcement, medical and other helping professions. Geraldine developed and teaches the 6 day Trauma Assessment and Treatment Program for Safeguards which has reached 3,500 professionals in the past 20 years.
Geraldine has developed protocols for the assessment and treatment of trauma, sexualized behaviour problems and sibling sexual abuse. Geraldine also developed reunification protocol for families separated for protection reasons, including sibling sexual abuse. She has provided support to agencies and families towards successful adoption of children from the protection system. She has worked extensively with live-in treatment programs for children and youth for the past 20 years. She specializes in addressing the impact of trauma on the behaviour of children and youth. To this end she develops clinical programs to provide children, youth and their families with corrective and effective therapeutic intervention.
Geraldine is a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC); ATSA; CPRO. She co-authored Paper Dolls and Paper Airplanes: Therapeutic Exercises for Sexually Traumatized Children, which is currently in its 10th year of printing.