Sep24
An Online Overview with Jennifer Gruczelak
Expressive Arts Therapy
Embracing the power of the arts for healing, growth, and social change.
The Expressive Arts Therapy program uses an innovative Scholar-Artist-Practitioner model that unites academic knowledge, clinical practice, and community engagement with the arts as the central focus. We embrace all artistic disciplines as means of positive transformation.
In Their Own Words
Hear what our faculty and students have to say
Our program emphasizes hands-on learning through experiential and collaborative coursework. We place a premium on co-learning between students and faculty by creating opportunities for rich, playful, and diverse conversations and experiences.
Expressive Arts Therapy is one of five master’s programs offered through CIIS’ Counseling Psychology department. The pedagogy provides an engaging online, hybrid curriculum that weaves multimodal expressive arts, such as visual and digital arts, music, dance and movement, poetry, spoken word, and drama into all courses.
The program works on the innovative Scholar-Artist-Practitioner model that focuses on uniting academic knowledge, clinical practice, and community engagement. Throughout the program students engage with peers and faculty in a collaborative, liberatory-focused, arts-based environment. We place a premium on co-learning between students and faculty by creating opportunities for rich, playful, and diverse conversations and experiences.
Deep Dive into Expressive Arts Therapy
Transform lives through the power of creativity. CIIS' low-residency specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy weaves visual art, music, movement, poetry, and theater into rigorous clinical training — preparing you to bring healing to the communities that need it most.
Faculty in Conversation
Our faculty research a wide variety of subjects, including multicultural and social justice counseling, neuro-diverse populations, and the integration of the arts into spiritual practice.
Exploring Rumi to Make Sense of Ourselves
In this episode of the Public Programs Podcast, Expressive Arts Therapy Professor Shoshana Simons, talks with author Melody Mozeei about her life, her recent book The Rumi Prescription, and how the wisdom she found exploring Rumi can help us make sense of our modern lives.
On Family Constellations Therapy
Family Constellations begins with this premise—it did not start with me. Many of us become entangled with the unhappiness of those who came before us, unconsciously adopting destructive familial patterns of anxiety, depression, failure, and even illness and addiction.
CIIS faculty in Expressive Arts Therapy Mimi Savage joins Marine Sélénée for a conversational introduction to Family Constellations and how we can all harness this philosophy to take ownership of our lives.
The Science of Friendship
In this talk faculty Christine Brooks explores issues with friendship research, the phenomenon of loneliness, and making friends as adults. While the presentation might be from 2017, understanding the various ways nurturing our social networks increases our health and wellbeing is just as important and relevant today.
Our Upcoming Events
Sep30
A Conversation with Jenna Robinson and Danielle Drake
Oct03
Attend the Fall Open House on October 3 or October 17 to get to know your admissions counselors and learn more about CIIS' bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs.
Our Program in Action
Campus News
Understand the key differences between MFT and LPCC licenses to choose the right clinical path for your career.
CIIS In the News
What happens when art, therapy, and justice meet in one program? Explore how CIIS is shaping the next generation of expressive arts therapists.
Campus News
At the 2026 Scholarship Dinner, CIIS students and donors gathered to celebrate the journeys that generous giving makes possible.
Find Your Path in Counseling Psychology
Our M.A. also offers specializations in community mental health, drama therapy, integral counseling psychology, and somatic psychology. Explore each one to find the fit that's right for you.