Practicum and Supervision Experiences

I am currently writing up my first case presentation for my supervision class. I wonder if I will ever get used to hearing and reading about the terrible experiences and abuse that my clients have sustained. This is the first time I am reading the actual case of someone I am working with and it breaks my heart. I wonder if anyone else in my cohort has had a similar experience. I can only hope that I'll be able to be an asset at my practicum placement. I want to do my very best for all the participants I come in contact with in my groups. There is so much pain in the world, so much suffering, but I stay hopeful because there is so much beauty in the art therapy groups that I have witnessed. I want to continue to be a part of this field for the rest of my life. I'm so happy that I found art therapy. Art has the power to help so many people. It saves my life everyday.

image source: http://www.ourbigearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Bumps0508101.png

New Cards :)

LPC in Pennsylvania

I am interested in becoming a licensed professional counselor after I graduate with my degree in art therapy. I wasn't sure how to go about getting my LPC so I did a little research this morning and found a site with some guidelines for attaining an LPC in Pennsylvania. I posted this information below for my fellow art therapy graduate students, as well as art therapists already in the field in PA who are interested in becoming Licensed Professional Counselors.

The following information is from http://www.counselor-exam-prep.com

The State of Pennsylvania passed its counselor licensure law in 1998 and individuals are called Licensed Professional Counselors. The law protects the title of licensed professional counselors but not the practice of counseling. A graduate degree in counseling or closely related field which included a minimum of 60 semester credit hours is required. For more information, visit: www.dos.state.pa.us/social.
The State of Pennsylvania allows individuals to become licensed professional counselors who have studied rehabilitation, music therapy, art therapy, as well as abuse and addictions. Academic requirements includes a graduate program of 60 credit hours with a minimum of 48 credits in a counseling or closely related curriculum. The post-degree clinical work experience requirement is 3600 hours at least half of which had to be supervised by someone acceptable to the state board. Because a variety of specialty trained individuals can become licensed professional counselors, a number of different national exams are used for licensure. These include the National Counselor Examination, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination, The Art Therapy Credentials Board Certification Examination, and the Board Certification Examination for Music Therapists.
A number of universities in Pennsylvania allow for the completion of the NCE by graduate students. Successful completion of the exam makes the student eligible for the National Certified Counselor credential upon graduation if the academic program is nationally accredited by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Such graduates can use their NCE results later for state licensure. Some universities also use the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) as an exit requirement. Those universities that have arranged with NBCC to allow their graduate students to take the NCE include:
Alvernia College
Arcadia University
California University of Pennsylvania
Carlow University
Chatham College
Duquesne University
Eastern University
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Gannon University
Geneva College
Holy Family University Newton
Immaculata University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Lancaster Bible College
LaSalle University
Marywood University
Messiah College
Penn State University
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Shippensburg University
Slippery Rock University
University of Scranton
Villanova University
Waynesburg College
West Chester University

Eating Disorders Awareness Week

I've been reading about art therapy in the treatment of eating disorders all weekend and just realized that this week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

"In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.(Crowther et al., 1992; Fairburn et al., 1993; Gordon, 1990; Hoek, 1995; Shisslak et al., 1995)."

This year's theme is "Everybody knows Somebody". If you do know someone, be supportive. If you are someone struggling with an eating disorder, there is help out there for you- you are not alone.

Postcards from Post Secret (http://www.postsecret.com/):

How to get published

How to get Published from Taylor & Francis on Vimeo.




Great video with lots of advice on how to approach journals and get your research published! :)

Art Therapy Techniques for Children Diagnosed with ADHD

Art Therapy Techniques for Children -- powered by ehow

Zentangle

A friend of mine showed me the Zentangle about a year ago. I came across it again today online, and its really interesting. I made a couple of them in my journal, and it really is relaxing. It took my mind off the stress of graduate school for a little while. It reminds me of a less contained mandala drawing. In fact, I think I like this method more than the mandala because I get to make my own borders to the drawing instead of being confined in the circle form. Not that I'm saying a zentangle is better than a mandala. They both have good uses, and are appealing in different situations with different populations.



Try making your zentangle, especially if you're stressed right now. You'll love it :)