MPS Art Therapy presents Yasmine Awais, ATR-BC, LCAT, LPC, ATCS, to interrogate the complexity of language and the power it holds.

Similar to therapy, language is not neutral and holds significant meaning depending on the environment (e.g., geographic location, setting, culture), persons involved in the exchange (e.g., age, gender, race, ability, religion, culture) and other factors. Creative arts therapists utilize both verbal and artistic language in sessions with clients and in supervision. Therapists may mistakenly consider art materials, music, movement and other forms of creative expression as forms of language that are “neutral” or “universal.” Person-first and identity-first verbal language will be described along with artistic forms of expression. Finally, guidelines to promote inclusivity with clients and supervisees will be discussed.

Learning objectives:

Participants will understand multicultural counseling/therapy and supervision approaches.
Participants will differentiate how language impacts both themselves as clinicians and those they work with (e.g., clients, supervisees and/or supervisors).
Participants will evaluate verbal and artistic methods to address prejudice and privilege in sessions.

Yasmine Awais is an associate professor and graduate research coordinator at Notre Dame of Maryland University and is a PhD candidate in social welfare at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. She is licensed as a creative arts therapist (New York) and professional counselor (Pennsylvania) and maintains art therapy credentials of registration, board certification (ATR-BC) and clinical supervision (ATCS). Her research interests center on diversity: the practice of and the people who engage in this project—educators, students and therapists. Awais’s clinical and supervisory experience includes working with and for a wide range of individuals, families and communities. Awais has published in multiple journals and in edited texts. She is also the co-author of Foundations of Art Therapy Supervision: Creating Common Ground for Supervisees and Supervisors.

The MPS Art Therapy Department at the School of Visual Arts 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 arts therapists. #CAT-0054.

1.5 CE hours available for LCATs.

Talk

Community Lecture Series: The Ethics of Language

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