Expressive Arts and Positive Psychology in Life Coaching

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Expressive Arts and Positive Psychology in Life Coaching (PLC507)

Synopsis

PLC507 Expressive Arts and Positive Psychology in Life Coaching will introduce students to understanding and using the expressive arts in life coaching, and positive psychology. Looking through the lens of expressive arts therapy and the neuroscience of creativity it will highlight how pre-verbal exploration and understanding can inform life coaching practice and support people to understand themselves better, empowering them in their professional and personal lives. Students will be introduced to different expressive arts modalities and encouraged to explore the theory and practice of these modalities including art making, body work and movement, singing, drama and role play and the use of rhythm and story. They will explore how to work pre-verbally in a variety of different contexts and learn how to use and evaluate the creative process to facilitate deeper conversations and empower performance in their clients.

Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JAN
E-Learning: BLENDED - Learning is done MAINLY online using interactive study materials in Canvas. Students receive guidance and support from online instructors via discussion forums and emails. This is supplemented with SOME face-to-face sessions. If the course has an exam component, this will be administered on-campus.

Topics

Background to the use of the expressive arts in human development – theory and context with a focus on positive psychology
Creativity and flow in life coaching – the foundation of connecting with self, the world and others
Understanding embodied human intelligence-body work, movement and sensory integration and its impact on happiness and psychological wellbeing
A picture speaks a thousand words – art making and symbolic communication for meaning making and wellbeing
Pattern and organisation – the use of rhythm and music
Music of the soul - the power of breath – vagal tone and singing for creating hope and gratitude
Attunement and mirroring – the dance of empathy and fostering optimism
Drama, role and the social self to develop positive relationships
Storytelling and story making as a way to recreate narratives
Understanding the creative process – positive experiential activities and processes in life coaching
Group processes, rituals, and circle work
The heroes journey – a strength based approach in life coaching

Learning Outcome

Appraise the role of the expressive arts in pre-verbal communication, human development and positive psychology.
Compare and contrast the use of different expressive arts modalities in their practice.
Evaluate own creative process in relation to coaching and training.
Formulate and defend the use of expressive arts in own coaching practice.
Propose some creative skills to facilitate conversations using positive psychology approaches.
Critique an expressive arts approach for a work context.