Many people write to ask me about the REACE designation with the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, so I have created this resource page. Although I hold my REACE designation, I currently do not offer any coursework that contributes to this accreditation.

You can take my expressive arts courses for personal and professional development HERE.

I have compiled a list of alternative Expressive Arts trainings here. Email IEATA at reace@ieata.org to inquire about additional training that I may have missed.

The REACE designation, offered by the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, provides a professionally accredited designation for expressive arts consultants and educators who utilize the expressive arts in a wide range of educational, organizational development, and healthcare settings.

The REACE® candidate may have formal training or acquired experience by applying their skills in work situations. The applicant will choose one of two application tracks that best fits his or her education and experience. REACE applicants must thoroughly document education, work experience, expressive arts training, and personal and professional competency as an expressive arts consultant/educator.  ~ IEATA

Benefits of the REACE Designation 

The REACE designation offers the possibility of accreditation if your work and educational training do not fit the specific requirements for an expressive art therapy designation. Having worked as an artist in healthcare in a therapeutic government program in Canada for almost ten years, I chose the REACE route. 

Based on my personal experience, I have written an article to explain the differences between Arts Facilitation and Art Therapy: "What is Expressive Arts Facilitation HERE.

Both the formal and non-formal pathways of the REACE application take your real-life facilitation experiences into account, so be sure to document all of your work. If you have been active in the field of the expressive arts and are tracking and verifying your hours, more information about REACE credentials can be found HERE. 

Expressive Arts Education 

"The applicant must show proof of 200 hours of training in multimodal or intermodal expressive arts. This may be through a training/educational program or a collection of relevant training taught by a REACE or someone with equivalent experience and qualifications."  - IEATA.

Work Experience: To obtain your REACE designation without a master's degree in the Expressive Arts, Psychology, Education, Educational Psychology, Counselling, Spiritual Development or Pastoral Field, Social Work, Business Management, Organizational Development in any of the Creative Arts, you will need a combination of documented facilitation hours and verified work experience. 

"Where no Master’s degree exists, facilitation hours of expressive arts consulting and education work experience are required. This experience may involve facilitating individuals or groups, and/or collaborating with organizations. You must describe how your work experience demonstrates multi-modal expressive arts consulting/education and fulfills the competency requirements.

"Expressive Arts Training may include coursework in art, dance/movement, drama, music, poetry, psychodrama, and courses in expressive arts education and consultation. It is very important that education and training have prepared an applicant to fulfill the competencies required to work in an integrated multi-modal arts process."  

I have written an article about my experience with multimodal expressive arts practices, which can be found here.

Free Peer-Led Support Group for Expressive Arts Facilitators

I have created a support group for arts facilitators of all types and backgrounds. This support group is for both art facilitators interested in the REACE designation and those who are not. You can read the group's guidelines for my "cross-pollination" support group HERE.

I specialize in supporting individuals new to the expressive arts, and I love celebrating the diversity of approaches in the arts and healing. I am also a strong advocate for personal experiential practice in the expressive arts before considering facilitating it for others. 

You can join the support group HERE.