In the demanding field of social work, practitioners often rely heavily on analytical thinking and clinical assessment to navigate complex client dynamics. However, tapping into creative, non-linear processes can unlock deeper clinical insights, prevent burnout, and foster personal resilience.

This experiential continuing education workshop introduces SoulCollage® which provides social workers and mental health clinicians an expressive, visual process that combines image-making, intuitive inquiry, and reflective play. Participants will learn how combining simple materials (images, card stock, glue) with structured self-inquiry can bypass cognitive defenses, illuminate internal resources, and serve as an adaptable tool for both self-care and clinical practice.

Through guided card creation, group sharing, and clinical discussion, attendees will explore how playing with imagery can cultivate heightened intuition and offer fresh perspectives on direct practice challenges.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify at least two ways SoulCollage® and image-based inquiry can be applied as expressive tools to mitigate compassion fatigue and support practitioner self-care.
2. Demonstrate the four-step SoulCollage® card inquiry process (“”I Am One Who…””) to access non-verbal clinical insights during a peer exercise.
3. Describe three ethical considerations for integrating intuitive visual modalities into individual or group social work sessions. Examples of Ethical Considerations for SoulCollage® include:
   • Scope of Practice vs. Art Therapy: SoulCollage® is an expressive self-inquiry tool, not formal Art Therapy.
   • Social workers must clearly define their boundaries, present the modality as an adjunct self-care or reflective tool, and avoid interpreting, diagnosing, or analyzing a participant’s artwork.
   • Managing Unanticipated Emotional Material: Visual and intuitive exercises frequently bypass conscious defenses, which can bring up unexpected trauma, grief, or intense vulnerability.
   • Practitioners must establish a container of psychological safety, offer clear opt-out choices (“”right to pass””), and maintain a protocol for grounding or supporting dysregulated participants.
   • Participant Autonomy & Non-Directive Facilitation: The core rule of SoulCollage® is “”the maker is the sole interpreter of their cards.”” Facilitators must strictly refrain from offering unsolicited interpretations or imposing meaning onto another person’s card, honoring client autonomy and self-determination.
   • Cultural Responsiveness & Image Selection: Imagery is deeply tied to culture, identity, privilege, and representation. Social workers must consider curating diverse magazine/image selection options to prevent tokenism or microaggressions, allowing participants of all backgrounds, racial identities, body types, and abilities to find representative images.

Location: 2424 Burton St SE 202, Grand Rapids, MI 49506