TITLE: “THE NURSE AS AN EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY FACILITATOR”

Expressive arts therapy is the use of the creative modalities such as visual, drama, music,
poetry, dance and movement in therapy. In this mode of therapy, the nurse can facilitate
expression and processing of issues through creative media, augmenting conventional talk
therapy. In this presentation, pre requisites for the nurse will be discussed for him/her to be able
to facilitate expressive arts therapy sessions effectively. Also, experiences in doing expressive
arts therapy leading to a contextualized practice of Expressive Arts Therapy in the Philippines
will be tackled.

Introduction

Professor Dominic Paguio finished his BS Nursing from the University of the Philippines Manila
College of Nursing in 1998. After which he worked as a staff nurse in the Psychiatry Wards of
Makati Medical Center and Philippine General Hospital before teaching in the University of the
Philippines College of Nursing as a faculty member from 2003-2010. He has a Master of Arts in
Education degree with a specialization in Special Education from the University of the
Philippines Diliman College of Education in 2005 and currently finishing his Doctor of
Philosophy in Education degree majoring in Educational Psychology from the same institution.
He is also Level 2 Certified in Focusing Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy from the Focusing
and Expressive Art Therapy Institute in Santa Rosa, California, USA.

He has presented papers in national and international conferences in Hong Kong, Malaysia and
Korea. He is member of the World Congress of Art Therapy and the Regional Coordinator of the
International Expressive Arts Therapy Association based in San Francisco, California, USA. Mr.
Paguio is the founder of Likhalinga, an art and play therapy center in Quezon City catering to
urban poor children. Also, he is currently a part time faculty member of the Marie Eugenie
School for Innovative Learning, Assumption College, Makati City. He is also the Special
Education Director and Expressive Arts Therapy Facilitator of TW Community Enablers, Inc. in
Paranaque City helping children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral issues
such as depression, bipolar, trauma-related issues, and autism, among others.