CIRCUS ARTS TRAININGS
CIRCUS ARTS THERAPY® TRAINING

This training is designed for professionals and para-professionals interested in incorporating circus arts into their work as a tool to help children, teens, adults, families and groups. This training can also assist those working in the Social Circus realm and is designed to help anyone leading groups, both therapy groups and typical-population classes. This course is also for program directors of studios that have Adaptive groups/classes in a recreational setting. (See our Adaptive Trainings for non-director teachers)
​UPCOMING TRAINING DATES
Summer 2020
Participants will learn how to:
  1. Conduct both individual and group Circus Arts Therapy® sessions, and classes using ground and aerial equipment.
  2. Identify and facilitate different Learning Modalities, and design personalized in-session and take-home programs for students and clients with challenging yet attainable goals utilizing sample skill progressions and Circus Arts Therapy® methodology.
  3. Help students and clients improve their mental and emotional with self-esteem building exercises and empowerment tools such as Safety Circles.
  4. Help students and clients improve their physical health with tools such as Brain Balancing exercises to improve bilateral coordination, as well as body-balancing, core-strengthening using ground and aerial skill progressions.
  5. Help students and clients improve their social health with tools such as Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, Appreciation Circles, and other effective communication tools.
  6. Incorporate crucial life skills such as trust, communication, leadership, problem solving, empathy, self-expression, and teamwork into sessions and classes.

3 training levels

Level
Graduates Can:
Curriculum
Prerequisites
Hours
Level 1
Integrate Circus Arts Therapy® (CAT) skills learned in beginner level ground and aerial equipment
CPR Certification / First Aid ​
  • 25 hrs CAT® Training
  • ​25 hrs Adaptive Aerial Training *
Level 2
 Integrate Intermediate Circus Arts Therapy® skills into your work with students and clients (both individual and group)
  • In-depth clinical details about how to apply CAT® techniques in clinical settings with the special needs community (details)​
  • Learn to teach all Beginner and some Intermediate-level tricks from the A.C.T. manual
  • Learn most Intermediate-level tricks from the A.C.T. manual
CPR Certification / First Aid
+
​CAT® Level 1
  • 15 hrs CAT® Training 
  • 25 hrs Adaptive Aerial Training *​
Level 3
Circus Artist (for the non-therapist)
Co-lead an Adaptive/Special Needs Circus Arts program with a Therapy professional​
  • Intensive preparation on how to contribute to a comprehensive Circus Arts Therapy® program with the special needs community (details)
  • Optional Aerial Training ​
 CPR Certification / First Aid
+
CAT® Level 1
+
CAT® Level 2
150+ hrs CAT® experiential  
(designed to fit your needs by Carrie) 
Level 3 Circus Arts Therapist
Advertise and run Circus Arts Therapy® individual and group sessions 
  • Intensive preparation on how to run to a comprehensive Circus Arts Therapy® program with the special needs community (details)
  • Optional Aerial Training
CPR Certification / First Aid
+
CAT® Level 1
+
CAT® Level 2 ​
+
Masters Degree in a Health field
250+ hrs CAT® experiential 
(designed to fit your needs by Carrie)  
* The 25 classroom hours of aerial training are counted towards requirements for Teacher Certification. 
 In-class training only (does not include co-teaching, teaching, and supervision hours.) See Teacher Training Courses.

CEU Credits

​Often, an optional continuing education component is available as well.
  • 2018's Circus Arts Therapy® Training Level 1 received approval by the National Association of Social Workers for 25 Continuing Education Contact hours. (Approval # 886573665-1941 for Social Work) * 
  • 2018's Circus Arts Therapy® Training Level 2 received approval by the National Association of Social Workers for 10 Continuing Education Contact hours. (Approval # 886573665-2970 for Social Work) * 
* Students must complete an online post-program evaluation in order to receive a CEU certificate.

Please contact Carrie Heller for more information on obtaining CEU hours for upcoming training.
You may also be interested another training at the Circus Arts Institute:
  • If you have a program and are interested in offering recreational classes to special needs persons, you may be interested sending your staff to our Adaptive Aerial Teacher Training

Come Train with Us!