This program was created by Edith C. McLoud Armstrong.
© 2025 Edith C. McLoud Armstrong / aka Mama Edie

Thank you for your interest in one of these two virtual learning experiences designed for Creative Artists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Aural Rehab Clinicians, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Nutritionists, and Mental Health Specialists.

Two options are available:

• Plan A: 8-Week Intensive - Saturday's, February 14th - April 4th  4:00 - 5:30 pm CT

• Plan B: 3-Hour Intensive Workshop - Saturday, March 7th 10:00 - 1:00 pm CT

Details for each are outlined below.

Through this weekly intensive, participants will:

• Explore the responsibilities, challenges, triumphs and joys of artists and clinicians gathered.

• Discuss relationships between the arts, identity, personal empowerment, cultural connections, belonging, social justice and one's fulfillment or "success" in life.

• Share ideas on what collaborations between various artists and clinical therapists could look like in different work settings.

• Experiment with various dynamics and techniques of visual and performing arts that may be engaging within different therapeutic disciplines.

• Explore, create and practice integrating arts-based activities with appropriately descriptive language into IEPs or other individualized treatment plans.

• Affirm that professional artistic training is not required to meaningfully incorporate the arts in therapy.

• Practice selecting Common Core Educational Standards that align with arts-integrated treatment objectives.

• Benefit from occasional live (virtual and/or on-site) guest artist lecture-performances.

• View and discuss selected videos of storytellers and other artists, focusing on therapeutic application for overall well-being.

• Participate in at least one live “field trip” performance for later review and professional application.

• Receive a continually developing resource list for ongoing study

• Collaborate in the creation and presentation or performance of a culminating therapeutic activity using multidisciplinary art forms

• Receive continued mentoring throughout the remainder of 2026 (See below for details)

By the end of the intensive, participants will be able to:

• Provide a general description of the responsibilities of various rehabilitative clinicians.

• Share an understanding of goals expressed by one of the artists and how their methods or techniques might be used in one's own therapeutic goals and activities. 

• Explain three primary distinctions between oral storytelling traditions and traditional theater

• Identify five core components of an engaging story.

• Explain and demonstrate at least three culturally specific nuances of African/African American oral storytelling traditions.

• Demonstrate non-verbal storytelling through a brief one-minute performance using facial and bodily expression.

• Explain how storytelling lies at the root of all art forms.

• Name artists whose work has contributed to empowerment, community, and cultural pride.

• Develop two consecutive lesson or treatment plans integrating storytelling and another art form into an IEP or treatment format, including clinical rationale.

• Develop one lesson plan for each artistic area of music, movement/dance, visual or textile art and storytelling.

• Select Common Core Educational Standards aligned with treatment goals and objectives.

• Contribute creative content to a culminating group presentation as connected to a selected therapeutic goal.

• Articulate one follow-up goal involving collaboration with educators, families, and/or clinicians.

Saturdays, February 14 – April 4, 2026
4:00 – 5:30 PM CT

Final Class & Group Performance: April 4, 2026
(Free viewing link provided for family, colleagues, and friends)

Class size limited to 10 participants.

Valued at $2,000, this first-time (“Maiden Voyage”) offering is available at an introductory rate of $1,000.

Although the course will start on Feb 14th, only a $300 deposit will be due by February 21st to accommodate recent interest. LIMITED PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. (Please scroll below.)

Early Registration Incentives

• Full Payment Discount:
  Full payment received by Thursday, February 28, 2026
  $800 total tuition

• Deposit Option:
  $300 non-refundable deposit received by February 21, 2026
  Total tuition: $900
  Remaining payments:
  $350 due March 7, 2026
  $250 due March 21, 2026

• Two-Payment Installment Option:
  $500 due February 21, 2026
  $500 due March 7, 2026

• PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY - AVAILABLE FOR PLAN A REGISTRANTS ONLY 

Participants who attend at least 7 of the 8 sessions for a minimum of one full hour per session will be eligible to participate in the culminating virtual performance.

The recording is intended for educational, demonstration, and promotional purposes only and may not be sold without written agreement from all participants. The recording will remain the intellectual property of Mama Edie (Edith C. McLoud Armstrong).

Participants completing Plan A will be eligible for continued mentoring beyond the final session date.

Mama Edie will be available for scheduled mentoring sessions of up to one hour per month at no additional cost, supporting reflection, integration, and application of course concepts.

Additional individual coaching (up to four hours per month) may be arranged for an additional fee, by mutual agreement.

Registration confirms understanding and agreement with the participation and payment terms outlined above.

Saturday, March 7, 2026
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CT

Class size limited to 15 participants.

Participants will:

• Discuss the roles and responsibilities of therapeutic clinicians

• Explore how storytelling and the arts support development across areas of disability

• Compare distinctions and similarities between oral storytelling traditions and traditional theater

• Discuss core elements of engaging story creation

• Practice facial, vocal, and bodily expression for effective storytelling

• Examine how storytelling, music, and other arts support social norms and can influence the quality of life

• Explore goal-related therapy activity ideas incorporating storytelling, poetry, and music

• Practice integrating arts-based objectives into IEPs or prescriptive therapy plans

• Collaborate in cross-disciplinary breakout groups to create and share a lesson or treatment plan

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Explain key responsibilities of rehabilitative clinicians

• Describe what a collaboration between therapists and artists can look like

• Explain similarities and differences between traditional storytelling and traditional theater

• Identify five elements of engaging story creation

• Demonstrate expressive facial and vocal storytelling techniques

• Describe how the arts support development and well-being

• Integrate at least one art form into a therapeutic goal-aligned lesson or treatment plan

• Identify a follow-up goal involving collaboration with educators, families, or clinicians

Valued at $500, this one-time workshop is offered at an introductory rate of $350.

• First five registrants receive a $50 reduction
  ($300 total)

• Full payment due by Saturday, February 28, 2026, or until capacity is reached