The Creative Wellness Program.
An online, arts-based workshop series promoting creativity as a part of self, connection, advocacy and compassion.
Through creative exercise and discourse, learn to mindfully connect over shared challenges and strengths
(normalizing and externalizing experiences) and build on individual and group resiliency.
We are in a moment of global suffering related to the change and uncertainty that the pandemic has brought. We experience and feel this suffering alongside our individual strengths and challenges. Now more than ever it is important for individuals to have the opportunity to safely (virtually) come together to express, process and accept the challenges we face and work towards values-aligned goals and advocacy to lead more rich and meaningful lives.
“This is a moment of suffering. Suffering is part of life. May I be kind to myself in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need.” ― Kristin Neff
What Will I Learn?
CONNECT OVER CHALLENGES + STRENGTHS. LEARN SELF-REGULATION STRATEGIES. ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. IMPROVE SELF-CARE + SELF-COMPASSION.
Co-Facilitated + Co-Created
Michelle Dyer and Paula Timm are an art therapist and artist team that offer the Creative Wellness Program and roster of workshops to a variety of populations, individuals and organizations. Read More
The Creative Wellness Program provides arts-based sessions within the Four Tenets:
Self. As initial focus being witnessed and supported in acknowledging, processing and expressing identity factors
Connection - Alongside Self. Deepen connection with group, identify individual supports and communities to build greater capacity for compassion
Advocacy - Alongside Connection. From an anti-oppressive stance, discuss and participate in advocacy and social change
Compassion - Alongside Advocacy. Come back to self + group compassion to mindfully connect, collaborate and advocate for positive change
Participants are invited to deepen their connection to self:
Connect to self through acknowledging, processing and expressing challenges and strength-based identity factors
Connect with group participants to build and identify community,
Collectively engage in individual/group pertinent anti-oppressive advocacy promoting social change,
Come back to self to honour and express personal diversity, culture and intersectionality;
all practiced and demonstrated through self and group compassion.
Arts-based Processes Support Participants Toward:
Self-Regulation
Acknowledging, processing and expressing emotions
Improving executive function and developing transferable skills
Acknowledging challenges with the potential to rewire neural pathways
(anchoring in strengths and building resiliency)Dismantling oppressive rhetoric and expressing/advocating for anti-oppressive pursuits
Mindfully connecting to the present, the body, and the sensory system
Improving self-care and self + group compassion practices
Connecting to self, group, and community supporting in advocacy and social change
Participants Will Have The Opportunity To:
Gather online weekly (8 week sessions)
Access a digital (printable) workbook as a resource to use alongside weekly sessions
Have two Creative Facilitators to support program material and surrounding discourse
Discuss and create within program structure and relevant themes
Experientially engage with art supplies and learn multiple creative techniques and processes
Deepen program material outside of session through weekly home-play invitations
Share home-play reflections at the beginning of subsequent sessions
