CREATIVE WORKSHOPS

 

Life as a Jedi: Living by the Philosophy of Star Wars

 

Star Wars taught us that we all have both a light side and a dark side, and that the balance between the two not only defines us, but is always changing. Existential therapy suggests that we check in with ourselves as often as we can. We need to examine our core beliefs and ask ourselves, “have the choices I have made put me on one side or the other?” Only by cultivating a positive relationship with our inner critic can we move forward without regret.

 

 

 

The Art of Procrastination and Doing it Well

 

Procrastination has always been a dirty word. We learn never to put off what we can do today. But what if you simply cannot do it today, because you’re in pain or something is standing in your way? In those times, it is what you do while you are procrastinating that is important. 

 

You learn what to do with your downtime and how to schedule it so that your brain has the time and environment to work on your task while you decompress. You will return to it with new energy and some insights you never thought you would have.

 

 

 

Hostage Crisis: Being Held Back by Imposter Syndrome

 

Even the most successful among us often don’t believe they deserve what they have achieved. We must have fooled everyone, despite our obvious incompetence.  I use art therapy to help you first identify that crippling voice, then give you the tools to repair the damage. 

 

 

Slay the Dragon: Inner Critic Work

 

One of the most fearsome knights used to slay that awful evil voice inside your head, your inner critic, is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The standard approach is to list these thoughts gnawing away at your self-esteem. We bring clay art to CBT to battle the monster, which for many is even better at externalizing that dragon, replacing it with affirmations and finally healing. 

 

 

 

Becoming The Narrator of Your Own Story

 

Throughout your life, your personal experiences have become your personal stories. You have given these stories meaning, and these stories have helped shape your identity. We will use Photovoice to give you the chance to reflect on these stories and the power that they contain. Then you will assume the role as the narrator of your own stories, using this power to discover your life’s purpose. 

 

 

 

Therapeutic Art Journaling (Six Sessions)

 

Art journaling is pretty much what the name suggests: a journal made up of your own art. It can include words, either a few words or full pages of written thoughts, alongside visual art. It allows you to be creative and expressive, by combining traditional lines of text with pictures and designs of your own making which allows you to express yourself.

 

Therapeutic art journaling can be done by keeping a regular visual journal to write, sketch, or paint about events that bring up anger, grief, anxiety, or joy that occur in daily life. It can be used more therapeutically to deal with specific upsetting, stressful, or traumatic life events.

 

You will learn how to incorporate art and art journaling practices as a tool for creativity, healing, and processing events in your life through expressive art exercises and discussion. You will learn the importance of resiliency, boundaries, positive and negative self-talk, self-care and self-compassion and strategy development. Then, through art directives, you will express your own story and produce beautiful art journals. You will  learn a diverse array of art techniques throughout the workshops to add richness, depth, and variety to your creation. You will emerge with increased creativity, problem-solving and reflective skills.

 

 

 

Working Collaboratively with Teams: Communicating Creatively

 

The key to being an effective communicator when working as a team member is to understand that not everyone listens the same way. You will learn these different listening styles, and how to accommodate them, as your team strives to solve a low-stakes building problem using Lego. The result: an increase in group understanding and cohesion. 

 

 

Leaning into Joy

 

Brain science tells us that we naturally attach meaning to and remember negative experiences. But what if we could teach our brains to neurotag and remember positive experiences with the same power? What if we could teach our adaptable brain to focus and recall joyous experiences?  I call this leaning into joy.