Art for Cancer Wellness: Arts-Based Journaling Workshop for Patients, Summer 2024
Workshop Title: Arts-Based Journaling for Patients
Facilitator: Em Jones, MA, LGPAT, ATR-P, BFA
Schedule: Fridays, 7 PM to 8:30 PM ET/6 PM to 7:30 PM CT
- June 7
- June 14
- June 21
- June 28
Workshop Description: In this weekly four-session workshop series facilitated by art therapist Em Jones, participants will be invited to creatively explore their thoughts, feelings, and current experiences through the practice of arts-based journaling.
Through writing and visual art-making, group members will be guided through a process of accessing emotions, expressing them visually, and releasing this energy from being carried internally. This art therapy group is designed to help give form to one’s inner experience to facilitate self-expression, improve emotional awareness, and reduce stress through creative action.
No prior art experience is required for this group—participants are encouraged to work within their own comfort and skill level. Please be mindful that this is an art therapy group, not an art class, and is designed as a supportive group with creative therapeutic processing.
Workshop Materials: Sketchbook, assorted art materials (chalk or oil pastels, crayons, markers, colored pencils, watercolor, tempera paint sticks, etc), lined journal for writing.
Week-by-Week Overview: Each workshop will be structured as follows:
- Group feeling check-in;
- Brief body-centered awareness exercise;
- Art making;
- Reflective writing;
- Make a change/Reimagine the image;
- Group discussion;
- Breath work and closing.
Week 1 — June 7: Stress
The focus this week is to explore feelings related to stress. Participants will be guided to process those feelings, explore alternatives/identify needs, and come to new insights through the process of arts-based journaling.
Week 2 — June 14: Hurt
The focus this week is to explore feelings related to being hurt. Participants will be guided to process those feelings, explore alternatives/identify personal needs, and come to new insights through the process of arts-based journaling.
Week 3 — June 21: Anger/Frustration
The focus this week is to explore feelings of anger or frustration. Participants will be guided to process those feelings, explore alternatives/identify needs, and come to new insights through the process of arts-based journaling.
Week 4 — June 28: Fear
The focus this week is to explore feelings related to fear. Participants will be guided to process those feelings, explore alternatives and identify needs/strengths, and come to new insights through the process of arts-based journaling.