Art for Cancer Wellness: Mindful Meditations Survivors Group with Lacy, Spring 2024
Workshop Title: Mindful Meditations
Facilitator: Lacy Mucklow, MA, ATR-BC, LPAT-S, LCPAT, ATCS, CCTP, CIMHP
Dates: Saturdays, 3 PM to 4:30 PM ET
- February 10, 2024
- February 24, 2024
- March 9, 2024
- March 23, 2024
- April 6, 2024
- April 20, 2024
Workshop Overview: In this biweekly, six-session workshop series, facilitated by art therapist Lacy Mucklow, participants will be invited to take part in an art therapy group for survivors of cancer. Each week, participants will be guided to explore a theme designed to explore feelings, increase self-expression, foster hope and strengths, identify coping skills, and engage in mindfulness and grounding.
Week-by-Week Overview: Each workshop will be structured as follows: check-in, opening meditation, art-making response, and discussion.
Media: Sketchbook, colored/watercolor pencils, oil pastels, other media of choice
Week 1: Beach Meditation
After introductions and KTH overview, open group with a Soothing Beach meditation. Participants then create response artwork to the visualization and write a written reflection about their artwork, process, and/or experience. End group with discussion about mindfulness practices and how they may be helpful for grounding, healing, and reducing stress.
Week 2: Progressive Muscle Relaxation Meditation
Open group with a check-in and begin with a Progressive Muscle Relaxation meditation (this meditation is more interactive, so participants are encouraged to only engage in what feels comfortable for them). Participants then create response artwork to the visualization and write a written reflection about their artwork, process, and/or experience. Discuss how progressive muscle relaxation can help people relax physically from pent-up tension and assist with mood and sleep. End group with discussion about mindfulness practices and how they may be helpful for grounding, healing, and reducing stress.
Week 3: Mandala Meditation
Open group with a check-in and lead into the Mandala meditation. After the meditation, group members create an original mandala with their materials and share about their artwork at the end of the group during discussion. Discuss experiences making their mandala and positive effects creating mandalas can have (as shown in research) to see if they found similar benefits. End group with discussion about mandala journaling as a coping tool.
Week 4: Inner Sanctuary Meditation
Open group with a check-in and begin with an Inner Sanctuary meditation. Participants then create response artwork to the visualization and write a written reflection about their artwork, process, and/or experience. Discuss how the sanctuary concept can provide an imaginative, safe space for grounding and recentering. End group with discussion about mindfulness practices and how they may be helpful for grounding, healing, and reducing stress.
Week 5: Change of Seasons Meditation
Open group with a check-in and begin with a Change of Seasons meditation. Participants then create response artwork to the visualization and write a written reflection about their artwork, process, and/or experience. Discuss the concepts of change, internal and external, and differences in accepting change that happens to us and empowerment from change we initiate. End group with discussion about mindfulness practices and how they may be helpful for grounding, healing, and reducing stress.
Week 6: Bridge Journey Meditation
Open group with a check-in and begin with a Bridge meditation. Then each participant can use their materials to depict the bridge they envisioned, determine where they are in their picture, and which direction they are going. Discuss at the end of the group about their artwork and responses, which may lead to a larger group discussion, including journeys, transitions, and destinations.