Art for Cancer Wellness: Patients Group with Em, Fall 2022
Workshop Title: Visual Journaling
Facilitator: Em Jones, MA, BFA, LGPAT
Schedule: Wednesdays, 6 PM to 7:30 PM ET
- October 5, 2022
- October 19, 2022
- November 2, 2022
- November 16, 2022
In this biweekly fall 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 visual journaling. Using body-centered awareness and visual imagery exercises, 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 series is designed to give form to one’s inner experience and helps to facilitate self-expression, improve emotional awareness, and reduce stress through creative action.
It is recommended that participants set up their journaling space in a relatively undisturbed location in a place that feels safe, protected, and peaceful. Soft music will be played in the background of the session to facilitate a deeper state of relaxation.
Week-by-Week Overview: Each workshop will be structured as follows:
- Check in with brief journal writing, feelings check and setting an intention, and a body-centered awareness exercise;
- Art-making in visual journal;
- Brief reflective journal writing using self-exploration questions;
- Discussion and sharing of experience in group; and
- Closing thoughts.
Week 1: Beginning Visual Journaling: How to Check in with Self
Materials: Sketchbook and desired art materials (chalk or oil pastels, crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc).
The focus this week is to learn how to access and express what you feel through the process of visual journaling by tapping into your current experience. Structure: Begin with introductions, review of consent, and space to discuss group expectations and goals. Check-in journal writing; Body-centered awareness exercise; Art-making; Journal reflection (self-exploration questions); Discussion; Closing thoughts;
Week 2: Healing Stress
Materials: Sketchbook and desired art materials (chalk or oil pastels, crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc).
The focus of this week is on mindfully accessing stressful feelings to discover the source of stress-producing emotions and explore the messages they are communicating. Structure:
- Part I: Check-in journal writing; Body-centered awareness exercise (stressful image); Art-making; Journal reflection (self-exploration questions);
- Part II: Body-centered awareness exercise (positive, constructive image); Art-making; Journal reflection (self-exploration questions); Discussion; Closing thoughts.
Week 3: Drawing with a Story to Tell
Materials: Sketchbook and desired art materials (chalk or oil pastels, crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc).
The focus of this week is on reconnecting with your inner self and listening to the
important story it has to tell through visual imagery. You will be guided to become
present in your body and to discover a message waiting to be expressed. Structure: Check-in journal writing; Body-centered awareness exercise; Art-making based on inner story; Journal reflection (self-exploration/story-prompter questions); Discussion; Closing thoughts.
Week 4: Landscape of Your Heart
Materials: Sketchbook and desired art materials (chalk or oil pastels, crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc).
The focus of this week is on connecting with the inner self for present and future
guidance, using visual journaling skills acquired thus far to create a metaphoric self symbol. Structure: Check-in journal writing; Body-centered awareness exercise; Art-making based on guided imagery; Journal reflection (self-exploration
questions); Discussion; Closing thoughts.
Week 5: Art Hive: November 30, 2022, 5:30 to 7 PM ET
Materials: Bring any and all art materials to work on any artwork of your choosing
Group members are invited to share in a session of open artmaking with members of the group and the broader Kits to Heart community. There is no specific theme or direction, but rather open time for artists to share in a time of collective creativity to close the fall workshop cycle and commemorate the end of the year. This session is optional and open to all members of the Kits to Heart community, including family and friends.
Fall 2022 registration is closed. Registration for the next cycle in spring 2023 will open in early 2023.