Art for Cancer Wellness: Survivors Group with Em, Fall 2023
Workshop Title: Creative Self-Exploration
Facilitator:Â Em Jones, MA, LGPAT, ATR-P, BFA
Dates: Wednesdays, 6 PM to 7:30 PM ET
- October 11, 2023
- October 25, 2023
- November 8, 2023
- November 22, 2023
- December 6, 2023
- December 20, 2023
In this autumn workshop series of six bi-weekly sessions facilitated by art therapist Em Jones, participants are invited to engage in arts-based self-exploration among peers. Each week, group members will be introduced to a theme and guided to creatively explore their thoughts, feelings, and current experiences related to the theme with the aim of facilitating self-expression and self-understanding, fostering hope and strength, and encouraging support in a creative and healing virtual group atmosphere.
Workshop Materials: Participants will be provided with basic artmaking materials and are also welcome to use any other materials they have available.
Week-by-Week Overview: Each workshop will be structured as follows: check-in, writing exercise, introduction to theme, artmaking, discussion, grounding exercise, and closing thoughts.
Week 1 — October 11: Mood Portrait
Materials:Â Mixed-media sketchbook, various art materials (oil pastels, colored pencils, paint sticks, watercolor paints, etc).
- Structure: Group introductions, review of consent, and space to discuss group expectations and goals. Check-in; Introduction to theme: mood portrait—each participant selects a soul card image that resonates with them, then writes three words that they associate with the image. Artmaking; Discussion; Controlled Breathing; Closing thoughts.
Week 2 — October 25: Control & Freedom
Materials:Â Mixed-media sketchbook, various art materials (oil pastels, colored pencils, paint sticks, watercolor paints, etc).
- Structure: Check-in; Word Mapping exercise (Control & Freedom); Discussion of symbols and visual elements; Artmaking; Writing; Discussion; Controlled Breathing; Closing.
Materials:Â Mixed-media sketchbook, various art materials (oil pastels, colored pencils, paint sticks, watercolor paints, etc).
- Structure: Check-in; Word Mapping exercise (Fear & Love); Artmaking; Writing; Discussion; Controlled Breathing; Closing.
Week 4 — November 22: Isolation & Togetherness
Materials:Â Mixed-media sketchbook, various art materials (oil pastels, colored pencils, paint sticks, watercolor paints, etc).
- Structure: Check-in; Word Mapping exercise (Isolation & Togetherness); Artmaking; Writing; Discussion; Controlled Breathing; Closing.
Week 5 — December 6: Personal Energy
Materials:Â Mixed-media sketchbook, various art materials (oil pastels, colored pencils, paint sticks, watercolor paints, etc).
- Structure: Check-in; Word Mapping exercise (Draining & Restorative); Artmaking; Writing; Discussion; Controlled Breathing; Closing.
Week 6 — December 20: Lessons & Wisdom
Materials:Â Mixed-media sketchbook, various art materials (oil pastels, colored pencils, paint sticks, watercolor paints, etc).
- Structure: Group introductions, review of consent, and space to discuss group expectations and goals. Check-in; Writing exercise (Lessons learned & Wisdom to share); Artmaking; Writing; Discussion; Review of session series; Controlled Breathing; Closing.