What you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow.
– Norton Juster, author (1929-2021)
Those in the early stages of transition or recovery are often lost, struggling to sort out their emotions, and overwhelmed with all they have to unravel. Many of us have trauma in our lives that require healing. Divorce, grieving, loss of a loved one, large life changes, abuse or addiction recovery all require a large amount of healing. Art as therapy can help to identify the inner experience, emotional stress, and develop new constructive ways of dealing with it all. By exploring these emotions through art as therapy, each participant is able to reconcile their past experiences and process it with new perspective.
Art therapy is the creative break so many need, while re-learning a new way to live. Participants report feeling lighter, less anxious, less depressed, and less overwhelmed after just one session.
Art therapy engages the transformative process of becoming who we are: stronger, clear-minded, centered, and value-driven.
Art therapy has been shown to improve cognition, self-awareness, and self-esteem. It increases coping and social skills and promotes self-reflection and processing. It provides a way for participants to tap into their deepest emotions and perceptions.
Workshops are ninety minutes to two hours in length and cover topics such as: Self-Forgiveness, Self-Acceptance, Gratitude, Mindfulness, Letting Go, Challenges & Small Wins, Anxiety, Healing, Overcoming Fear, Visualization, Positive Mindset Outlook, Self-Awareness, and Healthy Self-Talk. After a brief discussion, participants will begin creating a project that supports the topic of the day. We finish by sharing our artwork (if desired) and having a wrap-up discussion of the project. This assists with working to get past feeling stuck and experience new growth, a more balanced mindset, and brings personal fulfillment – creating a path to improved self-worth.
Creating art allows individuals to recall and reframe past traumas and work through feelings of grief, loss and for some, shame and regret. Completing a creation of art can bring feelings of accomplishment, empowerment, and satisfaction. Talking about one’s artwork allows for the processing of emotions felt along the way and thus increases self-awareness.
Workshops are led by Tiny Art Stories founder Wendie Appel, a trained artist with a background in Psychology, Trauma Healing, Substance Use Disorder Recovery, and Treatment of other Addictive Behaviors and Anxiety Disorders.
A sampling of the workshops offered
Painting our Emotions
This workshop gives participants a starting point to identify emotions they may be feeling. As a group we list the many different emotions, discuss how some are related, and break down complex feelings to the root cause. The results are revealing and allow the creator to see what they are feeling.
Pictures from Painting our Emotions Workshops
Protection Shield
In this workshop, we begin by discussing old thought patterns vs. new thought patterns and how we feel in our new lives. We discuss triggers and how to protect ourselves from the barrage of outside negative influences. We assess our inner strengths and participants then create a Shield of Protection, labeling it with four of their inner strengths. The results are empowering, meaningful, satisfying, and build self-esteem.
Pictures from the Protection Shield Workshop
A Safe Place
Creating a safe place can assist with reducing stress associated with triggers, anxiety, and relived trauma. A drawing can be used as a visual image to calm when the need arises. To begin, we spend some time thinking of our ideal safe place, wherever that may be.
Pictures from A Safe Place Workshop
Mandala Workshop
Mandala workshops are relaxing, fun, intuitive, and allow for a meditative quality of the mind and a calming effect on the body. Mandala work is often associated with wholeness, growth, or the emergence of something new.
Participants are encouraged to let their thoughts float by like clouds and make no preconceptions of outcome, but to allow for the freedom to create whatever feels spontaneous while enjoying the rhythm and flow of the design. Mandala work promotes serenity and reflection while reducing stress and anxiety.
Pictures from Mandala Workshops
Neurographic Art Workshop
A calming and meditative exercise for those with anxiety and depression, grief and loss, or large life transitions.
In this workshop participants will focus on a particular problem that is causing upset. The results are stunning, always unique, and revealing, a reflection of your inner-self.
Pictures from Neurographic Art Workshops
Microjournaling Workshops
With micro-journaling our subconscious mind allows us to free flow thought and emotion onto the page without the need for lengthy detailed sentences, correct grammar, or precise word- choice. The results are revealing, beautiful and healing, allowing participants to process what they may not have been fully aware of.
Pictures from Micro-Journaling Workshops
