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Road Map to Wellness: Therapeutic Arts for Creative Recovery
creativty in confronting times
Our current situation has resulted in uncertainty, loss, and loneliness. Many of us have found ourselves creatively blocked during these confronting times.
Creative recovery is spiritual recovery. The workshop series is designed to build internal resources, while cultivating community. This workshop series is designed for those seeking an opportunity to cultivate more nourishing creative energy, and heal from depleting, wounding experiences. Participants will be led through therapeutic arts and somatic-based activities to build emotional intelligence and resilience.
““Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.””
What to Expect
Cultivating a Creative Community
Our wounds come from relationship. Our healing also comes from relationships. The second week of each module is designed to provide participants to connect deeper with fellow participants. Participants are invited to Basecamp, a tool to support participants to informally chat. Weekly prompts will be sent to encourage conversation, and connection. Basecamp is also the vehicle for participants to access homework assignments and session recordings.
Module 1: Recovering a Sense of Safety
Week 1- Coaching Session April 14, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
Week 2- Co-Creation Session April 21, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
The delicate work in which we are doing requires us to see each other. Module 1 aims to build connection, safety, and trust among participants. We will explore our comfort, stretch, and panic zone using psychoeducation, and small group discussions.
Module 3: Recovering a Sense of Power
Week 5- Coaching Session May 12, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
Week 6- Co-Creation Session May 19, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
We all have wisdom. Module 3 aims to explore our source of power, and the circumstances in which we lose power. Participants will connect to their wisdom through a visioning exercise.
Module 5: Recovering a Sense of Play
Week 9- Celebration June 9, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
We need lightness to be gentle. This session is designed to play together. This session aims to connect to our pleasure, and build community through get-to-know you games.
Secret Sweetie
In an effort to offer witness to each other’s struggles and successes, each participant will be offered a secret sweetie. A secret sweetie is a participant- chosen at random- which you will be invited to offer a gift of gratitude at the final session.
Module 2: Recovering a Sense of Purpose
Week 3- Coaching Session April 28, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
Week 4-Co-Creation Session May 5, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
In order to move forward, we need to know where we are going. Module 2 aims to explore our deeper desires. We will explore our connections to our ancestral power through a journeying session, and operationalize our insights through small group discussions.
Module 4: Recovering a Sense of Possibility
Week 7- Coaching Session May 26, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
Week 8- Co-Creation Session June 2, 2021 3pm-6pm PST | 6pm- 8pm EST
A bright future requires a spark! Module 4 aims to envision the future we desire. We will discuss the ways in which we can manifest these changes in our lives, as well as theorise the ways in which we can support each other’s vision.
Meet Your Facilitators
Poe Liberado, MSW, RSW
Couse Designer, Psychotherapist & Coach
Poe likes to think of hirself as the gooey centre of a social justice hard candy. Hir work as a psychotherapist, community organizer, urban farmer and circus performer is based on a belief in working hard, and laughing harder. Poe’s perspective is informed by hir experience as a disabled, genderqueer Tamil nerd squirrel. Poe’s big mouth has taken them on performance and lecture tour across Western Europe on ‘Deconstructing White Supremacy within our Movements’. Currently, Poe is planted on hir farm and works in private practice at Hive Counselling and Consultancy specializing in gender, sexuality and neurodiversity. Ze is influenced, both personally and professionally, by disability justice, transformative justice and prison abolition. Hir community-based work has been focused on QTBIPOC mutual aid, and non-carceral mental health interventions.
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Ibtisam Hussein
Facilitator
Ibtisam is a queer, trans and Black Muslim with an interest in interactive sketch art and community building. He received an Honours BA in Health & Society from York University. He is interested in social issues of homophobia, islamophobia, racism and anti-oppressive frameworks relating to art creation and workshop facilitation.
“As someone who struggles with mental health issues like trauma, depression and anxiety; art has been a safe space as well as a form of healing and further understanding my inner self. Art has helped make sense of the intersectionalites of my identities and help create a honest visual representation of my feelings as I relate to myself and the world around me. Engaging in art is a safe refuge to express who I am unapologetically and connect to other people with similar experiences. With every personal art piece that I created, there was more self-awareness I gained to motivate me to create togetherings where marginalized people can come to together and make art while engaging in conversation of peer support in our lived experiences.”
Testimonials
Register
The payment scale is based on equitable pricing. Participants are encouraged to consider their privilege, security and wealth when considering payment options.
Early birds get the worm! Enjoy 10% off with the code TWEET before April 1, 2021
subsidized Rate
$35 CAD/session
The subsidized rate is intended for those who have an income less than $20,000/year. If you are a Black, Indigenous, person of colour unable to afford this rate, please contact us to explore other options. You are welcome!
$315 CAD | $249 USD | $208 EUR
Access-supported Rate
$65 CAD/session
The access-supported rate is intended for those who have an income more than $40,000/year. This rate supports the efforts of the facilitators to offer access to those with less resources.
standard Rate
$50 CAD/session
The standard rate is intended for those who have an income less than $40,000/year.
$450 CAD | $349 USD | $288 EUR
$585 CAD | $461 USD | $339 EUR
Feeling nervous?
Still have questions?
Join us for a live Q & A on Wednesday, March 31st 3pm PST | 6pm EST
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course designed for?
This course is designed for those seeking creative recovery. A sign that you may need creative recovery is having a lot of projects on the go, but find it difficult to complete projects. Or you may have a lot of great ideas, but find it challenging to bring these projects to life. You may also notice yourself having a hard time getting started. This course is designed to reeve your engine!
Everyone is welcome. The material is designed with queer/trans folks, racialized people, and people who are neurodiverse (ADHD, Autism) in mind, as Poe specializes in working with these communities as a Psychotherapist.
Will there be triggering material?
Triggers are characterized as unintentional, psychological responses to stimuli. Specific harmful experiences are not explored in this space. Potentially triggering material includes:
Journeying exercises which involve being led through meditation practices. One journeying exercise involves connecting to our ancestors.
Somatic exercises which involve being led through body movement practices. One movement exercise involves dancing.
This material may be triggering depending on your experience or relationship with your body. Please gauge for yourself if this program is safe for you.
How do you create a safer space?
There is a no space which is guaranteed to be ‘safe’. In an effort to reduce the potential for harm:
Participants are invited to turn off their cameras for journeying and somatic exercises.
Participants are told the nature of exercises before we begin to decide if they will participate.
Participants will be invited to make access requests such as Black-only break out groups, and forgoing check-ins, or break out groups.
What is the access information for this course?
The course is offered in English. ASL interpretation is not available for this offering. Closed captions is offered. Regarding financial accessibility, sliding scale is offered for Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC) with limited income. If you are unable to afford this rate, please contact us to explore other options. You are welcome!
Is this course a substitute for therapy?
The course is intended to support self-development through assignments and conversations aimed to develop insight into our emotional experience. Although the course is designed and facilitated by a psychotherapist, the course is not a substitute for one-on-one therapy.
I’m worried I may become overwhelmed during the course. What supports are available for me?
The first session- Recovering a Sense of Safety- is designed to connect with internal and external resources to support participants through the process. Homework assignments are designed to process emotional responses as they arise.
The facilitators are unavailable for private sessions during this offering. If you are concerned you may not have the supports required self-supported healing work, this may not be the right offering. Please gauge for yourself if this program is safe for you.
You mentioned ‘spiritual recovery’. Is there a lot of god talk?
The course is not designed in reference of any specific spiritual or religious belief system. Spirit and spirituality is used in an existential sense. That said, spiritual references are made and welcome.
How do I decide how much I pay?
The payment scale is based on equitable pricing. Participants are encouraged to consider their privilege, security and wealth when considering payment options.
Do I have to attend all the sessions?
No. It is highly recommended to attend all sessions as each module builds on each other. The second session of each module is designed to unpack assignments, and have discussions with fellow participants. Sessions will be recorded for future viewing.
Oh no! I missed the early bird special. Can I still get the discount?
We offer an early bird discount to encourage folks to register early because knowing our numbers ahead of time helps us prepare for our sessions. As such, we cannot offer the incentive after April 1, 2021.
When does registration end?
Registration closes Monday, April 12, 2021.
Oh noooo! Sessions have begun. Can I still register?
If there is space, participants are able to register before the end of Module 1 (April 21, 2021) by contacting us.
What is expected of me in ‘cultivating a creative community’?
There are four methods in cultivating creative community:
Co-Creation Sessions: The second session of each module is aimed at working together to support each other’s insights, and witnessing each other’s struggles and accomplishments.
Basecamp: Participants are invited to Basecamp, a tool to support participants to informally chat. Weekly prompts will be sent to encourage conversation, and connection. Basecamp is also the vehicle for participants to access homework assignments and session recordings.
Secret Sweetie: Participants are assigned a participant- at random- to offer a gift of gratitude at our final session. Gifts of gratitude ideas include: words of appreciation, a poem, a playlist, or a piece of art.
Alumni sessions: Alumni who have participated in cultivating creative community are invited to alumni sessions, and offerings in the future.
I just want to focus on my own healing. I don’t want to cultivate a creative community. Can I skip Basecamp and having a secret sweetie?
Yes. Participants are invited to opt-out in the first week for the Secret Sweetie. Secret Sweeties are assigned the second week. Opting out means you will not be assigned a Secret Sweetie, nor will you receive a gift of gratitude at our last session.
Participants may also opt-out of participating in Basecamp by rejecting the invitation via email.
Please note: You will not receive access to homework assignments or session recordings if you opt-out of Basecamp. Only those who have opted-in to cultivating a creative community activities will be invited to alumni sessions in the future.