At ARTE.M, we are honored to present the start of an incredible adventure in 2024. Supported by Erasmus+ new project run by BEBOK-ART from Poland "Painting Women's Strength: The Art of Women's Resilience" 2024-1-PL01-KA210- ADU-000243177 marks a significant step toward establishing focused art therapy programs for women in cancer remission.
We finished a transforming training course on Madeira last week for experts working with women battling cancer.
Along with our colleagues, , we investigated creative approaches to psychoemotional assistance including coaching, mindfulness, and art therapy.
These work shops aimed not only on learning strategies but also on grasping the particular difficulties and strengths of women who had confronted one of the hardest conflicts of life.
Dream Design Workshops participants investigated their own goals and envisaged a bright future by means of artistic activities meant to inspire introspection and goal-setting. These sessions—which ranged from sketching to collage methods to even group postcard production with wishes—provided a potent tool for seeing possibilities and guiding desires.
Through these exercises, participants might not only consider their present routes but also project their objectives and aspirations into the future, therefore encouraging clarity and hope in their own travels. This creative approach served as both a therapeutic release and a structure for seeing development and constructive change.
Makeup and Skincare Sessions: These workshops focused not only on skincare and makeup techniques but also on fostering positive emotions and self-acceptance. Participants explored how to reconnect with and appreciate their bodies, embracing the transformations brought by illness and recovery.
Mandala Therapy Workshop: Led by our partner Joana Martins from UMAR - União de Mulheres (Núcleo Regional da Madeira), this session guided participants through the process of creating and coloring their own mandalas. The act of designing and coloring a mandala fosters mindfulness, focus, and emotional balance, encouraging participants to reflect on the present, release the burdens of yesterday, and embrace the possibilities of tomorrow. By channeling their emotions into these intricate designs, participants found a sense of calm and clarity, making the session both therapeutic and empowering.
Smile Therapy Workshop exposed attendees to the ability of laughing as a technique for stress management and emotional control. By means of guided activities, participants discovered how to utilize laughing as a tool for stress release, emotional regulation, and promotion of a good attitude. In addition to helping to lower anxiety and improve mood, smile therapy boosts social interaction and improves the immune system. The class emphasized how a little grin or shared laughing may set off a chain reaction of happiness, therefore changing the environment and inspiring hope for the future.
Art Therapy Techniques: This workshop presented art therapy as a technique holistically in addition to providing participants with creative activities like abstract painting and collage construction. Participants performed important art therapy techniques, learnt how to run sessions successfully, and explored methods to modify approaches and activities depending on group dynamics in the session including a coaching component. Understanding the group's requirements, encouraging meaningful thought, and real-time task adjustments to fit participants' emotional and creative demands were also given special focus. This double emphasis on theoretical knowledge and pragmatic application enhanced participants' capacity to lead art therapy sessions in their own local communities.
In addition, a photo session with Photoshop editing was incorporated, teaching participants to capture and enhance moments of beauty. This activity was especially meaningful for women who, after undergoing surgery, are learning to embrace and celebrate their transformed bodies. By focusing on the unique and empowering aspects of their current selves, participants were able to reconnect with their confidence and see themselves in a new light, highlighting the strength and resilience within their journeys.
These combined exercises offered a therapeutic and transformative experience, helping participants reflect on their past, celebrate their present, and envision a hopeful and empowered future.
And this is just the beginning.
Here in Madeira, in spring 2025, we will start a new art therapy program for local residents.
These Work Shops will be conducted in Portuguese, Russian, and English, thereby ensuring accessible to everyone who wishes to participate. Erasmus+ funding will enable these workshops, intended as either weekend or morning seminars, to be totally free of cost.
The curriculum will be customized to participants' requirements and interests via small group sessions. Working in smaller groups allows us to provide a private and comfortable space for everyone to participate and express themselves. Sessions will be tailored to each group's dynamics and mix to ensure relevance and impact.
Among the many events open to participants are mindfulness practices, creative challenges, and coaching sessions. Whether it's via painting, narrative, or dance, our goal is to help people to investigate their feelings, discover healing, and develop resilience in a loving community.
The next phase of this project will be expanding its influence by means of a thorough handbook on art therapy approaches. For teachers, therapists, and communities all around, this handbook will include best practices, resources, and strategies created throughout the program. To guarantee the longevity and scalability of the project, we also want to arrange cooperative meetings with foreign partners to exchange ideas and hone strategies.
A customized handbook documenting the procedures and insights gained during the project will be the final product of this program. Those who are helping women on their path to recovery and resilience will find this resource invaluable.
Connection, self-discovery, and empowerment are at the heart of art therapy, which goes beyond just painting or making. The lives of remarkable women who serve as daily sources of inspiration are with us as we begin this endeavor. Joining forces, we are creating an environment where feelings can be heard, resilience can be honored, and opportunities for growth may be unearthed.
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