The Power of Creative Expression

The power of creative expression rests in its natural capacity to give us a way to tame emotions such as fear, pain, loss, guilt and blame. Finding words and ways to describe the illness experience helps one to gain authority over the illness. The use of creative expression in addressing serious challenges makes it possible for family members to see and examine their situation from a variety of perspectives. It gives them insights they may not otherwise consider and it lightens the burden.  Perhaps most importantly, it gives a concrete way to address the questions that medicine cannot answer: Why me? Why now? What did I do to deserve this?...

Individualized Programs

Most of the Family Institute programs are offered through collaborating organizations. The possibilities are greatly varied because the programs are individually designed for each population served. Examples of programs include:

• An early childhood program offering a retreat series for parents of children with disabilities.
• Faith based and community organizations offering a workshop (or series) for their members.
• Health care organizations (hospitals, clinics) offering individual or group sessions for their patients (clients).
• Organizations who wish to offer training to their professionals to better understand and work with the families they serve or to more effectively balance caregiving and work demands.

Programs are designed to address the impact of disabilities or chronic illnesses on daily life. Programs include activities for reflection, discussion and creative expression.  The focus is on process and learning ways to more effectively live with these health challenges.  Accommodations are made for all skill levels and abilities. Some common topics of interest:

• stress management
• achieving some degree of “normal”
• “why me?”
• ambiguity
• loss
• acceptance versus overcoming (fixing, curing) – and the fine line between
• fear
• isolation
• discrimination
• overwhelming burden
• doubt, uncertainty, blame & shame
• physical demands
• independence versus dependence
• self-esteem
• developing and maintaining relationships
• managing change
• building understanding and insights
• sharing wisdom

INDIVIDUAL POETRY THERAPY

One of our programs is working with hospitalized youth who have cancer and other long-term or life-threatening health conditions. We use poetry and creative activities to address their fears and concerns, to build coping skills, and to address the consequences or living with these health conditions.  When youth are able to express how they feel about what is happening to them, they help themselves heal. They also make it possible for their parents and others to help them through the process. 

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THERAPEUTIC GROUPS

Parents need support as they address their uncertainty and fears and try to make a normal life for their children. Creative expression helps them maintain hope and strength.  Working with others who are experiencing similar situations builds resources and broadens perspectives making it easier to manage life challenges.

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FAMILY WORKSHOPS

The Family Institute offers workshops where the entire family can enjoy a creative experience in an environment that accommodates special needs, addresses concerns and builds strengths.  For example, at a family songwriting workshop we shared experiences over a meal, played a game to explore ideas, brainstormed song lyrics with a musician who composed music for our lyrics and then recorded the whole group singing their newly composed song!   Workshops explore a wide variety of themes and topics using many different form of creative expression.

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PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Learn ways to more fully engage families in a collaborative process that benefits the families and the professionals and/or care-givers who work to serve families.

Our training seminars provide professionals with important insights to the families they serve and practical methods of addressing "the underlying meanings" that influence how families respond to the management of their disability or health conditions.

Professionals who work with people who have ongoing health conditions can have experiences that are profound and moving.  These experiences can contribute to personal development and emotional intelligence.  However, this does not happen unless one takes the time to reflect on the experience and examine its implications for personal and professional growth. 

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