Collaging Your Grief
Explore and get to know your unique grief experience.
“The right way to grieve is your way.”
– David Kessler
When you’re grieving a loss, it can be difficult to put into words what you are feeling. Grief is a profound, whole-body experience that encompasses a wide spectrum of emotions that can often feel overwhelming—even confusing. This may be one of the most vulnerable times in your life. It can be hard to sort through and make sense of what you are feeling and scary to allow yourself to feel your emotional pain. For many, there is a natural tendency to avoid, ignore, numb or suppress feelings.
Art can provide a safe space to begin to turn towards your feelings and get to know your unique grief experience. When we engage with any form of art, something magical happens within us. Our defenses melt away and our hearts open, allowing ourselves to get lost in the process not knowing where the art will take us.
Art gives our emotions an outlet, a way to feel and release what our bodies and hearts are holding. By putting our feelings on the page, what’s internal becomes external, and we can begin to engage with our feelings in a different way. We can be with them and accept them, instead of denying them and pushing them away. The art you create can be a powerful form of self-expression and a meaningful way to honor yourself, your grief, and all the parts of your journey.
Workshop Summary
Get to know your unique grief experience using collage to process and express your feelings. We’ll use an intuitive approach to art-making to connect with your emotions and allow them to flow freely from your heart. Explore your grief from a grounded and intentional place, while being in a supportive environment, where your grief will be acknowledged, held, and nurtured by others who are grieving.
The workshop will include:
– A guided mindfulness exercise at the beginning and the end of our time together to help us ground and stay present to our experience;
– Ample time devoted to collaging
– Brief journaling prompts to help you reflect on and process what you created;
– And the option to share and process with the group what you created and view other participant’s artwork
Who This Workshop is For
This workshop is open to any adult (21 and older) who is grieving any type of loss. This space honors all types of grief across the landscape of loss. Some examples may include: Death of a loved one, illness or loss of health, loss of pet, loss of a relationship (e.g., family member, parent, partner, divorce), miscarriage, losing a job, retirement, moving to a new home.
This workshop will be limited to 8 participants to foster an intimate, supportive environment.
No prior experience necessary.
What You Will Explore & Discover
– Learn more about your unique grief experience through making art
– Discover the power of art as an outlet for processing and expressing your feelings
– Be with your grief in a way that feels safe, nurturing and without judgement
– Experience a sense of community with others who are grieving
The Inspiration Behind Collaging Your Grief
About 20 years ago, I began using collage to help me process a difficult life transition and loss. My counselor at the time introduced the method to me with these simple instructions: Flip through magazines and rip out images that speak to you. As you’re pulling images, don’t try to analyze or question the process. Then paste the images onto a blank piece of paper. When I brought my collage to our next session, she began to ask me reflective questions about the images. Tears flowed as I began to tap into my feelings and make meaning from what I created. This was a snapshot of my subconscious mind. My inner world was now external in the form of torn up magazines. What I didn’t want to feel before could now safely be felt, and equally important, be witnessed and held by another person who listened and cared.
Since then, I have turned to collage again and again to process and express what I am feeling; it has been a helpful and steadfast companion through painful times in life, especially in grief.
I wanted to share this method with others who are grieving in the hope that it too will become a helpful outlet to help you process your loss and your grief. I also hope it will help those who are grieving have their grief acknowledged and supported by a community of others who understand deep loss.
Event Details
Sold Out
When: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, September 14
Where: In-person at Spence Counseling, 4397 Federal Dr., Greensboro, NC 27410
Cost: $35
Materials: All materials will be provided, including an assortment of magazines and other art supplies for collaging. However, if you have a few favorite magazines that you won’t mind cutting up, feel free to bring those with you.
Refund & Cancellation Policy
I understand that unexpected circumstances sometimes arise, preventing participants from attending a workshop despite the best intentions. If you are unable to attend, please email carla@spacetohealcounseling.com to cancel your registration and request a refund. I require at least 48 hours notice before the time and date of the scheduled event to receive a refund.
A refund of the registration fee will not be issued if a participant does not show up to the workshop.
If the workshop facilitator needs to cancel the workshop for any reason, participants will have the option of having their registration fee refunded or applied to the rescheduled workshop date.