Kayden Experiencing Her First Rain

Kayden's Joyful Delight

Hello Dear CWW Friends:

As we wind down 2024, we wanted to let you know that we are also winding down the Creative Wellbeing Workshops monthly newsletters.

CWW Website Will Still Be Live

The Creative Wellbeing Workshops website will still be live and all of the handouts and blog posts will still be available. We will also still be providing training and continuing education and, as always, we are available at the drop of a hat to support you around your happiness and wellbeing.

Shifting Our Focus

We are not closing down shop, only shifting to areas that may be outside of your interests as readers. For example, Gioia is concentrating on her work with Active Military personnel and Arts-Based Research and Rebecca is deeply immersing herself in art therapy's contribution to Psychedelics and Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness (NOSC).

Being Curious and Open in the Midst of The Challenges We Are Facing int the World

In both of our endeavors, and with the challenges that we as individuals face and those with which people and countries in the world are struggling, we recognize the critical need to be curious, open, and to maintain a sense of wonder. This can be extremely difficult when the pull towards fear and hate is so powerful.

Ways to Enact Positivity and Overcome the Negativity Bias

Nevertheless, that is what our work has always been about--not just encouraging people to be more positive and to overcome the negativity bias, but finding ways to actively do so. It's one thing to want to be positive, it's another thing to put it into action and to actually experience it!

Positivity Is Infectious

With this in mind, as we contemplated final messages (next month, Dec 2024, will be the last regular monthly edition of the newsletter), we came across this video of a little girl named Kayden getting her first taste of rain. One way to enact positivity is to witness it in others. Watching her absolute delight is infectious--without any effort, it puts us instantly into a state of wonder and joy.

Kayden Literally Tasting Rain for The First Time

Find Ways to Experience More Wonder and Awe

This kind of abandon and joy is available to you. See if, in the midst of whatever very real and seemingly insurmountable difficulties you are facing or that you perceive in the world, you can find something that transports you into a state of wonder and awe.

If You Can't Find Wonder/Make It

If you can't find it, see if you can make it. That's the beauty of art, you can literally make something out of nothing. That, by itself, is simultaneously mundane and inconsequential and yet extraordinary and miraculous. We are reminded of actor Seth Rogan (Pumbaa from The Lion King) who, after taking up ceramics and getting critiqued for posting some of his "barely adequate" ashtrays and vases, triumphantly exclaimed, "I made these!"

Posts and Handouts on Ways to Instantly Shift to Positivity

Click here for the full version of this newsletter with a link to our blog on Seth's ceramics. We also list other posts on activating positivity and a link to our handouts page if you want to download material on "Increasing Positivity and Wellbeing".

Positivity Toward You!

We close out this penultimate newsletter with a moment of unadulterated positivity toward you! You, who have been accompanying us for the last 5, 10, 15 years (some of you even more) on our forays into the world of art therapy, happiness, and wellbeing. We are truly thankful.

With love and appreciation,

Rebecca and Gioia

Occasional Announcements

After December 2024's newsletter, you will hear from us occasionally to alert you to different trainings that we are doing. Rebecca will also be developing a separate newsletter focused on the crossover of Psychedelics, NOSC, and Art Therapy and will let you know more about that as well.

You are always welcome to reach out to us for anything relating to art therapy, wellbeing, positive psychology, etc.

Positive Psychology and Art Therapy Virtual Training Sat, Dec 7, 2024

For Therapists and those of you interested in Positive Psychology: 

Rebecca will be the keynote presenter for the Pennsylvania Art Therapy Association's Annual Member meeting.

If positive psychology still intrigues you (and it should, there's still so much we are discovering about happiness and wellbeing and how art fits in to that), you are welcome to join.

You do not have to be a member of PAATA or even an art therapist!

Discover strategies for using creative endeavors to increase wellbeing, meaning, and engagement in life. Specific therapeutic interventions will be taught using research-based principles of Positive Psychology.

DETAILS

Registration:  Click here to register and for more details

Cost: $55

(Reduced cost for students, members of PAATA and retirees)

CECs: 3 CECs with the NBCC

Location: Online/Virtual

What people have said about the training:

"Remembering the positive helps prevent me from becoming swept away in others' negativity and helps me remember why I do what I do, which is to help and heal, not harm and hurt. It is empowering for me and the client and it immediately gets us off to a great start in working together." Hannah Wilson, Art Therapist

"I enjoyed Rebecca's passion and knowledge of positive psychology and positive art therapy and her generous spirit and ease with teaching, even in a virtual setting". Susan Anand, Art Therapist, Educator

For more information go here.

LAST TRAININGS FOR 2024

STAY TUNED FOR TRAINING IN 2025

Positive Psychology and Art Therapy

Saturday, December 7, 2024 7:30-10:30 am/9:30 am-12:30 pm

3 CECs with the NBCC. Registration Fee: $60 (discounts available)

CELEBRATE THE ARTISTS YOU KNOW!

Go visit Rebecca's artist website at www.RebeccaWilkinson.com

ENJOY REBECCA'S COLORING BOOK!

NOW 20% off! Just $20

Coloring Creates Wellbeing: The Desert Mandalas Coloring Book

30 circular mandala designs showcasing the magical flora and fauna of the Arizona Sonoran desert. Relax, reduce your stress, and get into flow.  Includes an introduction on the benefits of coloring and suggestions for ways to color.  Absolutely no artistic experience needed.

• 30 Unique Coloring Designs $26
• Spiral Bound so pages lie flat
• Larger 10 x 10 inch format  
• Printed on heavier one-sided paper
• No bleed through 

Order Coloring Creates Wellbeing: The Desert Mandalas Coloring Book! Read about the therapeutic benefits of coloring here.  

LEARN MORE ABOUT POSITIVE ART THERAPY!

Positive Art Therapy Theory and Practice: Integrating Positive Psychology

Invaluable for anyone looking to apply

the most current theory/research on positive psychology and art therapy to their practice and/or their life! For faculty who might want to adopt this as a textbook, we added thoughtful discussion questions, a robust glossary, and useful lists of strengths and values.

• 282 pages
• 19 Color Illustrations
• Use Code ADC22 at this link for 30% off
• 80 of our favorite positive AT directives!

For more details or to request a copy for review please contact: 

Jean Pierre Jacome, Marketing Assistant

Creative Wellbeing Workshops | Website