What’s Therapeutic about Creative Expression
The Ultimate Self-Help!
Therapeutic for the BODY: Research has shown that doing forms of creative expression LOWERS the stress response & and bolsters immunity!
Therapeutic for the MIND: A safe, quick, easy way to express inexpressible thoughts & feelings and give vision to the invisible using images, shapes, color. An image is worth a 1,000 words.
Therapeutic for the SOUL: Creative expression comes from unconscious wisdom and knowing. When you allow yourself to focus on the PROCESS of doing, knowing there is no right or wrong way to express yourself you suspend your ego. There is no judgement or criticism, no need to perform. And when this happens your creative expression is a reflection of your being.
That’s where the PROCESSING is so enlightening, so powerful. In the processing of your creative expression your unconscious wisdom is revealed.
Don’t just look at the pictures posted. Read the notes on how it is processed. You’ll be amazed and learn how to do it yourself.
Research has shown that creative expression like journaling, painting, sewing, knitting, drawing, etc lower the stress response and therefore enhance the immune response. Pretty amazing that one of the best medicines is yours for extremely little cost, 24 hours a day!
This is what you’ll find on the CreativitytotheMAX:
1. Tutorials: Journaling and Creative Expression exercises to:
Have fun with – LOWER YOUR STRESS -Unleash your creativity – Uncover your own unconscious wisdom
2. Processing: Learn how to “read” your creative expression to:
Understand your unconscious meanings & messages
3. Sharing: My own creative expression and processing.
YOUR creative expression.
What is Therapeutic Creative Expression!?
If you are thinking “BUT I’M NOT CREATIVE. . .” this is especially for YOU. You do NOT need to have any talent, experience nor artistic ability to benefit from and do the EASY and FUN exercises I will share.
Reasearch has shown that creative expression like journaling, painting, sewing, knitting, drawing, etc lower the stress response and therefore enhance the immune response. Pretty amazing that one of the best medicines is yours for extremely little cost, 24 hours a day!
I teach Therapeutic Creative Expression Workshops in my office. Because I have two left feet and can’t carry a tune my choice of creative expression is anything visual: journaling, doodling, painting, coloring . . .
Just try some of the exercises. You’ll see that Therapeutic Creative Expression is a powerful and safe way to express your own unconscious wisdom and express the inexpressible experience of having a life altering condition
I know first hand that having fibromyalgia or many other life altering conditions saps you of time, energy, desire or resources to go to a workshop. So I decided to send Therapeutic Creative Expression to you so you can do it anytime, anywhere for 3 minutes or 30 minutes.
Just try some of the exercises. You’ll see that Therapeutic Creative Expression is a powerful and safe way to
I’ll post easy exercises to help reduce the stress that effects you physically, emotionally and mentally. It’s free! What have you got to lose?!
Judy Judith
P.S. And I’ll post your exercises, tips and tricks that might help others!
Judith Westerfield, M.A., MFT, Certified Hypnosis & Imagery Therapist, Certified Fibro Patient!
Hi there, Judy. I’m pretty impressed by your work here. I run a blog about creativity and I would love to make a post about the therapeutical effects of creativity in one’s life. Do you mind if talk about your work? By the way, great blog! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Henrique,
I took a look at your blog and your work. Pretty impressive that you are so fluent in both Portuguese and English. I admire anyone who has more than one world view and languages certainly do that.
I would be honored if you talked about the therapeutic effects of creativity. That’s my purpose for this blog and however the message can be brought to others is wonderful.
So live by what you say regarding the major therapeutic benefits of creative expression. I have used it to make sense of my journey through and out the other side of depression and have published a book of poetry as my recovery narrative fully illustrated by all my own artwork and photography. I would be happy to share some images on your blog if you are interested.
Lorraine,
E-mail me some of your images.
“express the inexpressible experience of having a life altering condition” <- My eyes went straight to this sentence ! highly agreed !!! Thank you so much for dropping by to Beauty of Sorrow blog. I'm also glad to discover your blog
Have a lovely day !
Sung-Hee,
I’m glad to have found YOU. We are definitely “on the same page”!
I’m so excited to find your blog. Phylor sent me a link to it, and I’m so grateful!
I have been a artist for as long as i can remember, but I’ve been feeling a bit stagnated…and uninspired. I think mostly because of my health.
I have a few chronic illnesses, but the main one I struggle with is Meniere’s Disease.
i felt my artwork was just that…work. I wanted it to be more…to show more of what I’m going through, to inspire, to help me get through the rough times.
I want my creativity back…I know it will help me.
Thank you for this inspiration!
wendy
http://picnicwithants.wordpress.com
Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully you’ll send me some of the art work you do. I LOVE to post other people’s work on the blog
Judy
I wrote this poem several years ago about my ferret, Jester. She was a playful, happy animal. Jester went to Rainbow Bridge in 2008. I still miss her joyful ways.
The Old Ferret
Will you still love me when I’m old?
When my mask is grey?
When end my adventures bold?
I’m slower now and I sleep
more than in my younger days.
I can’t jump as much nor can I leap.
I don’t feel so well and it’s hard for me to eat.
The kibble is too hard. And I miss my litterbox.
Will you feed me ducksoup and keep me clean and neat?
Too many humans leave their old friends
to die in a strangers care.
Will you stay with me until the end?
I look into your eyes and in your loving gaze
I see my answer and know
You will love and stay with me all my remaining days.
For Jester
My little lady, my old clown
I remember the days gone by
when your antics kept me from getting down.
You always gave me a laugh
a kiss, a dook, a lesson to live
and love life. To find and stay on my path.
I look into your eyes so old
I remember the fun we had
I recall your adventures wild and bold.
You don’t have to dance or dook
To have an adventure
To hide something else you took.
Your cuddles and kisses
Deep sighs of contentment
and my love’s bonding caresses
I am thankful you are in my life
I will love you now,
to the Rainbow Bridge, and in afterlife.
Creativity breathes life into you, even when things are at their worst. I have lived through 50 years of fibromyalgia. During the first 34 years I was not diagnosed, though I was labeled a hypochondriac. My mother was ordered to ignore “it” and it would go away. oh, how I wish that was true!
I loved doing anything creative from early on. That was fortunate, because it got me through many years of pain and abuse. Early on it was almost an obsession, an obsession I craved and that saved me. For those moments I was creating I was transported to a completely expanded place both within me and out of my circumstances at the same time.
Coming back to the life I was living, pain had gone, and it stayed gone for a while. It breathed life and hope back into me so I could continue. Continuing in art I am now a professional artist and a professional journyist to places within and without and teach others to do the same.
I am glad to see this kind of website, which I found on the NFA’s website. I hope you can help many people find their joy.
Jeanne!
I’m so glad you found Max & Me! I love to share people’s creative expressions. If you’d like send me pictures and I’ll post. (and of course give you credit and links if you’d like) Your testimonial to creative expression really resonates with me and I know thousands of others. My hope is that those who haven’t discovered it’s healing benefits will be inspired by my blog and people exactly like you.
with deep appreciation,
Judy
I can absolutely get onboard with this. In fact, I’ll even start up the creativity train and run it through the station as fast as possible. Everyone on the platform will be scared out of their minds but those of us on the train will know what’s really up.
And we’ll all hug . . . each other. (sorry Matt! I edited this last statement – But I do like your exuberance!, Judy)
MATT,
You are not designated official ENGINEER!
Judy
Judy…
Your theories about creative expression being therapeutic were aptly demonstrated at our Gourd Society playday yesterday when Gaye led an African doll making session. It was fun, challenging yet relaxing, and so satisfying. Continue the good work you do, my friend. Susan
Susan,
You just reminded me I need to put the Gourd Society link up!
Send me a picture of your DOLL so I can show others
Hey everyone! Take a look at an incredible way to express creativity
http://www.OrangeCountyGourdSociety.org
A four year old who’s very inspirational……and yes, creative.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13660478