This program was specifically developed to mirror and address the adoptive parents response and desire to further connect with their children. It was also created to allow children to express themselves without judgment or fear. Creative Expressions allows your child to be fully engaged and yet feel safe and have fun. Traditional "talk therapy" is sometimes ineffective with children and teens, because it can leave them unresponsive and perhaps feeling powerless. My primary goal is to empower our children through the creative process.

Imagination, invention and discovery often increase a child's self-awareness, sense of accomplishment and intension. Each workshop is specifically designed to address pertinent issues that may arise for adoptive children, in a respectful, supportive and playful manner.

The main goal of this journey is to allow your child to love and embrace his/her individuality and help find characteristics, gifts and traits that are truly unique and special. A secondary focus is to create opportunities to increase and enhance communication and trust between parent and child , during the process and post-workshop.  

2. Woodworking Workshop . By using age-appropriate kits, your child will create a bird or butterfly house. After the house is assembled, the wooden house will be adorned using various materials. The goal of this activity is to allow space for discussion concerning home and what it means to your child. Family diversity and heritage are addressed.

3. Designing a Costume. Using a wide variety of fabrics, your child will create a costume and assume their own or a separate identity. The goal of this exercise is to provide a safe, protected place for discussing topics surrounding looking different, individuality and identity.

4. Horticultural Connections. Your child will work with live plants and connect with the Earth. The goal of this exercise is to understand the meaning of "roots," proper nourishment, sun/light and night/darkness. What makes your child thrive, grow and feel nourished?

5. Clay Sculpting . Using clay, your child will create a three-dimensional self-image. This figure may represent how they see themselves, how others see them, or what they wish to become. This exercise deals with outer image, self-actualization and individual identity.

Topics that may arise for the adoptive child are: looking different and feeling like they are not accepted. Goal: addressing these concerns. Treasuring uniqueness and individuality

6. Family Portrait Painting. Your child will try to depict their unique family using acrylic paints on a small canvas. The goal of this exercise is to allow your child to discuss any feelings surrounding family and diversity.

7. Creating a Fragrant Lotion. By using a concoction of natural aromas, your child will make a lotion and subsequently adorn the bottle. Fragrances often elicit powerful memories and a variety of emotions. The goal is to connect to and express these feelings.

8. Adorning a Mirror. Your child will adorn a wooden frame and mirror with various materials. The goal of this exercise is self-inquiry and observation. This powerful experience relates to what your reflection and self-image means to you and others.

9. Animal Connections. Your child will relate to various animals: small dogs, Koi fish, aquarium fish and small garter snake.

The goal is to allow the space for nurturing, caring and connecting. Topics that may arise concern nurturing, care taking, feeling wanted and loved.

10. Cooking a Cultural Meal. This is the final meeting. Your child will help prepare a meal that represents his/her cultural heritage and subsequently bring it home to share with the family. The goal of this exercise is two-fold. The child will be encouraged to connect with cultural cuisine and heritage. The second part is to share his/her uniqueness with the family and feel proud of the culture being represented.

Structure: The program has been developed for individual children, in order to provide quality, one on one attention. Each workshop will last 1 and ½ hours. The parent/s are encouraged to join in during final processing, the remaining 15-20 minutes, of the session. This will allow the child to share his/her experience, accomplishments and perhaps express a desire to further connect and communicate to the parent/s. (Please ask your child to dress in art-related clothing. If you are unable, I will accommodate your child with an art smock/apron).

Cost: The cost of each individual workshop is $100.00 for 1 and ½ hours. The materials needed in each workshop are included in this fee. The child and parent/s will be able to take home each final workshop creation. I encourage discussion surrounding each art piece, as it allows for further processing on each topic. Insurance can be billed.

Age Group: This workshop was designed for children between the ages of 6-15 years old. There could be exceptions to this requirement, depending on the child's abilities, development and maturity. If your child is older or younger, other workshops may be more appropriate.

Confidentiality and encouragement to speak freely : My goal as art facilitator and therapist is to involve the parent/s in this process as much as possible and still retain confidentiality for your child. Confidentiality is important to ensure that your child speaks freely and expresses all emotions, even possibly negative ones without feeling the parent/s involvement. My goal is to encourage your child to disclose any information he/she wishes when ready and emotionally available. (If I believe that your child is in danger to harm him/herself or others, this information will, as the law states, be disclosed to the parents/guardians).

The parent/s will receive the outline when registered and prior to each individual class. This will allow the parent/s to prepare the child for what will happen the next session and also open up a possibility for discussion and communication. A secondary focus of this workshop is to increase communication and support between parent and child.

One way to encourage communication is to keep the parent informed, connected and continually involved in the child's process and development. The parent/s will be given a program guide or outline, which will inform the parent of the direction and aim of each interactive class. This will allow the parent to prepare the child and also help to facilitate in the final processing. It may open doors for future communication and interaction between you and your child. Additionally, this may enhance the quality and effectiveness of the communication between you and your child, as you will be given a starting point to open discussions.