Courses

  Meeting Your Anxiety with New Eyes
An opportunity to draw upon the transforming resources of Mindful Self-Compassion and creative approaches to discover new ways of relating to anxiety....
Facilitators:
Denise Howes, Registered Counsellor and trained Mindful Self Compassion teacher and Marita Jacobsson, Creative Arts Therapist with Thresholds Art Therapy.
Course Details
Çlass meets via Zoom for 2.5 hours on Tuesday; Nov 16, 23, 30: 6-8.30pm (AEDT)
Course Fee:
Includes pre-readings, all sessions notes and resources:
$180pp. Limited 'pay as you feel" places are available.
Course Outline:
This 3-session online course offers the opportunity for participants to inquire into their own experience of anxiety in a safe way and to build upon their inner resources to:
(a) notice when they are experiencing hardship with non judgement (Mindfulness)
and
(b) respond with warmth, care and kindness. (Self-Compassion)
For many people experiencing anxiety self-criticism and self-doubt arise with negative self-talk. Mindful Self-Compassion offers a different way - To treat ourselves as if we would treat a good friend we care deeply about – i.e., with kindness and encouragement. This 3-session course draws upon the Mindful Self-Compassion course developed by Dr Kristin Neff and Dr Christopher Germer. Research shows that people with higher levels of self-compassion have lower levels of anxiety and depression.
MSC is not therapy but it's therapeutic.
The integration of Creative Arts approaches will assist participants to draw upon their natural creativity (yes, we all have this!!) to inquire into their experience through their felt sense using a range of creative arts – writing, drawing, moving, music, photography, collage etc. Being in the creative arts process is one of many ways we can come to know about ourselves, our relationships and lived experience. You do not need to be an artist for the focus is on the experience of the process rather than creating a work of art.
The course is experiential meaning that each participant is invited to inquire into their own unique experience to gain awareness and understanding. There will be the opportunity for participants to share their experience of how they relate to and respond to anxiety if they feel safe and comfortable and it feels right to do so.

Outline of the 3 sessions:
Session 1: Opening to Mindful Self-Compassion
Session 2: Building upon your inner resources of Mindful-Self Compassion
Session 3. Drawing upon MSC resources in your relationships with others, particularly with those you are close to and care about.
Resources and readings will be provided before, during and after the course.
For further information you are warmly invited to contact:
Denise:                M 0412 051 387              denise.howes@bigpond.com
Marita                  M: 0493 088 235 martita@thresholdsarttherapy.com.au