I created this exercise in March 2012 and now use it in my group art therapy sessions. Last week, I introduced it to my current group on participants at Intersections Media and a group at Windsor Secondary School’s Choices Program. I always love the results.
Instructions:
• Focus on 3-4 main words that are blocking you, that hinder you, frustrate you, nag at you, keep you from living your life peacefully.
E.g. Anxiety, Fear, Money, Low Self-esteem, depression…
• Write for 10 minutes in your journal about these blocks.
• On a drawing/photocopy of an anatomical heart…
• … write your main words repeatedly throughout the nooks and crannies.
• Color the heart, cut it out and glue it on a card stock.
• Write sentences about how to deal with your blocks coming out from the vessels.
FLOWING OUTWARD. LET GO. RELEASE.
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Intersections Media Opportunities for Youth Society JOB POSTING:
Participant in filmmaking/visual art/life skills training program
[paid position]
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INTAKE 1 April 16- May 17, 2012- completed
INTAKE 2 May 28 – June 28, 2012- completed
INTAKE 3 July 9 – August 9, 2012- completed
INTAKE 4 AUG 20- SEPT 20, 2012- completed
INTAKE 5 OCT 1- NOV 1, 2012- completed
INTAKE 6 NOV 12- DEC 13, 2012- completed
INTAKE 7 JAN 14- FEB 14, 2013- currently underway
We are currently interviewing applicants for:
INTAKE 8 FEB 25- MAR 28, 2013 2 of 6 spots available.
DUTIES:
• Participate in 5 week filmmaking/ creative arts/ life skills training program while earning minimum wage!
• Group of 6 keen students learn all aspects of filmmaking (with key instructor, filmmaker Fred Thorsen) and participate in therapeutic art activities from journaling, drawing to sock monkeys (with youth coordinator/art therapist Kat Thorsen)
• Participate in life skills and employment skills training
• Must attend fully, and be on time, and be respectful of peers and venue
• Will produce (as a group) Public Service Announcement for a non-profit organization
• Will produce individual bio videos
• Program runs 5 weeks Monday-Thursdays 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Must express keen interest in filmmaking and creative arts (no previous experience necessary)
• Some computer skill is helpful
• Self-motivation is key
• Applicant has faced barriers to employment
• Must be between ages 19-29 (location of program is upstairs at District 319, a 19+ event venue)
• Must have social insurance number
TO APPLY:
Please get a referral and a case number from employment agency then call Katarina to arrange an interview. Or contact youth coordinator, Katarina (Kat), directly to arrange interview and visit employment centre afterwards get a referral form upon acceptance to program.
CONTACT KATARINA:
604 488 4348 (leave message)
YOUTH ARTISANS 
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Loved this intervention, thank you. Just wanted to share as a change up I had an art therapy student direct clients to use tape to represent the blockages within the heart, then had clients color and fill in the hearts, remove the tape after and discuss how their blockages are affecting their heart,etc. and then had them heal and fill in the empty spaces where the tape had been using journal and collage. It has been a success with adolescents and adults
Thank you Meghan! That sounds amazing!!!
I loved this directive, too! I used it with adults in a substance abuse recovery group. I altered the directive by asking participants to color and fill in their heart with words, symbols, etc.. that represent the effects of substance abuse has had on them as an individual and in the areas surrounding their heart the ways use has effected their social ecosystem. The imagery and the metaphors they were able to access were powerful and inspiring! Thank you for sharing your work!