Hospice Southeastern Connecticut has announced its newest Community Bereavement Program, “Drawing on our Memories,” which features Expressive Arts workshops for people of all ages grieving the loss of a loved one.
Children and adults alike can benefit from creatively expressing their feelings of loss utilizing drawing, sculpting, scrapbooking, writing poetry or a multitude of other outlets. Many of the Expressive Arts are referred to as a “language without words.” Absolutely no artistic talent is needed. All groups are free of charge.
Research has shown that participating in Expressive Arts offers the following benefits:
- Art-making is a safe form of non-verbal communication, especially for those who feel that they do not express themselves well in words or feel socially awkward in groups.
- Group members realize they are not alone in their grief, and that others share similar thoughts, feelings and experience to theirs.
Expressive Arts Coordinator Linda Bradley MFA, ATR, guides children and adults through the creative process as they safely bring unexpressed thoughts and feelings to the surface. Participants build confidence and a sense of empowerment as they engage in a personal creative task while doing so in the company of others who are also grieving a loss.
The expressive arts schedule is a follows:
Children’s Group: Every Tuesday 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.*
Adult’s group: Every Tuesday 7:15 – 8:30 p.m.*
Senior’s group: 2nd and 4th Wednesday mornings, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. at different venues in New London County (call for current schedule)
*Meets at the Hospice Community Bereavement Center, 227 Dunham St., Norwich CT
For more information, call 860.848.5699 or visit hospicesect.org