Meet Julie Schubach a 2023 graduate of our Certificate Training Program. We are excited to feature her as our monthly Alumni Spotlight! We think you will be inspired by her work as a Licensed Social Worker! |
Hi! My name is Julie. Like my interests, my career is varied. I am a licensed social worker (LSW). I studied gerontology and have been working in the field of aging for almost 10 years. I am an enthusiastic advocate for the significant roles creative expression and connection play in healthy aging. I work part-time
developing and implementing creative aging programming at a local nonprofit organization, Family Service. We put on an annual creative aging art exhibit at a local library to showcase the vibrancy of our creative aging participants. Thanks to Expressive Arts Florida Institute and the thoughtful guidance of Kathleen and Tamara, I am an expressive arts facilitator and founder of Ripples Expressive Arts, LLC. With Ripples I offer workshops for the community and other contracted
work. I’m slowly building up a supply of journals and circular artforms for others to purchase in order to remind them of the power of creative ripples. I am passionate about offering opportunities to connect to self, community, and nature through creative expression. My goal is to set positive ripples in the world. I delight in self-growth and expansion and take my inspiration from
the natural world. I seek to help others connect to natural cycles and their own inner rhythms. My ideal personal practice includes quiet walks in nature, movement, art journaling, poetry writing and tap dancing. I am especially fond of intuitive collage-making and book-making. Most recently, I began practicing as a therapist at Blueprint and am working toward both my clinical social work licensure (LCSW) and my Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) designation. My path continues to wind and take me through periods of fog, teaching me the important lesson to trust the process of life and just focus on the next
step.
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Julie, what drew you to the field of Expressive Arts, or motivated you to get Expressive Arts training? |
Art was always a big part of my life growing up. Yet, I found myself at a point where creativity had been pushed to the corners of my life. When I slowed down enough to notice this, I realized what a hole it left in my life . I realized I had become disconnected from the things that made me feel most like
me, and I was searching for the path back to myself. I was also searching for a way to craft a more creative career. |
As you began to immerse yourself in this work, were there any unexpected gifts or surprises? |
Throughout the EAFI intensives I became faced early on with a strong inner critic and a tendency to compare my work with others. I really built my self-confidence and an awareness of my authenticity brick-by-brick in the classes. The unconditional positive regard and support I felt from each and every person in each and every class was a tremendous gift! The spaces we create in EXA are unique and healing in and of themselves! As I explored my
stepping stones in creativity and the field I uncovered hurts and grief that I did not realize were there. I was able to process and resolve them throughout the foundations class- this was an important step in the process of releasing and moving forward with confidence and gratitude. I felt my heart center open, my tolerance for vulnerability climb, my improvisation abilities develop, and my openness toward and trust of life unfold. I went into the program plagued by a rigid mind and came out
with an understanding of how to open to flow. These were invaluable gifts that continue to guide me forward in my personal growth and development. |
My Expressive Arts
Journey Art Exhibit February 2024
How are you currently implementing expressive arts in your personal and/or professional life?
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I
incorporated expressive arts into the creative aging programming I develop and implement at my nonprofit job. I also started my own business, Ripples Expressive Arts, to offer EXA to the wider community. The most recent building block is that I began working as a therapist and intend to bring expressive arts into that space as well. In my personal life I realized how varied a personal arts practice can be and how much nourishment they offered. I began to recognize them as daily rituals that fed
my soul and anchored me in the midst of a busy life. |
What are your goals in this work, or how do you envision your involvement with EXA unfolding in the future? |
My goals are:
- To break down ageism
-To build connections between social service and art organizations
-To promote the importance of creative expression for healthy aging
-To set positive ripples in the world
-To offer opportunities for others to
connect to self, community, and nature through creative expression
-To help others connect to natural cycles and their own inner rhythms
-To guide others toward finding a personal arts practice that is nourishing for them
-To inspire others to take up the lenses of compassion and curiosity Benchmarks that I am working toward are receiving my LCSW and REAT licensure, developing my style as a therapist, crafting more workshops, leaning into running a business intuitively, and building up an inventory of art and journals for purchase.
"We Are" Creative Aging Art Exhibit July 2023 How has EXA enriched or expanded your career path (if applicable)? |
I would never have dreamed of starting a business. Expressive Arts Florida Institute provided the support and inspiration to take the lid off when dreaming and consider the possibilities. Creativity permeates everything I do now in my career. My career path has been forever enriched by EXA. |
Journals Journal Making Workshop January 2024 What is your current personal practice and how does it enrich your life? |
My
ideal personal practice includes quiet walks in nature, movement, art journaling, poetry writing and tap dancing. I am especially fond of tap dance choreography, intuitive collage-making and book-making. My personal practice helps me stay anchored and grounded in my core self and connects me to my inner wisdom. It keeps me current with myself- with where I am, what I need, and where I’m headed. It provides space to slow down and a reminder to remain open to intuition and
synchronicities. |
What do you wish you could tell the world about Expressive Arts? We are all creative beings! Whether you enjoy drawing, cooking, gardening, styling your outfit, dancing in the kitchen or singing in the shower- we
are all drawn toward creativity. It’s a life force. Open yourself up to it and it will open your life in ways you never dreamed. What are you currently offering, and what are the ways that people can work with you? If you are 60 years or older living independently in Champaign or Douglas County, IL- give Family Service a call! Creativity on Wheels or Creative Senior Connections may be calling your name! We would love to welcome you to the Creative Aging community! For friends in East Central IL or across the globe, Ripples Expressive Arts will be facilitating workshops both in person and virtually in the near future.
Stay tuned! If you feel that utilizing expressive modalities would aid your healing and growth process, reach out to me or Blueprint to get a therapy session booked. |
Creative Senior Connections
October 2023 |
Anything else you would like to say?
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Please feel free to reach out to me anytime! I would love to chat with you, work with you, see you in the circle or meet you at an EAFI workshop! |
Professional links - Learn more about Julie
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Watch for our Alumni Spotlight on the 15th of each month. We feature graduates of our Certificate Training Program - Expressive Arts Facilitators, Therapists, and Educators. We hope this series will inspire you, help spread the work of our alumni, and demonstrate the scope of
practice of the expressive arts field. To see past Alumni Spotlight features & our Alumni Directory visit the link below. www.expressiveartsflorida.com/art-professional-links For more information about our Certificate Training Program, Professional Development, and Workshops - both online and in-person,
visit us at www.expressiveartsflorida.com Tamara Teeter Knapp MA, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, REACE® Kathleen Horne MA, LMHC(S), REACE®, REAT® |
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