Hello Creative Friend,

We just returned from the 16th International Expressive Arts Therapy Association Conference at Endicott College in Beverly, MA, USA. And what a beautiful gathering it was! Impeccably organized and held by Conference Co-Chairs Susan Paul Johnson (EAFI alum and mentor)  and Katrina Plato, and a team of dedicated folks who crafted an experience that nurtured, educated, and inspired us all. Kathleen had the honor of presenting  the Shining Star Award to Katrina Plato, and  two  Rising Star Awards - one to  Merav Berger and one to our 'very own' Heidi Heft LaPorte, EAFI alumni and mentor! We facilitated two workshops, Topaz Weis led a lovely Solstice celebration, and our EAFI Community was well represented with 13 alumni and students in attendance,  several of whom were presenters. What a joy it was to be in the physical presence of so many amazing colleagues and friends, some of whom we were meeting in person for the first time! Wonderful keynotes by Dr. Ericha Scott and Dr. Jose Miguel Calderon, and an incredible array of workshops, presentations, poster sessions, receptions and performances were woven together by the 'peace-love-joy-happiness-health-grace-and-ease' magic of Soyinka Rahim. And there are so many others to thank! Please forgive us if we don't mention you all - we send a circle of hugs to everyone present, and to the wider expressive arts community that circles the globe. 

We encourage you to go to our FB page for lots of photos, commentary, and thank you's.  Here is a little collage that might help to capture the conference spirit! 

In his keynote (and I suggest you go to his website to learn more about his research and offerings) Jose Miguel Calderon described the expressive arts facilitator as one who:

'seeks to make, regenerate, transform, germinate, and mediate between worlds'. These words resonate so deeply with me (Kathleen). In my expressive arts work, either with a client or in my own practice, I experience dipping or diving into the imaginal, and bringing back nuggets to weave into the literal. It's what I do and how I live my life. Do you relate to this?

In order to retrieve and assimilate wisdom from the imaginal, and not lose the lessons after the experience, I need to distill them in some way, and that is where the idea of 'nuggets' comes from. The conference was a deep dive, a four-day container for the wisdom of the imagination. Returning from an experience like this, and not losing its gifts in the subsequent tasks of travel and reconnecting with the thread of daily life, takes some conscious attention. Of course the experience remains in my body, and the wisdom isn't lost, yet it helps me greatly to integrate it consciously. Today I retrieve nuggets from my journal, and distill them down further, to continue my practice. 

 I am shifting, a portal of change. 

I embrace the river of loss in a cradle of compassion.

I am powered by lightness, by the beauty that is left behind when the old way has died. 

And I celebrate the arrival of the lighted path. 

Will the next step in my process be an image? Movement? I await the impulse. I will be posting more in our private Facebook group, and I invite you to join, if you are not yet a member. 

Tamara is offering a brand new way to stay connected to your creativity, to yourself, and to creative community.  And,  it’s almost time! The Mindful Art Play Membership officially begins this Tuesday, July 1st.

And we couldn’t be more excited.

So many of you have already said YES to your creativity, your presence, and your inner artist—and we’re so honored to welcome you in. 

If you’ve been feeling the nudge to make space for your creativity...
If you’ve been craving a slower, more intentional way to connect with yourself through mindful and playful expressive arts practices...
If you’ve been longing for community and a gentle structure to guide your expression...

This is your invitation.

When you join before Tuesday, you’ll still receive the bonus accordion book lesson to hold your monthly art!

We can’t wait to create with you.

Our next Online Open Studio with Kathleen is Tuesday, July 8th from 1-4pm ET. Join us for a time to decompress in creative community.

On Monday, July 21st we have our next Expressive Arts Discovery workshop. Access your intuition through guided meditation, artmaking and writing in this 90 minute guided online workshop. 

Our next in person event is In Person Open Studio on Friday, July 25th! Come join us in person and work on a creative project. We will have supplies and light refreshments available.

We are offering Sand, Soul and Metaphor: An Expressive Arts Therapy Journey again and this time it will be ONLINE! We had such a great time during the in person training that we decided to offer it again for those of you who were unable to meet us in person. It will be a two-day training, on August 15th &16th.

If you would like to share any part of your creative practice, we invite you to do so in our private Facebook group.

To see a schedule of all upcoming events, courses and workshops visit our calendar of events here.

Therapy Services

Tamara is accepting new clients in Florida seeking therapy services and support using expressive arts to heal and grow. Using her years of creative practice and a compassionate approach, she is able to help clients access their inner strengths and create the change they most want in their lives. To inquire about services, you can go HERE, call/text 941-444-9585 

or email tknappcounseling@gmail.com

Tamara Teeter Knapp

MA, NCC, LMHC, REACE®

Kathleen Horne

MA, LMHC(S), REACE®, REAT®

www.expressiveartsflorida.com