Creative Play - A PROGRAM TO FOLLOW THE SEMINAR ON COPING STRATEGIES FOR PERSONS WITH COMPROMISED HEALTH

Creative Play Workshop for People with Fibromyalgia and Compromised Health

5 Sessions, Each Session 2.5 hours

2015

I will be offering 5 follow up sessions Oct 31, Nov 7, Oct 14, Oct 21, and Oct 28

1:00-3:30 PM

All Art Supplies and Materials are included

$135.00 per person

Oct 31 – Weather Permitting:  Meet at Cliff Gilker Parking lot, walk at your own pace, bring a camera or ipad to photograph nature. Goal is a 30 minute photo walk in nature. Find imagery while walking that presents as an analogy to some aspect of your life. (photograph it) Return to Evi’s place to check in, discuss how you are doing with your goals, bring up any problems or obstacles preventing you from moving forward.

If the weather isn’t nice come directly to Evi’s place, 576 North Fletcher. Each person will learn how to paint on silk stretched on a silk hoop. We may need two sessions to complete this creative play-painting project. Use the imagery from any visualization as inspiration for your silk painting. We will always dedicate 30 minutes to check in and share how we are doing with our goals and intentions.

Nov 7-  If the weather is nice we will meet at Cliff Gilker Park, if not come directly to Evi’s place, 576 North Fletcher. This session will focus on exercise, stretching, dance, and directed visualization followed by a group discussion on how we each can create more self-care and establish positive habits.

Oct.14 – If the weather is nice we will meet at Bonnie Brook by the sea. We will begin with some stretching exercises in the fresh air, then do some slow walking for up to 30 minutes if possible. If you can’t walk that long, there are benches to sit down on. We will return to Evi’s house for a group discussion and check in. Is anything holding you back? Are you maintaining daily and weekly goals? How are you doing?

Oct 21- Art Play – We will create rubbings on either paper to be made into cards of sheets of white paper to be use as wrapping paper. Bring a collection of things with texture, leaves, textured plastic, flat household items, coins etc. (I will also supply items to use). We will use oil pastels, crayons or candles to imprint the objects on our sheets of paper. We will then use liquid tempera or coloured inks and cover the entire surface in colour. Glitter can be added for a festive touch. The last step is string painting using either watered down tempera or black ink. I include some examples made by kids. This is a totally fun activity but produces

brilliant results with minimal effort. Bring treats and we will have tea and admire our creations as they dry.

Oct 28- Exercise and Writing Workshop: If the weather is nice we will meet at Bonnie Brook and begin this session with stretching exercises and fresh air. If possible we will try and walk for 40 minutes then meet at Evi’s place. If it’s raining come directly to Evi’s, bring a yoga mat and we will do stretching exercises and slow aerobics to music. After exercises and visualization we will sit around the circle table and pick topics out of a hat that are relevant to our healing journey. This session is dedicated to writing “off the cuff”. You don’t need writing skills! Just write what comes to mind. There will be two topics per person. Anyone is welcome to read aloud to the group. Since this is our last session, bring some refreshments to share. We will have a relaxed time drinking tea and coming up with other ideas that continue to help us find fluidity, relaxation, creativity, humour and support. My hope is that you have acquired some skills to use in your lives that will bring inspiration, reduce anxiety, increase energy and flexibility. The experience of engaging in a variety of activities in a spirited way with others should help inspire you to continue working towards your own personal goals.

Car pooling can be arranged ahead among group attendees. I chose these dates but I am flexible if attendees prefer week days. Please email me or we can discuss this at the end of the seminar.

www.gibsonscounselling.blogspot.ca

eviblueth@gmail.com       

604 886 8097

604 886 8097

Seminar on Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain and Compromised Health

Seminar on Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, and Compromised Health

Gibsons, BC

V0N 1V9

Tel. 604 886 8097

eviblueth@gmail.com

gibsonscounselling.blogspot.ca

Evi Blueth, Counsellor                                              Oct. 24, 2015

576 N. Fletcher Rd.

Agenda for Today

We will respect each person’s confidentiality. What is said in this room stays in this room.

There are extra notebooks and pens for anyone who didn’t bring one, feel free to take notes on anything new you learn, or any ideas that surface

Help yourself to herbal tea or coffee at any time, also snacks – feel free to be comfortable and do what you need to do. This is a safe place for all to be themselves. There may be moments when you feel emotional, this is normal, don’t feel embarrassed, we are here to support you.

The bathroom is on the right down short hallway close to living room.

I will show everyone my counselling room where I have prepared a place to lie down if anyone needs to rest or take time out for any reason, feels overwhelmed emotional and just needs a break…feel free to wander to this room and return when ready.

  I will start by introducing myself and sharing my story, this will be followed with each person introducing themselves and telling as much or as little as they wish about their own story.

2)    Coping Strategies: How do we ensure others consider our limitations? 

(Discussion) 

a) Let people know your limits

b) Be specific and polite (I can’t lift this alone) (I’m too tired to do activities at night, why don’t we meet for lunch?) 

c) Delegate – get help  (how can we do this? Family, Friends, Volunteer Drivers, Can we trade? (Rental, teaching? Do we have any skills we can trade for work that is difficult to do such as house cleaning, gardening?) ( hire folks if you can afford this)

d) Be realistic (how many hours can I do a certain thing?) (Factor it in, and don’t hesitate to share your limits with family, friends and co-workers)

e) Instead of opting out of everything, find ways to be present but for less time

f) Take breaks, do some deep breathing

g) Deep breathing (we will all do some deep breathing for 3 minutes)

What can we add to these coping strategies?

10 Minute Break

The problems of an invisible illness:

1) People think you’re lazy

2) People expect more of you than you have the energy for

3) People don’t understand

4) It is possible to experience personal shame, even though it is not our fault we are unwell.

Be their educator, be true to your energy, get used to setting limits so you do this on automatic pilot.

Once you accept and embrace your limitations it’s much easier to hold fast to what you can and can’t do without feeling judged

This is always harder in the early phases of compromised health but becomes second nature over time. Plus it is very likely you will become more capable as time passes.

Stop caring about what other people think focus on your own needs. Self-care is essential. Don’t feel guilty about it. When you recharge, you have more energy to offer others.

The Power of Visualization 3 – 4 minutes. You can do this anywhere. It provides relaxation, can be mood changing and is a coping skill worth practicing.

Grounding, feet touching floor, relax your body, find a comfortable position, and close your eyes. Take yourself to a known of imaginary place where you feel happy, serene and uplifted. Explore it. Look at the colours, enjoy the smells of this special place, feel the texture of what is around you that soothes and calms you.  Explore slowly with all your senses and wallow in the luxury of a wonderful glorious place. 

After 3.5 minutes I will bring you back slowly and gently to the room we are in. Take your time and open your eyes when ready. Wiggle your fingers and change your posture if needed.

We will go around the room and see how each person experienced this? Was it helpful? Could you get better at it?

Sharing ideas about supplements and medications.  Group discussion.

B2/6/12 injection every 3 weeks

Lots of Sunshine

Green Tea

Vitamin C, Calcium, and Vitamin E

Coping Strategies - Punctuating Life

1)    If you have a busy series of hours or days, plan rest time appropriately

2)    Plan ahead if possible (know that you will take 2- 5 days off to rest after your guests visit) or any demanding activities take place.

3)    Take time out even in public places, find a bench, park or quiet place

Close your eyes and do visualization or some deep breathing. You will feel refreshed and able to carry on. Take breaks as needed, anywhere anytime, be resourceful. Stop in a church, or library if in a big city. Twenty minutes of visualization deep breathing can help you recharge.

 4) There will be times when you will be “pushing through” due to life’s

 circumstances. It is always a strain and uncomfortable when in these

 situations. Choose wisely when it’s worth it, and plan recuperation time.

         Please add some ideas!

Planning Attainable Goals

Please take 10 minutes to write down one or two goals that you feel are attainable. They can be exercise focused, project focused, choose anything that you have been thinking you want to do. Break a project up into baby steps and write down how you will attain this goal.

Anyone who wants to share an idea, please do so.

Anyone who needs to brainstorm how to achieve a goal, share the idea and we may be able to break the project up into doable portions.

We all need a sense of purpose, a feeling of accomplishment and daily exercise.

Art for Creativity

If we have time, I would like each person to use my multimedia table of art supplies to create a card. This is a card you are creating for yourself. Choose the most important thing you learned and turn it into a picture, impression, drawing, or mixed media painting. In the card write a promise to yourself that will help you carry out your intentions to move towards a more empowered happier life.

Thank You All!

Please read the program planned that follows this Seminar. This program will engage more active methods of finding greater health and enjoyment of life. Anyone interested, please register with me.  Each session will be approximately 2.5 hours.  The program is called “Creative Play”.

Comment from An Attendee to the Workshop:

Hello Evi,

Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about FM.  I’ve read so much about it but to hear peoples stories that live with the disease was much more meaningful and enlightening. And it was also helpful to give me some direction with my own health issues.

G.W.

Choosing Life Over Pain by Jan De Grass - Article in The Coast Reporter, Oct 16 - 2015

Evi Blueth is best known on the Coast for her fibre art – designs from nature printed on clothing and hand-painted silk scarves. She is frequently to be seen at craft fairs and festivals selling her creations and appears to be a lively, happy artisan. You wouldn’t know to see her that she has suffered for many years from fibromyalgia, a painful, fatiguing illness.

“You don’t see me when I’m sick because I’m in bed,” she says. Many of those who suffer a chronic pain illness have given up on their lives, retiring into their smaller, less active routines. When Blueth was diagnosed, she considered that she had the choice of giving up or doing something about it. “I chose life,” she said.

As a mental health rehab worker for 14 years, she helped others with mental and other chronic conditions by organizing dynamic recreation and art programs. She noticed that engaging in art projects, particularly when combined with walks in nature, seemed to help sufferers more than anything.

“The more colour, the more engagement, the more satisfied they were. I used all the arts: singing, dancing, hand printing, art and nature combined.”

The process motivated her to go back to school and earn her community counselling certificate. She graduated last year and did her practicum at Linwood House in Roberts Creek. She learned to engage people in visualization and story-telling with time to make art. This is not art therapy, she points out, as that is a clearly defined profession with specific goals. This is a type of occupational therapy that works to overcome the symptoms of chronic pain.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, Blueth will offer an afternoon workshop at her home in Gibsons for sufferers of fibromyalgia or other chronic pain disabilities such as arthritis or lupus. It will focus on the emotional and psychological effects of the illnesses and take baby steps to move forward and explore strengths. Blueth believes that the mind has power over our health and that we can replace the negative associations with hope. Of course, art is involved and art supplies will be on hand with Blueth giving some examples using collage, pastels and paints. She hopes to continue to meet on a once a week basis with those who find the workshop helpful.

“This is art for creativity and for its healing aspect,” she said. “It brings the fun back into our lives.”

Register for the workshop by phoning 604-886-8097 or emailing eviblueth@gmail.com. Fee is $35. 

- See more at: http://www.coastreporter.net/entertainment/arts-entertainment/choosing-life-over-pain-

Nature and Healing

GOETHE, Conversations with Goethe

I must go to Nature disarmed of perspective and stretch myself like a large transparent canvas upon her in the hope that, my submission being perfect, the imprint of a beautiful and useful truth would be taken.

JOHN UPDIKE, The Centaur

We can walk so slowly, but each step in the hinterland offers us the gift of fresh air, the rush of a gust of wind, a sudden view of the ocean and mountains or a rabbit that crosses our path. 

It is these baby steps repeated that can transform and heal. 

Nature and Healing

If my client is willing to take a few slow baby steps into the magic beauty all around us, there is profound healing awaiting.

Nature and Healing

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” 
― Albert Einstein

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