Writing & Art Workshop
What does this workshop include?
Six weeks of guided and supportive instruction focused on post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth. Prompts of journaling, discussion, and supportive listening and community. Additionally, options for art creation and methods are explored.
Who is this workshop for?
While Writing & Art is beneficial to all populations, the current session (9 January- 13 February) is specifically crafted for partners of active duty military members. Partners of military veterans will also be invited on a space available basis.
When is this workshop?
This workshop consists of six 2-hour sessions on Mondays at 9 am PST, 12 pm EST. The dates are October 17-November 21. All sessions and classroom materials (with the exception of art supplies) are available digitally.
Who leads this workshop?
Jessica Bugbee is lover of LIFE! Jessica did not understand what true LIVING was/is until she began to live life on life’s terms.. Jessica began sensing her physical body, witnessing her thoughts bouncing around in her mind - while her emotions swung on a pendulum from high to low back to high again and having mild to severe fluctuations in her breath… until she walked into meditation. Jessica had a struggle with a deep soul sickness - some of which stems from childhood traumas; some within the realms of her 7 year active Army combat medic life; others from true victimhood; & some others from repeating & perpetuating learned patterns of survival that became defense mechanisms (most times), unconsciously - so as to continue to survive [to a beast that was still haunting her…]. This deep struggle, which still she recovers, one-day-at-time by leaning into Post-Traumatic Growth, PTG. It is through the five-pillars of PTG: personal strength, close relationships, greater appreciation for life, new possibilities, spiritual development, which she finds her truthfulness, satya; her reflection into the mirror, her invisible wounds of [anxiety, depression, neglect, dyslexia, PTS(d) - with substance use abuse, MST (Military Sexual Trauma), IPV (Intimate Partner Violence), Moral Injury, survivors guilt, headaches, anger, sleep disorder, urinary disorders, TMJ disorder (Temporal Mandibular Joint), grief, childhood sexual trauma]. Through a continued willingness, a desire to grow and acceptance, Jessica realigned with meditation, the breath and the physical practice of yoga after coming into sobriety from alcohol in 2017. Jessica began creating a sustainable home for herself through education such as certified health coaching (IIN), E-RYT 500 hours, 50hours yin yoga teacher, certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide, certified Usui Holy Fire Reiki Level I/II, certified David Elliot Breath-work Facilitator, Level I-V, Bachelors of Science in Human Services w/concentration in Sociology, PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Vet-2-Vet Peer Advocate, ETS-Sponsorship Mentor & ETS-Sponsorship for LGBTQ+ Mentor, Warrior Writer Facilitator….. etc…. Through her education - and experiences within the community of military healing spaces, Jessica has learned and developed curricula to share and guide others to cultivate the space for themselves to FULLY LIVE a sustainable life by bringing all the tools she’s picked up along the way, through the pillars she stands firm in today: community, nature, movement, story-telling - and the breath..
PennyLee Deere is completely retired and she has no time to work. She is lead facilitator for A grass root group she started in 2016 after being discharged abruptly from the VA’s therapy programming. Support Our Troops Committee /Art4Vets gives her a reason for getting up in the morning (life saving, found her purpose). She was in the Woman’s Army Corps (1975), serves during the Cold War, went to Desert Storm, Desert Shield (1990/91) retiring after 20 years in 1995. She is a licensed massage therapist (NY, nation wide). She is a creative Learner (has a learning disability) She loves to learn, at the age 65 she received her Health and human Service Degree (BS). She is a huge promoter of many therapies and “the arts” for healing. She is a veteran for the veteran. She Advocates, promotes, collaborates, educates, coordinates with veterans and others. He motto is “Tell a gram,Telegraph,tel a phone, tell a woman, tell PennyLee and the world will know”
What is the cost of this workshop?
This workshop is free for anyone that is accepted into the program.