Blackbird Healing Arts

Marie-Claire, our awesome dance movement therapist, also had the opportunity to share what she does at the recent Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Center (PILSC)‘s conference.

In the 'Moving WITH Grief' workshop, participants explored from a body-based lens what it’s like to experience the grief they hold in their bodies, minds, and souls. Through dance, movement, and connection, we are able to see new perspectives on our experiences. We are beyond grateful and humbled to have had an opportunity to hold this experience for the PILSC conference.

We recently had the honour to take part in the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Center (PILSC)‘s annual conference for the second year in a row. We have been in partnership with PILSC since 2021 running various art therapy groups with them for children and adults. Our team member Annie, pictured here, developed and runs the successful Adult Art Therapy program for parents dealing with a pregnancy or infant loss. She facilitated the workshop, “The Art of Healing” which discussed the role of art and art therapy in healing as well as got everyone’s creative juices flowing with some therapeutic art-making and group reflection. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and ongoing opportunities to collaborate with PILSC.

Art. Mindfulness. Tuning into the senses.

Blackbird Healing Arts Collective is hosting The Art of Senses, an embodied expressive arts group designed to help you be more in the moment, to ground, and to explore your senses. Do you long for a moment to yourself to just “be”? This 8-week group is intended to re-introduce you to quiet space. Each of the five senses will be explored through guided meditations and artistic activities. Each week there will be suggestions to further the practice by connecting to the cycles of nature. The end result will be your own sacred space kit that can be used anytime you need to ground, catch your breath, or find balance.

Register now to receive early bird pricing and to use your benefits before the end of the year! $500. Full pricing in effect starting January 1, 2023: $550.

Facilitated by Andrea Hunt, Registered Provisional Psychologist, CCC

Click link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/479182998247

Annie enjoys working with people from all walks of life and strives to offer a culturally sensitive and inclusive space for her clients. She has recently taken a special interest in working with both parents and young children in the postpartum period of parenthood, focusing on topics such as attachment, grief and loss, and postpartum mood issues.  She intimately understands the unique logistical challenges that come with caring for little humans while trying to take care of yourself and so, welcomes your baby/toddler/young child within the therapy space.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to learn more or be considered for her waitlist.

Letting Go

This weekend, our Blackbird team met together to engage in reflection, grounding, and visioning rituals as a way to let go of our beautiful old space and transition into our new abode, filled with possibility. Change is hard but with that comes the opportunity for growth and expansion in ways we may not yet see. As we let go of that which does not serve us, we wholeheartedly embrace the future before us with excitement and hope✨

Sometimes embracing change feels hard, but this now feels exciting and full of possibility!! This weekend our team will lean in with love as we say goodbye to our current space and hello to our beautiful new home!

Dance/Movement Therapy is an approach to counselling that uses the body to access the psyche. It is a somatic therapeutic style that trusts the wisdom of the body, and gives space for individuals to process experiences and emotions in an embodied manner. www.meanttomove.org

Today I shared a lunch table with a beautiful Elder and her grandson. She generously shared her story of heartbreak, healing and hope. She spoke of disconnection, connection and relationship. I eagerly listened, feeling honoured and grateful to witness and feel connected. As the day went on, I witnessed more heartbreaking stories, songs of pain, memories of children lost and messages of change. Then the Elder hugged me, hugged my daughter, hugged my mother, all of us grateful for each other. The privilege and gratitude of living a life free from ever being torn apart from my family acknowledged. Now ending the day with feelings of deep gratitude and reverence. - Jenne

We are all part of healing, holding and making change. 🧡

We recognize the original people if the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina, the Wesley and the Iyarhe Nakoda. We also acknowledge the Métis people from Region 3.

Feeling grateful for inspiring friends! Thank you .at.bitbybitbodyworks for a fantastic Friday! Got to start the day adoring the art and energy of Mandy Stobo

Love wins!!!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍
Such a good vibe at Calgary Pride!

Thank you summer! Thank you for the slow down, the rest, the shake up of play. Thank you for the heat, the rainbows, the lightening shows, the lake jumps, the hammock naps, the fresh lemonade, the tree shade conversations. Thank you for the lack of routine and the time spent with friends and family. Thank you for space to do art and sing songs. Thank you summer for that certain kind of healing you bring.
Always grateful.

Before we jump into July, I need to pause and celebrate June. Thank you June. Thank you Pride. Thank you rainbows. 🏳️‍🌈💗

Ever since I was little, I have loved rainbows. I would surround myself with them. My Mom and I painted a giant rainbow mural on my wall so I could sleep in my rainbow sheets with my rainbow carebear under the rainbow in my rainbow room. I was in love. Seeing a rainbow across the sky meant wonder, magic and mystery. As I have grown, I am still in love with what rainbows have grown to mean. As new colours get added, the depth of meaning grows too. Each colour in harmony, representing our togetherness: all ages, races, genders and preferences, natural and beautiful. Loved.
So thank you June, for all the rainbows. Thank you to each person past, present and future, for advocating and holding your colours high with pride. 🌈(Jenne)

Before we jump into July, I need to pause and celebrate June. Thank you June. Thank you Pride. Thank you rainbows. 🏳️‍🌈💗

Ever since I was little, I have loved rainbows. I would surround myself with them. My Mom and I painted a giant rainbow mural on my wall so I could sleep in my rainbow sheets with my rainbow carebear under the rainbow in my rainbow room. I was in love. Seeing a rainbow across the sky meant wonder, magic and mystery. As I have grown, I am still in love with what rainbows have grown to mean. As new colours get added, the depth of meaning grows too. Each colour in harmony, representing our togetherness: all ages, races, genders and preferences, natural and beautiful. Loved.
So thank you June, for all the rainbows. Thank you to each person past, present and future, for advocating and holding your colours high with pride. 🌈(Jenne)

Let the summer begin!!!! Happy Summer Solstice 🌞. What will you jump into this summer?

Honouring National Indigenous People’s day by creating small acknowledgments of reconciliation and learning about the land we are on. 🧡 http://native-land.ca

Hello, Dear Teachers!

Jessie from Wondercarecreate has something special going on this summer!

Summer Reset: Recharge with Intention.
She will be facilitating 6 weeks of gentle email prompts to help you reset your frazzled nervous-system and build resilient connections that will last into the fall.
Register now, so you don't forget - it begins on July 1st. Please share with all your teacher friends near and far.
Wonder Care Create

www.wondercarecreate.ca/registration

Good things are growing here..☺️🌱

A morning of building connection, checking-in, and sharing visions, goals and ideas at our Blackbird team meeting. We are deeply grateful for this warm, creative and passionate team of professionals!

Be Brave
Be Wild
And stay forever hungry for Art, Love, and Adventure 🎨♥️🌄

Repost from See me. Hear me.]
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Registration is OPEN for Workshops and Events! Tap into your own creativity and connect with others as you learn more about the healing power of Expressive Arts.

Space is limited so registration is highly encouraged (even for free drop in workshops). Please visit link in the bio to secure your spot!

Thank you to our artists and art facilitators for offering their workshops and being part of our events See me. Hear me.] .artspace

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Note: Expressive Art Workshops are offered by art facilitators that are not therapists. Please seek out local mental health resources if needed.
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Good things keep happening at Sparrow Artspace!

Repost from See me. Hear me.]
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Registration is OPEN for Workshops and Events! Tap into your own creativity and connect with others as you learn more about the healing power of Expressive Arts.

Space is limited so registration is highly encouraged (even for free drop in workshops). Please visit link in the bio to secure your spot!

Thank you to our artists and art facilitators for offering their workshops and being part of our events See me. Hear me.] .artspace

✨

.ca







Note: Expressive Art Workshops are offered by art facilitators that are not therapists. Please seek out local mental health resources if needed.
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Come join us!

In a relaxed environment we will play and explore with various art materials, seeking connection with ourselves, and connection in community. 
Participants will be invited to create two Artist Trading Cards using collage and mixed media. One card will be to keep for yourself and the other will be offered to trade with another. This is an invitation to engage your imagination and spark your creativity. 

With:
Rachela Buonincontri
Registered Provisional Psychologist in Alberta
Registered Art Therapist
&
Jenne Newman
Certified Canadian Psychotherapist
Registered Art Therapist

When we think about Spring, we often think about renewal, growth, and fresh starts, signalling an opening up to new ideas and radical shifts in energy. ☀️🌸

As we enter this new season filled with promise, what are some intentions you want to nurture? What areas of your life are you hoping to plant seeds in and what are you hoping to see grow? Let’s move forward with curiosity, playfulness, and mindful intentions. 🌱

What would your personal intentions map look like for the coming months?

(Client art shared with permission)

Sometimes even cookies can be….cath-art-ic!!!

🍪
Cathartic: providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions.

We are so enjoying having Marie-Claire do her practicum with us at Blackbird!

We are happy to announce round 4 (!) of our successful art therapy support group with the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Centre .

Our 6-week therapeutic Adult Art Therapy is a safe and inclusive environment that is ideal for parents who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or infant.⁠
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Art therapy can benefit an individual experiencing loss by offering an outlet for self-expression that may reduce and may help to alleviate emotional distress. Throughout the 6 weeks, you will have the opportunity to practice a variety of coping skills to gain confidence that aligns with their individual uniqueness. ⁠
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No artistic skill is required, only an openness to try.⁠
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Date: Weekly on Sundays, starting on March 20th until April 24th, 2021⁠
Time: 9:30 AM to 11 AM MST⁠
Booking Link: https://pilsc.org/get-help/groups-navigator/specialized-groups/
Where: Online⁠
Available to: CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY⁠
Facilitator: Annie Hussain⁠
Cost: $25 fee for Art Supplies

Pssst! Pass it along…there’s still room in Marie-Claire’s Movement based therapy group for people who identify as Neurodivergent women. For more info go to: Www.meanttomove.org/dancemovementtherapy

More heARTbeat dates added!!

Are you a Nurse, Nursing student or a Licensed Healthcare Practitioner? Are you at your breaking point or long past it? Are you trying to rebuild your strength and resiliency?

Come spend time in collaboration and connection to restore and replenish. Our group is an online art-based creative opportunity to connect with yourself and help your body heal and recover, as well as build up your strength through community support. No previous art experience is required.

New dates include:
Feb 24 to Mar 17, 9:30-11:00 am
Apr 5 to Apr 26, 6:30-8:00pm
Apr 7 to Apr 28, 9:30-11:00 am
May 10 to May 31, 6:30-8:00pm

Register at http://eventbrite.com/cc/heartbeat-152489/

Happy 2022! We are thrilled to welcome Marie-Claire to our team!

Marie-Claire is a second year Masters of Counselling student with Gonzaga University. She has been working in the helping professions since 2008, with a focus on neurodiverse populations. In 2017, she began her education in Dance/Movement Therapy, which led her to pursue her counselling masters – to combine her embodied work with grounded psychology theory. Marie-Claire has a focus on somatic awareness and body-based healing – using movement as a tool to access the psyche. Marie-Claire has been described as vibrant, compassionate, caring, and creative. Her work with Blackbird Healing Arts Collective will be under supervision by Jenne Newman MA, CCC, RCAT,  as well as her educational supports, as she continues to grow in her clinical practice and work as a therapist.

For more information or to book a session with Marie-Claire, visit her website at http://www.meanttomove.org.

To continue on with celebrations & gratitudes for 2021….Annie, one of our art therapists, welcomed this sweet, beautiful artistic creation to her family! The Blackbird team is so thrilled and looking forward to when he’s big enough to bring into work for baby cuddles!!!

What a year! As We reflect on this past year, it’s the sad stories that bubble up first. A collective grief feels like it settled in and has weighed heavy on so many hearts, our hearts ache too.

This year our heartache took us to some deeply sad and lonely moments. It also guided us into so many amazing connections, a lightness of being and a deep sense of resilience. For that, we are grateful.

This year, we end not in sadness but in celebration and gratitude…

For our current team: Annie, Leslie and Alice, you have been absolutely the force that has kept Blackbird buoyant and brave throughout the year.

For our emerging team: the excitement of welcoming new energy to our team in 2022 is invigorating!

For our collaborations: the Esker Foundation , Ambrose University, the Bridgeland Legacy Project, the Land of Dreams, Recess Calgary, Stepping Stones to Mental Health, the Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Centre, Sarah Wong, Canadian Artists Against Poverty, Crescent Heights Community Association, Enviros Respite Care Connection and Naramata Centre. We are deeply grateful for your invitations and the synergy that comes from working together with imagination and innovation.

For our families: you are our foundation of support, love, encouragement and care. So grateful to come home to each of you!

For our clients: your courage to show up for yourselves, share your vulnerability, lean into your own creativity and healing is what inspires, drives, motivates us to be fully present and do our best work.

For our community of mentors, teachers, & healers: you fill our hearts! You guide us to discover and maintain our own resilience, and wrap your care around us. Thank you for being our sparks, both real and metaphorical. We think of you in gratitude everyday!

With love,
Jenne & Rachela

What do we do for fun? Make things!!!

This Saturday, December 4, swing by the Airdrie Christmas Market. Rachela will be on site with Angel Wings Art Collective offering a number of handmade products for the Christmas season.

Find her between 10 AM to 4 PM at the Town and Country Centre, 275 Jensen Drive, Airdrie, AB. Happy weekend!

Alberta Play Therapy Association
has invited us to facilitate an online workshop this
Friday Nov. 19 from 9:30am-12:30pm. There is still time to take some time off work and join us! Book by Tuesday to get your art kit on time.

Register at www.albertaplaytherapy.ca

Workshop Description:
Is your heart heavy or aching? Are you experiencing symptoms of burnout or compassion fatigue? Or maybe you're looking to refresh your creative strategies for working with depleted clients? Come get your hands dirty as we play with the creative arts and rebuild our own resilience.
 
This online experiential workshop is geared toward practitioners wanting to recharge their own spirit and explore strategies to creatively support their clients.

Art supplies included.

Facilitators:
Rachela Buonincontri & Jenne Newman

May we remember and continue to work toward peace together.

•Blackbird•

Spiritually, the blackbird is seen as a messenger bird that can cross worlds, symbolizing exploration, clarity, and open-mindedness. It is a bird of mystery and magic that can go into the dark and through the dark, finding the light to guide its way through.

The work we do at Blackbird Healing Arts Collective is similar in this way: we help our clients through the dark, hoping to guide them to the light that is themselves. This work can be spooky, because going into dark places, into the unknown, is frightening and can tap into our darkest fears, memories, and dreams. But together, we can find our way into the light.

Happy Halloween from our team at Blackbird. We wish you the courage to find the light within the darkness.✨

Did you know that 1/4 pregnancies end in loss? That means it is likely that you or somebody you know has experienced pregnancy loss. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and to honour it, we would like to share about some of the work we have been doing with the wonderful Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Centre (PILSC) .

Since pregnancy and infant loss is often an “invisible” loss for many, accessing avenues of support can be tough, especially holistic ones. We are honoured to have struck up this collaboration with PILSC where we are offering Art Therapy services to their clientele through support groups:

Journeying through Loss- Adult Art Therapy
(For parents who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss)

The Art of Healing - Sibling Loss Art Therapy Series
(For siblings who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss in their family)

For more information about these groups, feel free to contact us or . We are so looking forward to deepening this relationship with PILSC through building upon this important work in the future. If you or someone you know has experienced the pain of this type of loss, please know that you are not alone. Together, we can use art as a tool for healing, growth, and change.