Beyond Words.
An arts therapy workshop series exploring the dimensions of grief and loss.

Cygnet Cares Suicide Prevention Network, together with arts therapist Nic Iceton, are pleased to offer this free, 4 part creative arts therapy group workshop.

‘Beyond Words’ will create a space in which we can together explore the dimensions and personal experiences of grief and loss, in a safe, supportive, open and understanding group setting. Participants are invited to attend all 4 sessions, to allow for a wider creative expression of experience, and to build a trusting and supportive group environment over the course of the 4 sessions.

Wesley Mission- LifeForce have made this possible by generously funding this project through a grant to Cygnet Cares Suicide Prevention Network.

Each session will be held at the Port Cygnet Sailing Club, within the traditional lands of the Melukerdee people of southern lutruwita, whom we acknowledge as the ongoing custodians of place, country, and culture, and we acknowledge and share our deep respect for their Elders who have been, who are with us now and who are emerging. We also acknowledge the continuing and deep experiences of grief and loss that First Nations People continue to endure as a result of the colonisation of lutruwita.

Our title ‘Beyond Words’, reflects both the nature of grief and loss and how we all experience it in our own unique ways, while also being resonant to how our creativity can express meaning and connections in a way that can go beyond the capacity of spoken language.

As a participant in these workshops you will be invited to use arts therapy as a tool to explore and express how you are moving through the processes of grief and loss as they are happening in your life now. Different forms of grief and loss, about different things and at all stages of the process are welcome, and will all form the collective expression of the group, together in a space of mutual understanding, safety, and support.

Arts therapy is a potent modality for supportive open expression and learning about ourselves in creative ways. Through the process of creating and a view of non-judgement and curiosity toward the making we can learn about self, our relationships, discover new meaning, and explore what is most important to us. In group settings we can choose to share this with others and be reflective and supported with others in a group. There is no expectation to produce anything in particular, but rather a space in which expression can be free and we can discover through creativity.

While recognizing that everyone may be at different stages of their grieving process and may choose to express and discover their own experiences and creativity as personally feels right, we would like to also offer some considerations each week to guide the sessions.

Session #1 – Wednesday 3rd July 6-8 pm

                     The presence of grief and loss as it is for us now.

                           What is our current experience through the grieving process?



Session #2-   Wednesday 24th July 6-8pm

                           The centre of our individual experience of grief and loss.

                           How can we feel into the cause of our own grief and loss, and let this be expressed
                           in creative making?

Session #3-   Wednesday 14th August 6-8pm

                          Change and transition

                           The process of change can be scary and difficult in many ways. Through the
                           creative process, can we explore the things that are challenging, and the things
                           that may be offering support to the process of change?

Session #4- Wednesday 4th September 6-8pm

Hope and renewal.

Can we feel a pathway ahead that both acknowledges the grieving process that has
been, while also welcoming space in our life for experiencing renewal?

For all sessions we will begin with a group sharing and check in, ample time for creative making, and up to half an hour at the end for sharing, talking, and cups of tea.

Individual support will be available for anyone that may need it throughout the sessions, and extra resources for external support will also be available.

Attendee numbers will be limited to 10, and with a minimum age limit of 16.

All arts materials will be provided.

Cygnet Cares Suicide Prevention Network was formed locally around 2 years ago by a collective of caring and concerned community members who felt there was a need to create a grounded and present, advocacy service to the local community to address suicide prevention, needs of support throughout our community in Cygnet, and to celebrate our connectivity and diversity as a community.

Robyn and /or Christine from Cygnet Cares will be at each workshop session, offering extra support, guidance, and caretaking. Robyn and Christine are both qualified counsellors, are active in community roles, and are passionate about supporting our community to feel supported and to flourish.

Nic Iceton is in his fourth year as a practicing and professionally registered arts therapist, and is trained with a Masters in Therapeutic Arts Practice, in Transpersonal Counselling, and trauma informed practice. At present he leads weekly group arts therapy sessions within multiple mental health inpatient settings in the Hobart area, and is active in private practice. Prior to this his work spanned across 8 years of varying community mental health roles and a parallel arts practice.
He lives local to the Cygnet area and enjoys an active and abundant life with family, place, and diverse creativity.

If you would like to chat more about the workshop series, please feel welcome to get in touch.:

Robyn Bishop: ph – 0438950163 / email – cygnetcares.spn@gmail.com
Nic Iceton: 0437022917 / email – nicholas.iceton@seedwings.com.au