The Art of Returning to Self: A Creative Journey

Join us for a restorative 3-hour workshop focused on creative wellness, embodied awareness, and gentle inner healing.

The Art of Returning to Self: A Creative Journey

Join us for a restorative 3-hour workshop focused on creative wellness, embodied awareness, and gentle inner healing.

This experience blends guided breath and body awareness with meditative painting and beginner-friendly, parts-informed practices inspired by Internal Family Systems (IFS).

IFS is based on the understanding that we all have different “parts” of ourselves—protective, creative, sensitive, or tired—and that healing happens when we learn to meet these parts with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment. In this workshop, you’ll be gently guided to notice and relate to inner experiences in a safe, supportive way, allowing parts that no longer serve you to soften, release, or rest.

Through mindfulness, body awareness, and meditative painting, participants are invited to express their inner landscape through color and movement—without pressure to analyze or explain. No art or IFS experience is needed. This is a trauma-informed, non-clinical self-care offering rooted in choice, pacing, and nervous system safety.

Come as you are. Leave feeling more grounded, connected, and supported from within.

Arrival & Grounding

Settle into the space with gentle orientation, grounding, and breath awareness to support safety and presence in the body.

Body Awareness & Breath

Guided body scanning and calming breath practices to help regulate the nervous system and prepare for creative and reflective work.

Introduction to Parts-Informed Awareness

A simple, accessible introduction to parts-based self-connection, inviting participants to notice inner sensations, emotions, or patterns with curiosity and care—no prior experience required.

Meditative Painting Experience

A spacious, guided meditative painting practice focused on process over product. Participants paint slowly and mindfully, allowing color, texture, and movement to express inner experiences and support gentle release.

Pause & Integration

A short break for rest, movement, and reflection, allowing the body and nervous system to integrate the experience.

Compassionate Reflection & Closing

Guided reflection, grounding, and optional group sharing. Participants leave with simple take-home practices to continue meeting their inner world with kindness and creativity.

Visit Nicole's website for more details about services and more: https://www.artsandhealing.com/nicole-bowker-lcsw