The Stratford Library is continuing their 'Aging with Agility' series by focusing on presentations and events focusing on death, dying, and dealing with grief when they welcome Vanessa De Groot on Friday, Feb. 7 and her 'Healing Through Colour' workshop.
De Groot is also a registered psychotherapist who specializes in art therapy, and she says the hour-long program will provide a hands-on feel for participants who are navigating the grief process.
“Sometimes people don’t have the words to express themselves, and other times they don’t want to talk about how they are feeling,” De Groot said. “Art therapy provides an alternative avenue for people to express themselves.”
The program is free for participants thanks to funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors program.
“The library has put on three or four programs a month over the last eight months, thanks to the grant,” said Public Services Librarian Melanie Kindrachuk.
This week's session takes place from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the library, and everyone is welcome.
“It’s aimed at our senior population, through the 'Aging with Agility' series, but it’s not limited to that, so it’s also open to people who are experiencing grief in their lives,” said Kindrachuk.
The five most common stages of grief are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, but grief can look differently for everyone.
“I think grief is hard to put into words and context,” De Groot said. “When we can put our feelings into colours and shapes, it may give people a different way to explore some of those feelings. It can also give a new meaning to the feelings, because just sitting down and saying I feel sad, doesn’t work for everyone. To put all of those emotions into a picture and look at it thinking that different parts have different meanings, can give us new insight."