The Resilience Journal is a guided expressive arts tool designed to support healing, self-exploration, and resilience-building. Developed by Dr. Leetal Benzvi, this journal is rooted in expressive arts therapy and integrates principles of trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and nonverbal creative expression.
Why Use the Resilience Journal?
During times of distress, traditional verbal therapy may not always feel accessible. The Resilience Journal provides a structured yet open-ended space to process emotions, reframe experiences, and cultivate inner strength through creative expression. By engaging in a combination of drawing, writing, and mixed-media exercises, participants can uncover new insights, regulate their emotions, and build a stronger sense of self.
How It Works
The journal follows a seven-step guided process that mirrors the natural flow of resilience-building. Each step incorporates a different expressive approach, allowing participants to:
- Arrive: Ground themselves and connect with the present moment.
- Contain: Create a safe space for emotional expression.
- Explore: Reflect on personal narratives and past experiences.
- Recognize: Identify patterns, archetypes, and inner strengths.
- Identify: Shift perspectives and harness personal resources.
- Integrate: Bridge insights into daily life for holistic balance.
- Embody: Use movement and somatic awareness to deepen healing.
Using the Resilience Journal at the retreat
Throughout this retreat, the Resilience Journal will be an essential companion in your healing process. Each day, you will be guided through expressive arts exercises that align with the themes of the retreat, allowing for deep personal exploration and creative freedom. No prior art experience is required—this is about the process, not the product.
This journal is your space to be seen, heard, and understood—by yourself, first and foremost. It is a place for reflection, release, and renewal.
Building Resilience. One Journal at a time
