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Expressive Journeys: Mixed Media Art for Professionals

This practitioner well-being program harnesses the power of mixed media art as a tool for self-care, stress management, and emotional resilience. Designed for professionals in caregiving and therapeutic roles, this experiential training offers hands-on exploration of creative expression to promote personal well-being. Participants will engage in guided mixed media exercises, learn techniques for reflective art-making, and discover how creative practices can serve as a means of processing emotions, reducing burnout, and fostering mindfulness.

Emphasizing personal meaning and self-exploration, this program provides a restorative space for practitioners to reconnect with themselves and cultivate sustainable well-being through art.

Learning Objectives

Following this training, participants will be able to

  1. Identify fundamental mixed media art techniques and materials used for self-care and emotional resilience.
  2. The therapeutic benefits of creative expression in managing stress, preventing burnout, and fostering mindfulness.
  3. Utilize mixed media art techniques to develop personal self-care routines that support emotional well-being.
  4. Assess their own emotional responses and stress levels through reflective art-making exercises.
  5. Critically reflect on the impact of creative practices in sustaining practitioner well-being and resilience.

Upcoming dates and deadlines

August 8, 2025 (In Person)

Registration opens May 19, 2025! 

Early Registration Closing Date: July 9, 2025

Registration Closing Date: August 1, 2025

Schedule:

  • Friday, August 8, 2025 (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM)

Location: This training will take place at Duke Integrative Medicine

Instructor

Beth Palmer is a mixed media visual artist, educator, and concept designer. Known for her imaginative and life-affirming work, she creates vibrant pieces that blend vintage textiles, acrylic paint, and meaningful reuse. Beth’s art has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is found in homes, healthcare settings, and learning environments across the U.S.

Beth is the creator of several ongoing community projects, including The Fifty Six Hearts Project, The International Joy of Creativity Project, and The Forty Three Trees Project—the latter using trees as a unifying symbol to foster connection across public health, sustainability, education, and the arts, especially in North Carolina’s rural counties. Through playful surprises and a spirit of generosity, she brings a sense of lightness to even the heaviest of moments.

Her contributions have also extended to the academic and healthcare communities. Duke University’s Master of Arts in Teaching Program and TeachHouse have featured her work to inspire arts-integrated teaching practices. She was the concept designer for A Concerted Effort, a 2014 symposium that brought together music, medicine, and community partners including the Durham Medical Orchestra, Duke Health, and Durham Public Schools.

Beth is a Community of Practice member for Social Prescribing USA, and a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges arts and humanities communities. She is also a Change Maker for Clinician Well Being with the National Academy of Medicine.

Accommodations Statement

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access should contact us in advance of the program.

Continuing Education

This training is under evaluation for Continuing Education credits.

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