Mediating Trauma through Creative Expression

Trauma, grief, and deep challenges are stories that are stuck and have forgotten how to dance. Using Spirit-led creative media (writing, movement, music, and art), we will teach these stories to move again, toward new life. What is your vision of new life?

We all have experienced trauma in recent times and many of our lives have moved in unexpectedly difficult directions. Trauma work is difficult and rewarding. When we do the work, especially in community, new life comes that can bring us unexpected blessings. Through our five sessions, we will develop our stories, incorporating art and poetry. We will support each other to re-vision the story then invite it to move, using dance, movement, and music.

The work of four academicians/writers (Bessel Van der Kolk, Peter Levine, Stephen Porges – who endorsed this workshop – and John Calvi) will ground our experiential work throughout the weekend. We will engage with simple Spirit-led creative media to explore what the academicians and the spiritual healers mean when they tell us how to heal trauma. We will ask, “What is your story? Vision? What support do you need to move forward? How will we each get our needs met to move forward?” Through these steps we seek to free our stories and hear Spirit’s plan for us. Come dance with us, with God and our community to build this new life together.

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Leader(s)

Dr. Jennifer Elam began her study of psychology in 1969 and served in many settings until her retirement in 2014. She has been immersed in Quaker ministry for 30+ years, studying at Pendle Hill and developing her ministry in arts and spirituality. She is presently following leadings to use her lifetime of work in psychology, spirituality, and social justice to develop classes and workshops using creative media – writing, poetry, dance, and visual art – as led by Spirit for healing. As a writer, she also recently published a Pendle Hill pamphlet – Hillbilly Quaker (PHP #475) –  that led her to develop a workshop on identities.

Gloria Stearns-Bruner is a member of Bloomington Friends Meeting, Indiana and has been a Quaker for 34 years. She is a clinical music therapist in private practice as well as a violinist, currently following a leading in music ministry and activism and writing music as led by Spirit for personal and cultural healing. Learn more about Gloria’s work at www.gloriasmusic.com.

Lori Pineiro Sinitzky (she), who will be serving as an elder for this program, is a Quaker, educator, and big-picture (over)thinker who’s been designing and facilitating Quaker and antiracism programs for over 20 years. Lori has a BFA in Painting from Moore College of Art and Design and a certificate in K-5 education. She is a member of Green Street Meeting (PYM) and lives in Philadelphia with her two children on the unceded land of the Lenni Lenape people.  

Financial aid may be available. If you are seeking funds to participate in this program, click to review and complete our Financial Assistance Application and a Pendle Hill staff member will follow-up with you shortly (please do NOT register online). Thank you for your interest.

Travel directions to Pendle Hill. Please make sure to review our health and safety expectations at https://pendlehill.org/stay/covid-19-information/.