By Dimitra Didangelou, psychologist, MSc, Writing Therapist

The post Expressing Gratitude in everyday life – meditation & expressive writing appeared first on Expressing MySelf Institute.

Express yourself
Explore your inner world
Expand your creative self
Experience Greece

A six-day retreat in Greece designed by the psychologist and author Dimitra Didangelou to help you to enrich your self-connection and nourish your soul, mind and body. A creative oasis for self- renewal and mental well-being.

Dimitra’s approach through expressive writing techniques encourages life reflection, self-exploration and creative expansion.

The workshops are useful for all individuals, while can particularly benefit those seeking to gain insight into their inner lives, increase self-awareness, listen to their inner voice and connect with their full creative potential.

Here are some activities you can expect from your retreat:

• Daily workshops in natural and serene landscapes
• Excursions to the astonishing beaches, yoga, massages, horse riding, swimming, hiking available onsite
• Breakfast and meals with delicious local dishes and wine

Space for workshops is limited to 10 participants to ensure lots of individual support and a nourishing environment, so it’s a good idea to secure your place early!

The language of the retreat will be English.

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM HERE
SCHEDULE_Damouchari_Retreat

Freedom, revelation, catharsis. I felt like I got the pen down to my soul and then I imprinted it onto paper. And then, I faced the truth that finally was inside me. I saw, on the paper, me, in my most authentic form.
Th. K., Cyprus

WHAT MAKES THIS RETREAT SPECIAL

The content

The more you know about yourself, the richer your inner life becomes. Through specific expressive writing tools and methods developed by experts the workshops are designed to help you to get in touch with your inner world, connect with nature and other people.

Expressing freely your feelings and thoughts allows you to tune into your authentic self, identify where your blockages stem from and give you the strength to overcome them.

Here is what some of the past participants have to say about Dimitra’s workshops:

The exercises opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about my work, and myself. From the first session, I felt I was already a step forward in discovering newfound enjoyment and confidence in my writing. The workshops were so practical and flexible that I could adapt them to my specific needs.
S.B., Prague

Dimitra provided me with deeply insightful advice on the best way to proceed with the writing of a deeply personal memoir and on the struggles that come with it.
S.A., Berlin

I hugely enjoyed the one-on-one session with Dimitra. She is a great listener, and knows how to ask all the right questions to get you thinking about your own writing process. I finished the session feeling very motivated and with new insights and perspectives relating to present and future work. Perfect!
M.H., Berlin

For more information, read our FAQ about Expressive Writing.

The Host

Dimitra is a licensed psychologist, MSc and author living and working in Brussels. In her approach, she uses writing as the main tool in combination with the CRM trauma therapy model. She, also, does a synthesis of the various methods from additional training she has received, such as book therapy, meditation, philosophical counseling, and so on.

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree in Psychology, Master of Science Diploma in Psychology and Mass Media, Advanced Study in Therapeutic Writing (The Center for Journal Writing in Denver, CO, USA),  Certificate in Philosophical Counseling and Psychotherapy, Training in the Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM, trauma therapy) by Lisa Schwarz, Systemic approach, Career Consultation. Seminars in Intergenerational Analysis, Book Therapy, Meditation Guidance, Bach Flower Remedies etc.

She holds an official license to practice the profession of psychologist and she’s a member of: Belgian Commission of Psychologists (no 812333003), Association of Greek Psychologists (no2671), Lapidus International, Mental Health Europe, Hellenic Network of Women in Europe.

Learn more about Dimitra Didangelou here.

The location

The retreat will take place in Pelion area, a Greece’s hidden gem, homeland of mythic Chiron Centaurus, tutor of many ancient Greek heroes and healer. Pelion is in the Greek mainland, which is home to some of the most beautiful beaches, forests and hiking trails in Greece. You will be accommodated in Damouchari, a quiet and authentic Greek fishing village, unique natural harbor of the whole area in an extremely virgin part of Pelion. Just few steps walking and one can swim and snorkel in the clear waters.
The workshops will take place in a spectacular, peaceful and serene scenery.

The low-cost

If you choose a twin room, you can book with a friend or we’ll match you with someone. The same for the three bed room, and there is also one with four beds, upon request.

  Included in the price:

• Bed and breakfast
• Workshops with Dimitra & Katerina
• Yoga with Katerina
• Welcome dinner and drinks

Not Included:

• Airfares
• Transfers from/to the airport
• Meals, with the exception of the welcome dinner
  (in the village there are taverns which serve local traditional dishes and coffee-shops with snacks with average prices from 3€ for tea or coffee and 7-10€ for a dish and 6€ for a salad)

Optional Extras:
One-on-one sessions with Dimitra or Katerina (50€)
Private yoga or breathing lessons
Massage
Horse Riding
Hiking
Swimming

 Damouhari’s natural harbor is perfect starting point for “sea kayak” and SUP tours to the wild coastline. The historic trade trails that connected the village with other seaside or even more mountainous traditional Pelion villages are well known to walkers who enjoy hiking on the mountains and the sea.

Accommodation & Food

You will stay in a traditional guesthouse typical of the village. All rooms and apartments have their own balcony, where one can sit and enjoy the magnificent view of the bay.

A rich, healthy breakfast awaits you, and you can enjoy it for two hours every morning on the terrace of “Victoria’s café” in the heart of the harbor. Natural flavours, local products and favorite Pelion recipes with the freshest and selected ingredients, organic and biological, create a purely Greek and traditional breakfast.

How to book

For booking inquiries, email Dimitra at
dimitra@expressingmyself.org
or send a message on WhatsApp +32 495660113
or +30 6948549865

In order to hold your place, we take a non-refundable deposit of €250. The balance of the fees will be due on May 20th. Once paid, fees are non-refundable except in the event of our cancellation.

Space for workshops is limited to 10 participants to ensure lots of individual support and a nourishing environment.

How to come

We will organise your trip from the airport to the village Damouchari.
Flights go to either Athens (4 hours driving to Damouchari) or Thessaloniki (2,5 hours). Both Athens and Thessaloniki are nice cities to spend some time or days.

Alternative option closer to Damouchari is Nea Anchialos National Airport (VOL) about half an hour drive from the city of Volos with charter flights.
You can check here:
http://www.thessalyairport.gr/en/

Damouchari is reachable by car, taxi or bus. The nearest city is Volos where public buses at least two every day (one early in the morning and one early in the afternoon) towards the village called Aghios Ioannis. From Aghios Ioannis is about 30 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by car.

For buses check here:
http://ktelvolou.gr/en/home/

What else?

Learn more about Pelion here:
https://travelersanddreamers.com/pelion-greece/
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/jun/20/greece

If you want to combine your retreat with vacation in Greece before or after, you can ask Dimitra for recommendations.

The post Retreat in Greece Summer 2023 – An inspirational inner journey appeared first on Expressing MySelf Institute.

By Dimitra Didangelou, Psychologist, Author, MSc, Specialized in Therapeutic Writing

When we read a book, we enter its world, we identify with the heroes and their experiences, we travel with them and it makes us think more. The journey of reading is not only spiritual but mental as well and it can lead us to a healing and internally purifying process. This exactly is the basis of “bibliotherapy”.

At some point, we have all felt the relieving properties of reading the right book at the right time and this seems to have been discovered very early in ancient Greece. After all, the term “bibliotherapy” originates from the Greek words “book” and “therapy” (Suvilehto, 2019).

What exactly is this method? “Bibliotherapy uses literature to bring about a therapeutic interaction between the participant and facilitator. In interactive bibliotherapy, a trained facilitator uses guided discussion to help the clinical or developmental participant(s) integrate both feelings and cognitive responses to a selected work of literature, which may be a printed text, some form of audiovisual material, or creative writing by the participant.”(Hynes-Berry & McCarthy-Hynes,1994, p. 10).

Bibliotherapy has been an official term since 1916 in the American magazine Atlantic Monthly (Pehrsson & McMillen, 2007), and started becoming a popular method during World War I in Britain and the United States, where the treatment of hospitalized patients and soldiers who suffered from post-traumatic stress often included reading literary books (Shechtman, 2009, p. 21).

Sigmund and Anna Freud used literature in their psychoanalytic approach (Pehrsson & McMillen, 2007). In the 1940s, teacher-led bibliotherapy groups were very popular in schools (Peryon, 1982). This was the developmental bibliotherapy and was used by the teachers, the librarians and the health care providers in order to facilitate the changes that occurred in the lives of healthy people mostly (Rubin, 1978). The clinical bibliotherapy was used by mental health professionals aiming at healing emotional and behavioral issues.

The use of bibliotherapy can be applied to both individuals and groups for many psychological issues, such as traumatic experiences, behavioral problems, abuse, addictions, chronic diseases, self-destructive behaviors, stress, etc. Also, it can be applied to marginalized groups, vulnerable populations or people experiencing crises and difficult life situations (mourning, loss, divorce, unemployment, immigration, etc.).

Some of the benefits of using books for therapeutic reasons are that individuals may become more social, increase their self-awareness and develop compassion and empathy. It is a process in which negative emotions are replaced by positive ones while new functional behaviors and less painful symptoms are developed (Pehrsson & McMillen, 2005, 2007).

At this point, it is important to emphasize that simply reading is not enough to benefit from the use of books. In order to create an effective method, some conditions need to be met, such as the development of a good relationship between the facilitator and the participant. Also, the participant should be open to the process, to be acquainted with literary writing and have a deep perception of the meanings of the text.

Usually, bibliotherapy is included as a tool in a wider treatment plan (Pehrsson & McMillen, 2007) and the process must go through some stages in order to obtain results. Caroline Shrodes (1950) has created one of the most successful models which is based on psychodynamic approaches and includes three stages: identification, catharsis and insight/mindfulness.

“There is a variation in the way the recognition comes. At times, it is immediate. In other cases, the literature itself does not directly spark a catalytic response. The facilitator may have to probe a bit before any recognition takes place. Or the remarks of other members in a group may stir a response. However, even when the response comes through the dialogue, it is still the literature that initiated the discussion and thus can be considered a catalyst.”(Hynes-Berry & McCarthy-Hynes,1994, p.34).

Dr. Altunbay (2018) has noted that bibliotherapy is about finding the right books at the right time. However, not all books can be used for bibliotherapy. It is very important to be a realistic dimension in the books and reflect the issues that concern the person who follows bibliotherapy (Altunbay, 2018). The books that are used are fiction, non-fiction or literary. In some cases self-help books are used, but not all of them are suitable. In order to be effective, some specific quality standards need to be met.

Dr. Müzeyyen Altunbay (2018) from Giresun University in Turkey suggests the use of biographies in bibliotherapy, given the fact that biographies are authentic and can serve as a positive role model. This happens because they present not only the successes of the person whose biography is being written but also their entire journey to exceptional achievements. This includes virtues such as patience and perseverance, determination and not giving up on the difficulties of life. Moreover, factors that cover all stages of development and areas throughout life are presented in detail: from childhood and youth to academic and professional life, personal life, difficulties, successes, personality, habits, character, etc. The people who read biographies can see positive results, such as more encouragement and increased motivation and self-confidence.

In the Hand in Hand project, Dr. Pirjo Suvilehto (2019) from the University of Oulou, Finland, applies developmental bibliotherapy to children in order to strengthen their self-knowledge, increase their joy and their faith to the future.

For the same reason, fairy tales are used in bibliotherapy. The use of fantasy literature can offer the child a safe way to experience new thoughts, attitudes and feelings. Fairy tales can also be used in all age groups, allowing people to get from each story what they need. They offer a way to use imagination in order to deal with their problems and find a deeper meaning in life and difficulties (Afolayan, 1992).

Nevertheless, bibliotherapy has some limitations and should not be considered as a cure for all kinds of emotional problems (Afolayan, 1992). According to Edwards and Simpson (1986), it is not suitable for serious emotional disorders and in such conditions parents and teachers should seek professional help. In addition, it has been reported that in some cases if people read about problems similar to theirs, that could possibly make these problems worse (Afolayan, 1992).

According to the above, when books are used as part of a broader treatment plan and under certain conditions, they can become a very useful tool that will help the participants to feel relieved of the problems that concern them. This way, the psychotherapists may have at their disposal a very good method that will give boost to individual and group sessions. Furthermore, the participants will gain a very good friend for the rest of their lives!

Bibliography:

Afolayan, J. A. (1992). Documentary perspective of bibliotherapy in education. Reading Horizons, 33(2), 137-148.

Altunbay, M. (2018). Using Literature in Bibliotheraphy: Biography Sampling. Journal of Education and Training Studies. 6. 201. 10.11114/jets.v6i11.3593.

Edwards, P., Simpson, L. (1986). Bibliotherapy: A strategy for communication between parents and their children. Journal of Reading, 30, 110-118.

Hynes-Berry, M., McCarthy-Hynes, A. (1994). Biblio/poetry therapy—the interactive process: A handbook. St. Cloud: North Star Press.

Pehrsson, D. E., McMillen, P. (2005). A Bibliotherapy Evaluation Tool: Grounding counselors in the therapeutic use of literature. Arts in Psychotherapy, 32(1), 47-59.

Pehrsson, D., McMillen, P. S. (2007). Bibliotherapy: Overview and implications for counselors. Professional Couseling Digest 2. https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/lib_articles/27

Rubin, R. J. (1978). Using bibliotherapy: A guide to theory and practice. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press.

Shechtman, Z. (2009). Treating Child and Adolescent Aggression Through Bibliotherapy. Ch. 2. 10.1007/978-0-387-09745-9.

Suvilehto. P. (2019). We Need Stories and Bibliotherapy Offers One Solution to Developmental Issues. Online Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 1(5): 10.33552/OJCAM.2019.01.000523.

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“The morning wind forever blows, the poem of creation is uninterrupted; but few are the ears that hear it.”
Henry D. Thoreau, Walden (Life in the Woods)

It’s Monday afternoon, a hard day at work has just finished and you return home. How do you relax? Turn on your computer and check out the social media news while watching something on TV? Or do you prefer to change your clothes and go out for some outdoor activities, perhaps go for a walk in a nearby park?

Most people usually prefer to do the first without a second thought. It is a fact that in the last few hundred years people have been disconnected from nature to a large extent (Katcher and Beck, 1987). Adults and children spend most of their time in front of a screen and technological devices and less time doing outdoor activities (Atchley et al., 2012).

This is something we witness and experience around us every day. We spend most of the day indoors and if we are out, our focus is once again drawn to another screen or technological device. Every time we are in nature, we usually want to dominate and impose our presence there without respecting it. We forget that we are part of it, that we and nature are one. Ourselves and nature are not two separate entities, it’s just one (Welling, 2014).

In her book “Reclaiming the Wild Soul”, Mary Reynolds Thompson notes that we live in a world that dominates nature, which creates in us the desire to dominate everything: other people, and even worse, our spirit. One of her students wrote: “All these internal rules of how I should be are a burden for me, and I feel disconnected from the spontaneous flow inside me.” Our desire to dominate our environment and change it may prevent us from finding our true nature (Thompson, 2014).

It is true that more than 50% of people on earth live in urban areas and that rate is about to rise to 70% by 2050 (Bratman & al., 2015). Our environment plays an important role in the way we think and behave (Atchley & al., 2012). Bearing in mind all the above, we can understand the value of studying the impact of the environment on humans as well as developmenting methods that can reduce the negative effects of disconnection created by technology.

Research that proves the beneficial properties of nature for our body is constantly increasing. For example, according to Rachel and Stephan Kaplan, people who have direct access to the natural environment are healthier than those who do not. Longer-term, indirect effects include an increased level of satisfaction with their home, work and their life as a whole (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989).

According to Attention Restoration Theory (ART) developed by Kaplan in 1980, people focus better when they spend time in nature or even when they are watching scenes from nature (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989).

A research based on the above theory (ART) confirmed the fact that the brain’s cognitive function is increased in the natural environment. Marc Berman and his colleagues at the University of Michigan found that students walking in a park performed better on a memory test than other students walking in the city streets (Berman & al., 2008).

In another research, Kaplan and Kaplan concluded that it is not necessary to run in the woods to benefit from nature. Just taking a look at nature through the window could be enough. According to their findings, employees who viewed nature from their offices had a more constructive view of their work, better health and satisfaction from their life (Kaplan & al., 1998).

Frances Kuo has dedicated her life to studying the impact of the natural environment on people, and together with her colleague William Sullivan they founded the Human-Environment Research Laboratory (HERL). Her research included children who were diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). After performing some tests, it was found that the children who took a walk in a park for 20 minutes felt much more relaxed than the children who walked in an urban environment (Taylor & Kuo, 2009).

In another study, Bratman and his colleagues found that 90 minutes of walking in nature may reduce thinking about the same things again and again (also known as repetitive negative thoughts) by reducing the function of a specific part of the brain associated with mental illness. Researchers have found that this doesn’t happen when someone is walking in the city (Bratman & al., 2015).

Bratman, together with a different scientific team, found that nature can also affect cognitive function. Compared to walking in an urban environment, walking in nature had an effective emotional effect by reducing stress and repetitive thoughts; it also helped to maintain these effects. Moreover, it had a positive cognitive effect by enhancing working memory, which aids learning (Bratman et al., 2015).

In their research, Ruth Ann Atchley, David L. Strayer and Paul Atchley found that reconnecting with nature and at the same time disconnecting from technology can help solve problems in a creative way. They also believe that technology and noise pollution in urban areas distract us and reduce our focus. The participants walked in nature carrying their backpacks for four days and were not allowed to use any technological devices. According to the results, when asked to solve complex problems that required creativity their performance increased by 50%.

Therefore, wandering and exploring in nature seems to be related to the disconnection from technology. Tristan Gooley, author of “How to Connect with Nature”, says: “When we are at home, brain-neutral activities such as watching TV or checking out the social media news may be more enticing than putting on our coats and going out. However, after 10 minutes out in the fresh air, these electronic brain-traps lose their impact.”

How can all the above be combined with writing?

Thompson insists that technology adds yet another layer of noise to our already busy lives, which can keep us away from our intuition and the language of non-human beings, while silence creates space within us, empties us (Thompson, 2014).

In her book “Writing Wild”, Tina Welling says that many of us behave like tourists in our own lives. We are constantly looking for something out there, when everything is inside us (Welling, 2014). She also claims that we often believe that nature is a place to rest. However, few of us know that we can also rejuvenate (Welling, 2014) and relax. Relaxation, rejuvenation, focus, silence, self analysis and problem solving are basic components of creative expression. When the process of creation is combined with nature, the beneficial effects are even greater.

Writing is one of the most common creative activities. In the psychology field that is called therapeutic or expressive writing is used as a means of expressing emotions and thoughts. In other words, paper can become our mirror and lead us to self-knowledge and personal development. According to Welling, we experience the power of language when writing in our diaries. Ourselves develop and shine in the light of our attention. We expand, awaken and become the person we are looking for in other people. Words have the power to change us.

When the writing process takes place in the natural environment, there are many more benefits for the writer than writing in an office, looking only at a computer screen.

Welling claims that the need for creation is something peculiar. Creative people need nature, a contact with their authentic self. The body is the link between the creative mind and nature (Welling, 2014). The sensory awakening that we experience in nature increases creativity. Sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, they all finely tuned, become sharper and return to primitive levels.

In the natural environment, time expands, so we have the opportunity to observe. Observation, whether it is related to the outside or the interior world, is an essential component of writing. Thompson points out that we have lost the ability to imagine beyond the predetermined pattern we have learned from others. We forgot the power of our own imagination without the boundaries of urban conventions (Thompson, 2014).

The simplicity of the natural environment empties our mind and helps us see things more clearly from a new, different perspective. The silence and serenity of nature help us to focus on our inner world and hear our inner voice. They help us pay attention to the mental, spiritual and physical messages that otherwise would be ignored in our busy daily routine.

In nature, we reveal ourselves completely, without the corruptions of the external environment. In the natural environment, we can be our true self no matter what our position or role is. In nature, we have the ability to accept and emphasize our uniqueness, to find more easily the way which leads to our personal path. We can envisage more clearly our pure self and discover aspects that we had either forgotten or neglected or did not  know they even existed.

Nature can be the greatest teacher. In order to reap its rewards one must immerse themselves in it completely.

Bibliography:

Atchley., R.A., Strayer, D.L., Atchley, P. (2012). Creativity in the Wild: Improving Creative Reasoning through Immersion in Natural Settings. PLoS ONE 7(12): e51474. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051474

Berman, G.M., , Jonides, J., Kaplan, S.. (2008). The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With Nature. Association for Psychological Science. 19(12): 1207-1212.

Bratman, G.N., Hamilton, J.P., Hahn, K.S., Daily, G.C., Gross, J.J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation.  PNAS. 112 (28);8567–8572. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1510459112.

Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., Gross, J. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138, 41-50.

Faber, A. T., Kuo, F.E. (2009). Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12, 402-409.

Gooley, Τ. (2014). How to Connect with Nature. MacMillan, London.

Kaplan, R. Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York.

Kaplan, R., Kaplan, S., Ryan, R. L. (1998). With people in mind: Design and management of everyday nature. DC: Island Press. Washington.

Katcher, A., Beck, A. (1987). Health and caring for living things. Anthrozoös, 1, 175–183.

Thompson, Μ.R. (2014). Reclaiming the Wild Soul. White Cloud Press. Ashland, Oregon.

Welling, T. (2014). Writing Wild. New World Library. Novato, California.

Web Source

Jabr, F., Why Walking Helps Us Think, https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/walking-helps-us-think

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Join us for a week of inspiring, fun and creative activities you can do from the safety of your home!

Nefeli Nine Retreats meets Troubelle to bring you a workshop designed to help you find your inner light through exercises in sports, art & music.

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Contact Dimitra at:
dimitra@expressingmyself.org

or

didaggelou@gmail.com

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“A word after a word after a word is power.”  – Margaret Atwood  / “Ein Wort nach einem Wort nach einem Wort ist Kraft.”  – Margaret Atwood

Description / Beschreibung

This storytelling workshop is for everyone. We’ll learn to tell short stories from our lives. We’ll also listen deeply to the stories told by the people around us. Stories can connect, inspire, challenge, and spark new ideas.

Dieser Workshop ist für alle. Wir werden lernen kurze Geschichten von unserem Leben zu erzählen. Dabei werden wir uns auch mit den Geschichten der anderen Teilnehmern bekannt machen. Geschichten können uns verbinden, inspirieren, anregen, und neue Ideen in uns erwecken.

During the workshop we are going to play with words, meet new cultures, share part of our stories, and most of all…have fun!

Während des Workshops werden wir mit Wörter spiegeln, neue Kulturen kennenlernen, und Teile unserer Geschichten miteinander teilen. Aber am allermeisten werden wir lachen und SPASS haben!

All languages, backgrounds, and interests are welcome. The only requirement is openness to others and their experiences. You don’t need to have any writing, storytelling, or other experience. We’ll celebrate each other’s languages and learn from each other.

Alle Sprachen, Kulturen, und Interessen sind herzlich willkommen. Die einzige Bedingung ist Offenheit für alle Teilnehmer und deren Erfahrungen. Du brauchst keine Erfahrung im Schreiben, Erzählen, oder andere Erfahrungen. Wir werden unsere vielen Sprachen zelebrieren und dabei voneinander lernen.

Dimitra Didangelou will fly from Greece and bring her experience in the expressive writing field. She will provide writing tools in order to help you with the storytelling.

Dimitra Didangelou kommt aus Griechenland und bringt ihrer Erfahrungen im Feld ‘Expressive Writing’. Sie hilft Euch  mit dem Werkzeug des Schreibens zu arbeiten um eure Geschichten zu erzählen.

Luisa Beck lives in Berlin and bring her experiences as a storyteller, writer, journalist, and teacher.

Luisa Beck lebt in Berlin und bringt ihre Erfahrungen als Storyteller, Journalistin, und Lehrerin.

The workshop will be held in a safe and non-judgmental environment, were you can feel comfortable and relaxed. There is no right or wrong answer.

Der Workshop wird in einem sicheren und wertfreien Umfeld stattfinden, indem du dich wohl und entspannt fühlen sollst. Es gibt hier keine richtigen oder falschen Antworten.

Free entrance, places are limited./ Freier Eintritt, Plätze sind begrenzt.

Who we are

DIMITRA DIDANGELOU is a psychologist, science journalist and author who aims to help people gain insight and enhance their creativity through expressive writing. Alongside founding and editing a web-magazine that explores psychology, she is the founder of “Expressing MySelf”, an Institute which offers workshops promoting creative living. Her training includes Advanced Study in Therapeutic Writing (The Center for Journal Writing in Denver, CO, USA), an MSc in Psychology and the Mass Media, a BA in Psychology and a Certificate in Philosophical Counseling and Psychotherapy. Dimitra is a published novelist and her short stories have been distinguished in many writing contests. Learn more about Dimitra here. See Dimitra’s TED speech here.

Luisa Beck is a journalist, writer, audio storyteller, and teacher. She works at The Washington Post’s Berlin bureau, where she covers elections, migration, history, art and the environment. Before joining The Post, she made audio stories for National Public Radio and various podcasts. She has guest lectured and taught multimedia storytelling to students at the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford, California College of the Arts and the Berlin Journalism School.

INFO
When: Saturday 21rst April 2018, 10.30 – 13.30
Where: Viktoria Park, Kreuzberg

Contact Luisa: emmi.beck@gmail.com
Contact Dimitra: dimitra@expressingmyself.org

FREE entrance

Registrations open until Thursday 19th of April 2018

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“A word after a word after a word is power.”  – Margaret Atwood  / “Ein Wort nach einem Wort nach einem Wort ist Kraft.”  – Margaret Atwood

Description / Beschreibung

This storytelling workshop is for everyone. We’ll learn to tell short stories from our lives. We’ll also listen deeply to the stories told by the people around us. Stories can connect, inspire, challenge, and spark new ideas.

Dieser Workshop ist für alle. Wir werden lernen kurze Geschichten von unserem Leben zu erzählen. Dabei werden wir uns auch mit den Geschichten der anderen Teilnehmern bekannt machen. Geschichten können uns verbinden, inspirieren, anregen, und neue Ideen in uns erwecken.

During the workshop we are going to play with words, meet new cultures, share part of our stories, and most of all…have fun!

Während des Workshops werden wir mit Wörter spiegeln, neue Kulturen kennenlernen, und Teile unserer Geschichten miteinander teilen. Aber am allermeisten werden wir lachen und SPASS haben!

All languages, backgrounds, and interests are welcome. The only requirement is openness to others and their experiences. You don’t need to have any writing, storytelling, or other experience. We’ll celebrate each other’s languages and learn from each other.

Alle Sprachen, Kulturen, und Interessen sind herzlich willkommen. Die einzige Bedingung ist Offenheit für alle Teilnehmer und deren Erfahrungen. Du brauchst keine Erfahrung im Schreiben, Erzählen, oder andere Erfahrungen. Wir werden unsere vielen Sprachen zelebrieren und dabei voneinander lernen.

Dimitra Didangelou will fly from Greece and bring her experience in the expressive writing field. She will provide writing tools in order to help you with the storytelling.

Dimitra Didangelou kommt aus Griechenland und bringt ihrer Erfahrungen im Feld ‘Expressive Writing’. Sie hilft Euch  mit dem Werkzeug des Schreibens zu arbeiten um eure Geschichten zu erzählen.

Luisa Beck lives in Berlin and bring her experiences as a storyteller, writer, journalist, and teacher.

Luisa Beck lebt in Berlin und bringt ihre Erfahrungen als Storyteller, Journalistin, und Lehrerin.

The workshop will be held in a safe and non-judgmental environment, were you can feel comfortable and relaxed. There is no right or wrong answer.

Der Workshop wird in einem sicheren und wertfreien Umfeld stattfinden, indem du dich wohl und entspannt fühlen sollst. Es gibt hier keine richtigen oder falschen Antworten.

Free entrance, places are limited.

Freier Eintritt, Plätze sind begrenzt.

Who we are

DIMITRA DIDANGELOU is a psychologist, science journalist and author who aims to help people gain insight and enhance their creativity through expressive writing. Alongside founding and editing a web-magazine that explores psychology, she is the founder of “Expressing MySelf”, an Institute which offers workshops promoting creative living. Her training includes Advanced Study in Therapeutic Writing (The Center for Journal Writing in Denver, CO, USA), an MSc in Psychology and the Mass Media, a BA in Psychology and a Certificate in Philosophical Counseling and Psychotherapy. Dimitra is a published novelist and her short stories have been distinguished in many writing contests. Learn more about Dimitra here. See Dimitra’s TED speech here.

Luisa Beck is a journalist, writer, audio storyteller, and teacher. She works at The Washington Post’s Berlin bureau, where she covers elections, migration, history, art and the environment. Before joining The Post, she made audio stories for National Public Radio and various podcasts. She has guest lectured and taught multimedia storytelling to students at the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford, California College of the Arts and the Berlin Journalism School.

INFO
When: Saturday 21rst April 2018, 10.30 – 13.30
Where: Viktoria Park, Kreuzberg

Contact Luisa: emmi.beck@gmail.com
Contact Dimitra: dimitra@expressingmyself.org

Registrations open until Thursday 19th of April 2018

The post We, Storytellers – An Intercultural Storytelling Workshop in Berlin appeared first on Expressing MySelf Institute.