There is a stigma that when we talk about creativity, we often mean some kind of applied art. However, working with emotions, especially those buried deep, and expressing or releasing them, is also an art. In the 12-week Artist's Way program that OpenEmbassy administers for newcomers, we use Julia Cameron's methodology to restore creativity and emotional resources. Discover why this is important in a process of integration and adjustment in the new society.
By: Anna Bilenka
Empowerment for new beginnings
Julia Cameron's Artist's Way - a 12-week guide for newcomers to foster integration, adaptation and self-confidence.
The Artist's Way is a 12-week program for restoring creativity created by American writer Julia Cameron. Each week is dedicated to restoring one aspect: safety, strength, compassion, independence. Participants are encouraged to reflect, searching for the truth within. The questions Julia asks are usually simple, but often overlooked, leading to noticeable results.
In addition, Julia recommends writing morning pages every day and having an "artist date" once a week. Overall, The Artist's Way is a time to reconnect with yourself, discover and achieve values and goals.
"This is probably the biggest insight for me right now in immigration; it helps me make the right decisions, support myself."
Participant
Why Morning Pages and Artist Dates
- A place for emotional recovery among newcomers.
Few talk about it, but immigration is an uncomfortable process. Forced immigration brings many disturbing emotional experiences. Often these emotions are suppressed as more critical integration moments take precedence: finding housing, work, enrolling children in school, etc. There is no time to think about oneself. But there are also experiences or loss of loved ones left behind in a war-torn country, or instability in the homeland due to a natural disaster. Either way, it makes it harder and blocks all emotions in general.
Morning pages is the first step in reconnecting with yourself, a tool for working with stored memories and emotions. By freely writing three pages of text daily, topics a person has been trying to hide eventually surface. It is a safe space where no one will judge, allowing difficult personal experiences to be processed. Therapists working with this tool report stress reduction, anxiety management and coping with depression in clients, as our program participants have confirmed.
"What stands out for me is discovering morning pages for myself. Sometimes when I have doubts, problems, difficulties in life - I sit down to write; this process reminds me of a tangled thread that unravels with each successive word. These are my remedies against the mental bottom."
Participant
For the same reasons, newcomers lose connection with themselves, their goals, values and life focus. Everything that requires energy is focused on survival and somehow attaching themselves to the new country. Therefore, creative dates are a place without outside criticism and condemnation, allowing more room for self-contact and being a more useful member of the new society in both the long and short term.
The path of the artist
- A therapeutic process for newcomers
By December 2023, 26 million people will have left Ukraine, about 100 thousand of whom have sought refuge in the Netherlands. According to Pharos research, 13-25% of newcomers suffer from PTSD, not to mention integration problems and the invested resources to start a life in a new country, having experienced constant war in the background. 80% report increased anxiety, experiences and depressive states, which impacts the medical system and reduces work efficiency. Does this affect the situation in the country where there are only 100 thousand Ukrainian newcomers?
Research from OpenEmbassy shows that newcomers often do not seek psychological help for a variety of reasons:
- Fear implications
- Thinking it's expensive
- Are not aware that they need it.
Therefore, The Artist's Way became a form of self-therapy, and with the decision to involve a therapist in the program, this space became truly healing.
"Concentrating on reducing stress levels and providing support to create a stable foundation is crucial for a successful adjustment. By actively participating in discussions and exchanging thoughts with other participants, Ukrainians were able to find solutions to their own needs and adjust to new life in the new country. Providing support in understanding their own emotions and condition helped Ukrainians take a step forward in the adjustment process and prepared them for successful integration into Dutch society." - Svitlana Kravchenko, psychologist.
How a newcomer program promotes community support
Created to reconnect with yourself, the Artist's Way program was transformed into a 12-week journey for newcomers. In addition to all the benefits, it is essential to mention the intimate and strong community created during this period.
For newcomers, who often struggle with the challenges of a new environment, it offered not only a roadmap to unleash their creative potential, but also mutual support.
The common bonds forged during the program play a crucial role in facilitating the adjustment process by providing understanding, encouragement and a shared journey to a new sense of belonging. Most importantly, it provided tremendous support while navigating the new country with its rules. In essence, this community (which is still functioning on its own after half the year) becomes a vital compass for newcomers looking not only for artistic inspiration, but also for a support network that walks complicated paths of adaptation and integration.
Speaking of results, participants talked about increasing their life energy, willingness to change jobs or spend time in resourceful moments. One participant dared to move from a country where she did not feel happy. A mini-support community was also formed among participants, which was another important outcome of 12 weeks among people with similar experiences.
But I see the most important conclusion in this comment:
"The Artist's Way gives a person a chance to recover and find the strength to adapt and integrate."
Photo - Markus Spiske
