A close-up of a hand drawing colorful cross-hatched patterns with a purple marker, accompanied by a quote from Jean Kropper: 'The simple act of drawing can take you out of the busy thoughts in your head and give your mind a chance to recharge.

A portrait of Jean Kropper wearing a purple sweater and glasses, with a quote: 'Regardless of whatever else is going on in our lives, gratitude reminds us of what we already have that is good

A close-up of a hand drawing intersecting blue and green lines with a white pen on a notecard, alongside a quote from Jean Kropper: 'There is no ‘right’ way to draw. Remember, you can always tear it up and start again. You can make art any way you want.

For Mental Health Professionals

What skills are taught in the Meditative Drawing Workshop?

The Meditative Drawing Workshop is a safe, inclusive, non-judgemental space where people can develop self-awareness, language and new skills around managing their own mental wellbeing. This is done in the context of an entertaining beginner-level creative workshop. The participants are lead through techniques for stress relief, quieting busy thoughts, mindfulness, changing state from dysregulated to regulated and releasing strong emotions such as rage, anxiety, frustration, fear and grief in safe, repeatable ways.

Each week brings new creative inspiration in the form of both a live webinar and informative PDF worksheets and in the live group zoom sessions to guide people to create simple drawings or patterns. Pre-recorded sessions are available so participants can repeat and reinforce what was learned in the live sessions and can be watched at any time to fit into busy schedules. They learn co-regulation in the group.

No previous art skills are needed

Non artists, experienced artists and beginners are all welcome. The only materials used are a packet of markers and some copy paper, to make the workshop is

inexpensive and accessible.

We focus on developing self-awareness and skill building and do not go into sharing the details of individual stories, so participants are unlikely to be triggered or feel overly vulnerable. This self-awareness and building of skills can speed their healing and their involvement with their own growth. Participants share comments and their drawings and workshop content as they feel ready.

Mental Health Skills Toolbox

Mindfulness practices, self-care, breathwork, art therapy, and grounding exercises are explained so participants can build practical skills to create a mental health skills toolbox they can reach for as needed. By repeating the exercises week by week participants gradually rewire their nervous systems for calm through neuroplasticity.

The workshop shares the practice of drawing and making marks art for creative expression, stress relief, emotional healing and to build resilience. The content has been developed from my own research, lived experience and learning from several healing practitioners as part of my healing journey.

An instructional diagram titled 'Five Finger Breathing Exercise' illustrating a mindfulness technique. The image shows a hand outline with arrows guiding the breathing process while tracing each finger, encouraging slow and deep breaths to help calm the mind and body.

Note: There are many exercises demonstrated in the webinars on the FREE TRAININGS page that you

can use with your own clients. These show how to use the expressive arts for stress reduction and

healing. In my twenty-five years of teaching in the USA, Canada and around Australia, I have seen the

powerful benefits of the arts on mental health.

I invite collaborations and cross referrals with other mental health professionals to support client

choices in healing. Please book in a zoom call on my calendar page or email me if you can’t find times

that suit. I am in Australia so suitable times will be late afternoon or early morning.

If you have ideas, insights or concerns about workshop content you are welcome to contact me.

Jean Kropper

Who is this for?

We work with people who are eager to develop practical skills to manage their wellbeing; we do not work with people in crisis.

The people who come to our workshops are struggling with high stress levels, anxiety, depression, PTSD, are recovering from trauma, or addiction, recovering from surgery, going through divorce, cancer treatment, grief or other life changes. Many participants are new to self-awareness and personal growth work. We welcome LGBTQI people.

We work with people in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a sprinkling of English speakers elsewhere. Jean travels to the USA about every 18 months and is available then for in person talks and workshops.