In this interactive workshop we will explore a summarized version of the winter literary classic ‘The Snow Queen’ by Hans Christian Anderson to discover the treasures it has to offer us. We will see how this resonates with us on a personal level and how the rich imagery could be used with clients.
We will explore the story and the themes that come up using tools from the Story Arte creative toolbox. Gestalt therapy, art therapy, journaling and perhaps Psychodrama will accompany us on the voyage. We will walk in the footsteps of the main characters and consider how our lived life experiences can influence and change our relationships with others on our life path.
We will explore the rich symbology of the story, especially references connected to snow and ice. We will briefly discuss the life history of Hans Christian Anderson, the author of the story. We will consider how this story can be applied to work creatively with clients.
Stories have been with us since the very beginning of humanity when we gathered around the fire to listen to myths of creation to connect us with our inner selves, our clan and the universe. Stories have accompanied us through dark times, of war and plague and they are here to accompany us now, with their medicine, in this time of uncertainty.
In this workshop:
- We will call upon the wisdom of this classic story to guide us over challenges in our life paths.
- We will experiment with tools from the world of Gestalt, art therapy or psychodrama as we deepen into the symbolic language of the story.
- We will explore the archetypes present in the story and how they relate to modern times
- We will explore the themes that are present in the story and discuss how we could work around these themes with our clients.
This workshop is experiential, and participants will be invited to explore a story in depth and engage actively in the activities. Paper and something to draw and write with is required. Participants may wish to read the full version of The Snow Queen before the session. It can be downloaded free of charge at the following link. https://andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheSnowQueen_e.html
Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event
- You will learn how to explore a classic story of our times and observe how it resonates with you on a personal and professional level.
- You will see how to work creatively with this story in a therapeutic setting and use it to discuss any challenges that a client may be facing over the festive period
- You will learn about the symbolic language and the archetypes in the story and explore how they relate to our modern lives.
Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?
- This workshop is appropriate for all therapists, counsellors, storytellers, carers and anyone else with a deep interest in exploring the world of stories and the topic of growing old in a symbolic way.
How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?
- The wisdom inherent in this story is a powerful element to have in your toolbox. This popular story could safety be used with children. Working with this story may provide a symbolic way for clients to explore and express their inner world through the point of view of the different characters.
Course Content
Presenter
Jennifer Ramsay is a professional storyteller. She has told stories in more than 2,000 events and trained hundreds of people in the ancestral art of storytelling. She works with story medicine in private practice and as a group facilitator in unique workshops, weaving stories into Nature Based Art Therapy, Gestalt therapy, Symbolic Psychodrama and Embodiment work.
She has a degree in Biological Sciences and is part of the global network of Earth Storytellers. The rhythms of nature are very present as she incorporates the Celtic wheel of the year and the lunar cycles into her work.
She is the founder of Story Arte, a centre for Art Therapy and Storytelling in the village where she lives, in the foothills near Madrid.
