Women’s Support Circle provide a safe space for healing and growth. This circle utilizes a strengths-based, supportive approach interwoven with culturally responsive frameworks such as Te Whare Tapa Wha to emphasize interconnected wellbeing across mental, physical, spiritual, and familial domains and the Tree of Life model, that encourages reflection on personal strengths, resources, and support systems. Exploring holistic
wellbeing through expressive arts, participants can explore their experiences nonverbally, as well as verbally, this can foster safety, while creating transformation. Integrating these frameworks, the circle aims to empower women to reclaim their narratives, cultivate resilience and creativity, and foster a sense of agency in their healing journeys.
This established 12-week programme has been offered through the Shiloh Creative Life Centre Charitable Trust since 2021. Shiloh team are in collaboration with Maclaurin Chapel @ Auckland University to offer this circle for women seeking support in a therapeutic, safe community circle of women.
This circle is facilitated by Registered Arts & Dance Therapist Anne Hurst, and Certified Empowerment Life Coach Dee Petit who together support women of different cultures inclusively to sit in circle and safely share their stories and support activities for their healing journey in the process.
Our weekly contact consists of nine on-line two-hour zoom calls on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm and 3 in-person Wednesday evening gatherings @ Maclaurin Chapel at Auckland University to support womens’ connecting together, encouraging friendships to be formed. Throughout the programme women will be supported to explore life issues creatively to enhance overall well-being. Coming together in a safe space, women can experience a sense of belonging, release stress and creative restoration within a community that enhances their lives.
Key circle outcomes are:
- To understand your own challenges, find and focus on strengths, feel more grounded and safe in your body with feelings, gain insight into unhelpful thinking and patterns, explore new pathways for growth, and plan for positive futures.
- The circle offers mutual support and creative opportunities for women to uncover and enhance strengths, release stress and tension, and equip themselves to make positive changes to enhance their lives. Women can become more resilient, gain confidence, feel connected, have the courage to express themselves, and move forward making a positive difference for themselves, family and community.
Anne Hurst MAAT (clinical) MHSc – Expressive Therapies. PGDip Mental Health (Counselling) AthR, DTAA is an expert therapist and counsellor with over 15 years proven experience. Anne offers:
- Effective counselling skills and experience with a wide variety of client populations and cultures
- Specialist in practicing and lecturing in a variety of counselling approaches specializing in creative approaches and treatment of trauma
- Committed to delivering excellent, empowering counselling and mental health education for all students
- Committed to continual personal / professional development and growth
- Driven by Aroha, person centered, strengths into an integrative approach to cultivate client resilience, resources and recovery
Certified Empowerment Life Coach Dee Petit, is the founder/creative director of Shiloh Creative Life Centre Charitable Trust, director of Sassy Red Ltd and facilitator of educational wellness programmes, women’s support circles and creative textile art classes. Dee assists people in re-discovering their strengths and confidence to enhance and transform the quality of their personal, family and professional lives.
If you are interested in joining us in circle and share space with women who want to make changes in your life, please contact Dee: dee@shilohcentre.org.nz
Participants will need internet access. Limited to 8 women per circle.