I am a residential counselor at Jewish Family Service, a domestic violence shelter for women and children. Oftentimes, residents arrive at the shelter feeling hopeless and helpless, believing there’s nothing good in their lives. I chose to facilitate the Letters of Gratitude workshop because I wanted participants to recognize that there can be many things to be grateful for, even in the midst of challenging circumstances. 

Five residents participated, and all had attended previous art workshops and shared how much they look forward to them. When I introduced the theme of gratitude, some residents weren’t sure they would be able to come up with anything to be thankful for. To support them, I provided worksheets to help them jot down anything that came to mind. Through this process, they began to realize how even the simplest parts of their daily lives could be a source of gratitude.

By the end of the workshop, residents shared that they were grateful for the shelter and the staff. They also expressed appreciation for the art workshops and how participating made them feel good. Hearing this positive feedback was incredibly rewarding for me, and I felt deeply grateful in return.

When my supervisor first asked me to become an AWBW Facilitator, I wasn’t sure I could do it. I’m not artistic and have never taken an art class. But now, I truly enjoy being a Facilitator and am thankful for the opportunity to share this therapeutic art with our residents in a way that supports their healing journey.