Helping the healing process
Truro trauma survivor ready to help others with ‘Heal Your Heart Through Art’
When Jackie Waugh was recovering from one of the most difficult times in her life, painting helped her heal, and now she wants to share that with other survivors of trauma.
Beginning in mid-June she and Cinda Willigar, women’s support counsellor at Third Place Transition House, will be leading a program called ‘Heal Your Heart Through Art.’
“Art has helped me so much, and I’d said that some day I would like to do something with this to help other women,” said Waugh. “If it can help even one woman it’s worth it.”
She was recovering from an abusive relationship when she first decided to express her feelings on canvas.
“I was journaling, but sometimes it made me feel worse,” she recalled. “Out of the blue I got supplies and popped two pictures out that night. It felt really good and then I couldn’t stop. I did about 40 in one year and every little line in the paintings means something.”
She’s excited about ‘Heal
Your Heart Through Art’ but stresses she isn’t an instructor and won’t be asking people to do things step by step.
“There are no rules when it
comes to the art. It’s about expression.”
Waugh and Willigar spoke to Colchester County council and were able to obtain a grant to
cover the costs of running the program, which will run once a week, for four weeks, with each session lasting two hours.
It will be held during evening
“art has helped me so much, and i’d said that some day i would like to do something with this to help other women … if it can help even one woman it’s worth it.”
Jackie Waugh
hours and about 10 people can register. Materials will be supplied and space has been donated by Dave Mingo. (A second session will be held in the autumn.)
“This is open to women who’ve experienced some kind of relationship abuse and trauma,” said Willigar.
“Women get a lot from other women in a group and the painting will provide more emotional release.
“I watched Jackie grow and heal, and saw her work at the Marigold. I knew it was something that could benefit others, and they don’t have to be artists.”
For more information call Third Place Transition House at 902-893-4844.