Finding Your Voice through Creativity
Table of Contents

Introduction7

CHAPTER 1

Let’s Be Selfish for a Minute11
What Are the Questions You Want Answered?13
The Pie of Your Life15
Decorating Your Name17
Your Name Is Your Best Friend19
“This Is Me” Collage21
My Crystal Ball23
Life Events Time Line25

CHAPTER 2

Opening Your Heart27
Decoding Your Life Events Time Line29
Abstract Self-Portrait31
Abstract Self-Image Translation33
The Door to the Inner Self35
My Secret Garden37

CHAPTER 3

Emotional Armor39
Life Roles41
Draw Yourself in Armor43
The Secret Toll of Wearing Armor45
The Letter You Would Never Send47
A Suit of Armor vs. An Umbrella49

CHAPTER 4

Finding Your Voice51
You Are an Unique Reaction Machine53
The Yucky Feelings Inventory55
Disposing of Your Feelings57
Storing Feelings in Your Body59
Your Disordered-Eating Dictator61

CHAPTER 5

Are You Hungry?63
Unscrambling the Word Match65
What’s on the Menu?67
Let’s Dance or Should We Kick-Box?69
Arranging the Dinner Table71
My Unique Instruction Manual73

CHAPTER 6

Panning for Gold75
You Are a Treasure77
Others Believe You Are a Treasure Too!79
Reframing Your Life81
The Mirror Does Lie83
Being the Best at Who You Are, Not Who You Aren’t85

CHAPTER 7

Trying on a Different Hat87
My Inner Lion and My Outer Mouse, or Visa Versa89
Sitting in a Different Chair91
Stepping Out into the World93
Your Core95
A New Hat97

CHAPTER 8

Barriers to Healing 99
Holding Your Ground101
The Discomfort of Healing103
Uncorking the Bottle105
Fear: Why Am I Shaking in My Boots?107
Passivity: Am I Being Stepped On?109
Contraband? Oh, I Forgot about that Little Habit!111

CHAPTER 9

Problem Solving113
Planning Your Move115
Asking for Help: The Laundry Basket117
My “Precious” Disaster119
Giving Yourself Feedback121
Climbing Out of the Box125

CHAPTER 10

Permission to Love Yourself127
Hello, Can I Hear ME?129
The Care & Feeding of the Human Heart131
Revisiting the Crystal Ball133
Free Expression135
A Gift of Kindness 137

CHAPTER 11

Creating a New Path139
A Healthy Heart Is a Playful Heart141
Tapping into Your Inner Wisdom143
The Pathway145
In The Beginning147
Baking a New Pie of Your Life 149
Dear Reader 151
Art Supply Resources 153
National Organizations 155
Acknowledgments 157
Questionnaire 158
About the Authors 159