Article on Dramatherapy and Art Therapy on Health Today Magazine, October issue

I was interviewed for this article on Dramatherapy and Art Therapy on Health Today Magazine October 2016 issue.  Check out this link to read the full article:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByYPIL04Xk7xMjVJNEdWZm50VW8/view?usp=sharing

The Hero's Journey in Perth, Australia

 On the 10th of September 2016, I had the pleasure of facilitating The Hero's Journey Dramatherapy workshop in Perth, Australia for a wonderful group of participants, consisting mostly of Dramatherapists.


I have always been inspired by the participants of the workshops which I facilitate, as they have always bring something new to my experience as a facilitator and observer. However, when one gets the privilege of working with fellow dramatherapists and creative people, it really is very special as they bring the whole idea of creativity to a different level which provides a richer experience of  access of the unconscious and collective consciousness.

My experience working with this, all women group(unplanned) was  nothing less than what I will describe as magical! The venue was breath taking, - we had it in one of the dramatherapist's home where she usually conducts her own workshop. It was about 45 minutes drive away from where I was staying in Perth into the hills. The view as we drove into the venue was breathtaking! There was a creek in the grounds! The wild flowers were in blossom and it was absolutely beautiful! As we stepped into her home,... Anyone who walks in gets a definite sense that an artist live there! The environment in the home was cozy, unique and beautiful!

The workshop was conducted upstairs. On beautiful wooden floor, the room was surrounded by windows all around the room and a balcony overlooking the creek and the beautiful natural landscape.


The way in which this workshop came together was as if the universe had orchestrated it to perfection. I would like to extend my deep gratitude to my fellow  dramatherapists Emma Bacon, Sally Holmes, and Geogi Stone, to have organised this workshop within a short period of one week of notice about my intention of facilitating a workshop while visiting a friend in Perth!!!  They had organized everything to perfection and was able to get 10 participants to attend the workshop.

I would also like to thank all of the participants of the workshop for being there and completely immersing in the process. It was an honour for me to have met each one of them and to hold the space, bear witness of their creativity and of the unfolding of their  process during the workshop.

It was good to learn that this workshop had brought these wonderful dramatherapists together again after a rather long period of time, with the hope of staying more connected through their work in Perth. Being the only dramatherapist in Malaysia, I understand the importance of staying connected with those in the field... It feels like home whenever I meet other Dramatherapists! Needless to say, I was in bliss working with these women. I felt like I went home to Dramatherapy heaven!

Every participant in this group was going through some kind of transition in their lives, as  it was intended of this workshop.

I look forward to have many more wonderful creative work experiences with these wonderful people and others in the future.

Group Sessions for Teens - Magic of Scars begins 22nd Sept 2016

The group session for teens- Magic of Scars, had been postponed to begin this Thursday, 22nd of September, 5pm-6:30pm, instead of last week (15th Sept as in the flyer below).
 Few spaces left.
For more information please see the flyer below. 
Please contact The Mind Faculty at 03-6203 0359 /03- 6203 0733 to register. 
Kindly share the information

Intoduction to Dramatherapy Workshop at The Mind Faculty on Saturday, 13th of August.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of facilitating an Introductory to Dramatherapy workshop at The Mind Faculty, which the most recent place, a state of the art, private Mental Heath Care facility, where I have begun practicing as a Consultant Dramatherapist.

The response was very encouraging, in regards to both, the number of participant who turned up (with only 5 days of announcing/advertising about the workshop) and the positive response and feedback during and after the workshop.

The participants were very willing and open to new experience of Dramatherapy. Both me and the participants had a lot of fun in the process :) 

It is always a pleasure to have participants who are enthusiastic and open to the experience and process of a workshop or training. I am always humbled by that exhilarating experience.

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These are some of the (summarized) comments from the participants: 

"I enjoyed the activities, they were fun!"

"It was interesting to see what came up in the story making activity"

" I want some of what you exude!"

This is part of  an email response from one of the participants:

"I would just like to say that I truly enjoyed the class(workshop) this morning and I am really grateful for the opportunity to join. It inspired me to explore the possibility of doing drama therapy in the future. It was a very educational, informational and highly enjoyable class. Ms. Vanitha Chandrasegaram was spectacular and I really enjoyed her teaching.  If there are anymore classes(workshops) with her or other classes in The Mind Faculty, I would love to be informed about it and participate."

After the workshop, there has been interest and inquiries on Dramatherapy. The current group sessions which are still open to new comers is The Hero's Journey, which is aimed at those who are in the process of life transitions. See the flyer below: 

Also in the month of September: The Magic of Scars (Dramatherapy & Art Therapy) Group sessions for Teens who have experienced Trauma.

I am also open to start a Dramatherapy Group Sessions  at The Mind Faculty, for clients facing various life or mental health challenges. 

If you are interested in any of the listed group sessions or individual Dramatherapy sessions, please contact The Mind Faculty at Tel: 03-6203 0359/03=6203 0733

Dramatherapy Booth at The Mind Faculty - Saturday, 6th August 2016

On the 6th of August, I had set up a Dramatherapy Booth at The Mind Faculty,  Solaris Mount Kiara, Kuala Lumpur to introduce Dramatherapy.

 The Mind Faculty is a state of the art private  Mental Health Care Centre, where I had  recently had the privilege to join to practice as a Consultant Dramatherapist.

These area a few pictures taken of the event..

PS. The pictures of the participants are blurred to comply with the Child Protection Act.

The Hero's Journey - Creative Arts Therapy Group Sessions for Adults (Starts 4th August 2016)

I will be collaborating with Reena Clare, an art therapist to facilitate a Creative Arts Therapy group sessions for adults. It begins next week..

The Hero's Journey - Creative Arts Therapy Group Sessions for Adults going through various life transitions.... Begins on  4th August 2016 (next week!!!), at The Mind Faculty, Solaris Mount Kiara. Expect to have fun through the journey into your own wisdom and the expansion of Self!
Facilitators: Vanitha Chandrasegaram (Dramatherapist)

                   Reena Clare (Art Therapist)

Call 03-6203 0359 or 03- 6203 0733 to register now!

Check out the flyer below. 
Please share the information

DRAMATHERAPY WORKSHOP IN RISHIKESH, INDIA

During the Month of May, I had the pleasure of conducting four Dramatherapy workshops with a group of teenagers and young adults in an Ashram(monastery) in Rishikesh, India. The group was from a home for children, The NAZ Fondation (India) Trust, based in New Delhi. The NAZ Foundation (India) Trust aims to support those who are living with HIV positive.
The participants had come to Rishikesh to stay in the monastery for a week, mainly to attend the series of  Dramatherapy workshops. While they were at the Ashram, other outings and activities were also organized and other volunteers were also invited to contribute to the activities, to make it even more interesting for the participants.

The participants of the workshop  varied between ages 13 to 23 years old.
The topic covered in the workshop were
i) Masks
ii) Mythology and Drama
iii) The Hero’s Journey
iv) Emotions and Healthy Boundaries.

Generally, the participants were very responsive in the workshops. At the beginning, a couple of participants who were reluctant to participate on the first day, mainly due to the of lack of understanding of the English language. One of those two participants was also said to be extremely shy with strangers. However, on the third session, both these participants were fully participating and enjoying the workshop.

There were a lot of laughter and reflection during the workshop. During one of the workshop sessions I had managed to convince the head of the monastery, Swamiji  Chaitanya Abhishek, to help co-facilitate the workshop by telling part of a story from a Hindu Mythology. He is an excellent story teller! Complete with perfect voice intonation,  wonderful facial expressions and body language as he told the story! Both the participants and I were thrilled to have him be a part of the dramatherapy workshop!

I am so glad to have had this opportunity to work with these teens, who despite their extreme life challenge, were very pleasant to work with. I was informed that many of them have been with NAZ since they were babies. I applaud the founder of NAZ and to those who have taken care and  raised them, as they have now become fine young people.

It was a true pleasure to have spent time with them and work with them.

I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to Swami Abhishek Chaitanya and the residing members at his Ashram for their help in organizing the Dramatherapy  workshops and The NAZ Foundation for the opportunity to work with these teenagers and young adults..


These are some  of the feedback of the teenagers after the Dramatherapy workshops, which was printed in the NAZ  report of the participants' experience of their time at Rishikesh:

"Vanitha was so grounded and folksy (informal & unpretentious)  and full of knowledge and peace. Her sessions always ended with lots of positivity. Her drama therapy sessions were very interesting and useful. Kids were made to forget themselves; to perform plays, dance according to emotions, to make stories on their fear, to draw their strengths, to write their emotions and activities in which kids brought their hidden sides out. Kids were taught to deal with their negative emotions and to refill themselves again with positivity."

These are some of the feedback from the teens who participated

‘ I enjoyed these sessions with Didi (sister) ’ 

‘ I loved the Drama therapy ‘ 

‘ I learned a lot in these sessions ’   

 To find out more about NAZ, check out this link.

http://nazindia.org/

***P.S. The pictures I share here is blurred and the names of the participants who have given the feedback above has been omitted here to protect their identity.

Yoga Class for Beginners

There are still a few spaces available for my yoga class on Thursday evenings at Solaris Mount Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. Please see the flyer for contact information and further details. Please share the information.

Yoga Classes at Solaris Mount Kiara

I will be teaching  yoga classes at the Mind Faculty at Solaris Mount Kiara beginning in June. Please call 03-6203 0359/03-62030733 to register. Please share the information.

Surviving Anxiety : Article published in Health Today

Sharing an article I had written on Anxiety which was published on Health Today magazine, May 2016 (Malaysian issue)

Creative Arts Therapy Group Sessions- The Magic of Scars & The Hero's Journey

I will be facilitating two Creative Arts Therapy  Group Sessions with Art Therapist, Reena Clare, beginning on the 10th of June 2016, for 8 weeks at the Mind Faculty, Solaris Mount Kiara.  Dramatherapy and Art Therapy techniques will be used in both groups.

One group is focused on teens who have experienced trauma (including bullying and abuse), and are struggling to move forward - "The Magic of Scars". 

Please refer to the flyer below for more information.

The second  group is for adults who are going through life transitions and are looking for clarity in direction and support during the process of transition. Please see the flyer below for more information.

Facilitators for both of the group sessions above: 

Vanitha Chandrasegaram, (MA Dramatherapy, Hertfordshire, UK);

&

Reena Clare, (MA Art Therapy , Hertfordshire, UK).

Please share the information. 

Thank you! 

Check out the link below! Good article about Dramatherapy... What it is and how it can be beneficial to individuals and groups facing various life challenges. 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/308452.php