Upcoming Classes & Workshops
“Debbie’s kindness, understanding and support softened my way. It was an amazing class and experience, it was just what I needed. . . If you’re guided to one of Debbie’s courses, you’re meant to be there. Trust it and her!”
Write Your Creative Aging Story: The Art of the Personal Essay
Do you have a story to tell? Write your personal essay on aging, be it quirky or serious, funny or poignant. By telling our stories we connect with others, recognize our common humanity and realize we are not alone on this journey. This course is designed to help you craft a compelling story. To that end, we will discuss the elements of a successful essay, including what to write about, where to start, voice, the importance of details, and the revision process. Writing exercises will generate ideas; readings, discussions, and gentle group feedback will help improve your story. The goal is to have a completed essay. Publishing options will also be discussed.
Dates: TBA
Re-imagining Your Life: Creative Aging Workshop
"Where do I belong?"
"Who am I, now that I'm not who I used to be?"
"What is my purpose?"
Through shared stories, guided writing prompts, readings, journaling, and other creative means, you will uncover your own personal answers, helping you find purpose and meaning in life's next act. Creative aging means tapping into experience, wisdom and curiosity to awaken a renewed sense of self and create a fulfilling and engaged life. A goal of the class is to work on a personal essay which will provide an opportunity to share your story. No prior writing experience is necessary. All writing levels are welcome.
Dates: TBA
“It was brilliant!
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“Debbie is a master of providing you with a safe space where you can consider new choices for the second half of your life.”
Writing Through Grief
Writing can help guide us toward a deeper understanding of the pain and suffering of loss. This workshop is designed to provide a supportive environment for participants to explore and honor all feelings of grief due to the loss of a loved one. Writing prompts and short readings will offer new ways to express thoughts. Putting pen to paper gives us the opportunity to change perspective and transform suffering into healing.
*One optional goal of the class is to write a personal essay. All writing levels are welcome and no writing experience is necessary.
Please keep in mind this is not group therapy.
University of Utah College of Nursing University
Dates: Tuesdays, December 3rd - December 17th
Time: 6:00 - 7:00pm
To register: email caringconnections@utah.edu
*Since this is a shortened version of my 6-week class, it will not include short readings or an optional personal essay.
“I opened up my grief so I could start to move through it instead of staying stuck.”
“Debbie, you were masterful about balancing spaciousness (listening, allowing) and direction (prompts, readings). I was especially moved by you sharing your own writing/experiences. I feel forever inspired by you.”
Writing as a Tool to Cope with Anxiety
Distracting thoughts and rumination can lead to excessive worry, irritability, self-doubt and other negative emotions. No matter the cause of anxiety – the election, current events, temperament, illness, life transition – writing helps re-center us and calm our minds. Putting pen to paper, we can unload persistent thoughts onto the page, providing distance and a new perspective.
In a safe and supportive environment, we’ll learn how to settle swirling emotions through guided writing exercises, prompts and readings. The goal of this class is to provide the tools and strategies needed to start a writing/journaling practice which has been shown to help alleviate anxiety and stress.
No writing experience is necessary. All writing levels are welcome.
Dates: TBA
“Anxiety has been a problem for me for much of my life. Debbie’s workshop has given more options to help me help myself as well as a lot of insights that I discovered through the writing prompts”
“This class helped me recognize the value anxiety brings to my life. This will help me keep it in its useful place”
Let’s Write!
Do you want to write but you are having trouble getting started? Are you stuck, not knowing what to write about? This six-week workshop will help get your creative juices flowing. Unlock your “inner writer” through weekly writing prompts, tips and short exercises. In a supportive environment, we’ll write, share and discuss the craft of writing. So, grab your laptop (or pen, pencil, and paper), get comfortable and put your critical voice on hold. All writing levels are welcome.
Dates: TBA
MORE APPRECIATIVE WORDS:
“Writing through Grief” with Debbie Leaman provided a safe space in which we could explore the many facets of grief and loss. Through writing prompts, we were gently guided through and allowed to express difficult emotions integral to the grieving process. As we voluntarily shared our experiences, we connected with one another and realized that though our grief may be solitary, we were not alone.”
“This was so hard, but so worthwhile! Debbie is a fantastic teacher! She did a wonderful job creating a safe and respectful container.”
“I’m really so very happy I took her Writing through Grief workshop. Debbie Leaman did our group such a service by knowing her material well, and by offering plenty of other reference materials and resources for a wide perspective on the topic. Her ability to be vulnerable by sharing her own stories of personal grief and her deep listening skills for other’s stories are strong suits. Her skills as a writer are invaluable as well. Anyone who is trying to find their way through grief would do well to choose Debbie as a shepherd.”
“I found this class to be one of the better classes I had attended. Sharing helps dealing with problems that are very difficult to handle on your own. I felt that I had made a significant leap forward in resolving long standing issues . . . in a very positive way. I would recommend this class to anyone.”
“Debbie’s writing workshop helped me reconnect to my true self, that inner voice I had stopped listening to, that place where the answers to my life’s questions live. From there I worked through my resistance – regret, fear, and challenge – by writing, and discovered how to navigate the rough waters of change. ”
“It was thought-provoking, healing, encouraging and helpful. (The workshop) is helping me move into the future.”
“By doing the written exercises Debbie gives us, and with a tiny shift of thought, we often remember interests and passions that we had forgotten. Debbie is a great teacher.
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“The Creative Aging workshop opened me to a new consciousness. Debbie’s prompts allowed me to access a part of me that has been hidden and that I was unaware of until now. . . This is an amazing journey into self to find self.”
“I saved myself a lot of money, as more than once, I got information that I would have discovered in a therapy session — or six!
— Participant, Writing as a Tool to Cope With Anxiety”