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Counselling session / Anthroposophic Art Therapy
Our sessions involve open conversations, the production of images, and both subjective and objective observation of images. Images may be provided, created, or co-created according to individual needs. It is a fun, active, and profound experience of honouring space and time, while exploring different art techniques and materials. Sessions vary according to each particular situation and in agreement with the clients. Different components and techniques are incorporated along the duration of the sessions to promote neuroplasticity and balance. The exercises are simple, and the focus is on the creative process rather than the result. The counselling process prioritises compassionate listening, guidance, and objective observation rather than image reading or direct prescription of any kind. The ultimate goal is to awaken and strengthen the sense of self, reason for which decision making is a key element for clients to exercise agency.
No prior experience is required
ONLINE OR IN PERSON
Who benefits from Arts Counselling / Anthroposophic Arts Therapy
Anyone undergoing a transition period or carrying questions within benefits from working with
integrative practices like Arts Counselling. These processes bring forward parts of ourselves that may
not be easy to discuss or even perceive through regular interactions. It allows the participants to
reframe their approach to their difficulties and perceive broader patterns in their lives. There are a lot of
benefits that may come from working with images, and it is important to remain open to exploring
different techniques.
Art Walk in Nature / Goethean Observation
The practice of shinrin-yoku is well
known in Japan and has gained
popularity in recent years,
emphasising our need to reconnect
with our natural state of health and
using our surroundings as models
for that purpose. Being outdoors has
always been an important part of
healthy practices, and it is highly
valued both in art and in therapeutic
processes. For what concerns my
practice, restoring our life forces by
observing rhythms in nature is one
of the main benefits of this modality.
It is a great opportunity to move
energy that may be stuck in us, it
offers a chance to express ourselves
while moving, which may be more
comfortable than in an enclosed
space. It is also a chance for sensory
exploration, and it provides a sense
of safety, accomplishment, and
satisfaction in a very simple way.
There are different locations where this practice is offered around the bay area and occasionally in other areas according to the client’s location.
California has a large number of national parks and natural areas that offer breathtaking views and wonderful hiking opportunities. Having said
that, it is not the aim to challenge ourselves physically. In the same way in which other modalities are addressed, this activity is process oriented.
Art materials are a part of this package, as well as drinks, snacks, and photos if requested. First aid kit is available in case of minor injuries, which
are thankfully very rare. Our walks are generally within the lowest level of difficulty, unless client requests otherwise. I have travelled a lot within
Peru, my country of birth, and among other places in Europe, North America and South America. My experience guiding groups drives me to
encourage exploration of outdoor spaces in a safe, responsible, and sustainable manner.
No prior experience is required.
Different authors in the field of psychology have developed
concepts and theories that align with anthroposophical principles.
Jungian psychology, humanistic psychology, transpersonal psychology,
psychosynthesis, among others, have in common an approach to the
human being in a comprehensive manner, seeking health and wellbeing
beyond the merely physical body. An important model developed by Vija
Lusebrink and Sandra (Kagin) Graves Alcorn in the late seventies has
proved to be aligned both with important concepts in anthroposophy and
with some trauma-informed practices that focus on the somatic
experiences. This model is called the Expressive Therapies Continuum
(ECT). It serves as a way to understand how the artistic processes can help
integration within the human brain and body. In anthroposophy, this is
also understood as a work that incorporates our relationship with the
cosmic elements, which are present within us and help us replenish our
inner strength and vitality.
The following is a catalogue of existing workshops, and it is updated upon
demand. A minimum of five participants is required to start a group
workshop.
Biographic Imagery & Narrative in Biography – 9 monthly sessions,
starting in May and November.
A possibility of meeting in person is open depending on the availability of
the participants. This is based on the seven life cycles studied in
Anthroposophy, incorporating elements of Narrative Exposure Therapies.It addresses biography through a guided production of images. It is
recommended for people 35 years old and older. Art materials are quite
simple, so most people will find this workshop very easy to follow online.
Flexible schedule by participants. If interested, please email:
silviatafur@gmail.com /info@silviatafur.com
Warmth and darkness – 7 sessions, bimonthly.
Starting every three months, Wednesday evenings. I created this workshop inspired by my numerous clients who struggle with their sleeping patterns. I created a series of exercises that stimulate the lower, inner senses, connected with our body. In a world where we are encouraged to multitask, it is often difficult to get back to our centre and wind down. An individual session is recommended prior to this workshop, and groups are encouraged depending on participants’ disposition.
Psychedelic/Entheogenic Integration – 4 weekly sessions recommended.
Art-Based Psychedelic/Entheogenic Integration (IN PERSON OR ONLINE)
This workshop is a result of research through my work in wellness retreats
and my own experiences with plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and
Sampedro. In Peru, my birth place, the knowledge and traditional use of
ayahuasca practised by native Amazonian communities was declared National
Cultural Heritage by the government in 2008. Although there is currently a
growing interest in psychedelics and their medicinal use, it is still uncommon
to hear the voices of native Amazonian practitioners in leadership discussions
on these subjects. My contribution is to bring into the experience of
psychedelics the voices of the spiritual teachers and healers with whom I
learned to respect and understand plant medicines beyond their physical
effect, supporting psychological distress, emotional dysregulation, and
spiritual emergencies
I have experience working with people who have received conventional
medical treatment, and with people who participated in ceremonial use of
entheogens. In both cases, the experience may last far beyond the physical
symptoms, and the medicine continues to work for an extended period of time,
sometimes months and years after the intake. This is why it is important to
acknowledge the mood changes, somatic-sensory hypersensitivity, and other
symptoms that may occur after the consumption of psychedelics. In particular,
keeping an open mind toward the messages provided by different medicines
and avoiding “frozen thoughts” interfere with the flow of the medicine in our
system. By allowing images to move and working with shapes and colours, we
stir up the memory of our work with the medicine and get a better grasp of
how to better integrate these experiences in our daily life after the intake of
psychedelics.
Wellness Retreats
My journeys to the Peruvian jungle started at the age of eleven, when I travelled to Amazonas, Peru,
from where my family is originally. It was very difficult for a city child to walk muddy roads, live
without bathrooms for a month, and be bitten by mosquitos constantly. I survived, and the
experience changed me forever. I bonded with horses and climbed trees to reach ripe guavas and
oranges, sorting out thorns and using a machete to clear my path. Since then, I longed to be out of
the city more and more, and I took every opportunity to explore Peru. I am from the coast, but I have
travelled through rivers, mountains, and the jungle. Even though sometimes it was hard, I do not
regret a single minute. My project with rural communities took me to a retreat centre for the first
time in 2012, in the mountains of Peru and within the comfort designed for tourists. It was
impressive, and the effort to relate to the local community was one of the priorities, which I valued.
Together with my homeschooled 9-year-old daughter, we embarked in this alternative way of living
for a period of three years, after which she returned to school and I enrolled in a post-graduate
program to improve my understanding of the healing value of arts. It was a difficult but necessary
decision to come back from a retreat-styled life.
Since then, I have been blessed to step into breathtaking landscapes and wonderful
opportunities for healthy living, surrounded by snowy peaks, living forests, and the healing
waters of lakes, rivers, and the sea. My work has supported different groups and individuals
seeking to improve their way of living or reconnecting with their instinctual nature. I value
the experience of travelling and being surrounded by beauty as a means to connect with our
instinctive nature, a reason for which I am interested in quality of life through different
integrative practices like therapeutic arts, ayurveda, yoga, breathing techniques, healing
sound, and plant spirit medicines. There are opportunities for wellness retreats in Peru, U.S.,
and Canada. The use of entheogens is part of some retreats, and due to the sensitivity of these
medicines, consultations are provided based on individual circumstances. If you need
guidance, please book a 15 minute free consultation.
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