Thinkific / Arts & Healing Initiative
When Hope Collides with Chronic Illness: Self-Compassionate Coping through the Arts – 9/18/25
When Hope Collides with Chronic Illness: Self-Compassionate Coping through the Arts – 9/18/25
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date:
Thursday, September 18, 2025
time:
Noon to 1:30 pm Pacific Time (PT)
instructor:
Julie Neraas
description:
How can we navigate the consuming challenges of chronic pain on our temperament, thinking patterns, life outlook, and even—on hope itself? Through the use of story, expressive writing, meditation, and simple drawing, we’ll learn novel ways to both acknowledge and hold space for our experiences (including well-meaning-yet-unhelpful support)—coming away with self-compassionate coping strategies and a renewed strength in hope.
This online session is open to all. Offered in partnership with Creative Healing for Youth in Pain (CHYP) in support of Pain Awareness Month.
additional information
Instructor Bio
Julie Neraas is a Spiritual Director, former professor (Hamline University, St. Paul, Mn.), ordained Presbyterian clergywoman, and writer. She has met with individuals and facilitated spiritual direction groups for nearly forty years. Julie has had Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) for over 28 years. She is the author of Apprenticed to Hope: A Sourcebook for Difficult Times (Augsburg), Seeing the Sacred: A Year in Snapshots (Wipf & Stock), and Hope and Poetry: How They Sustain Us.
Materials - What to Bring
For this session, please bring the following:
- Several sheets of blank paper, notepad, or journal
- Pencil or pen for writing
- Various colored markers, crayons, and/or paints and brushes for drawing
Online Login Details
This is a online program through Zoom. A welcome email, which includes the link to join the program, will be sent to you after you register. Please check your inbox and spam folders.
Digital Media Release Policy
By registering, you give Arts & Healing Initiative approval to record this event, still and/or moving images from which may appear in printed materials or digital channels for archival, educational, or promotional purposes.
Note that this session will not be recorded.