A Window Between Worlds

Henderson House now offers therapeutic art activities for our support group participants, for the kids of support group participants, and for our shelter clients. Several Henderson House staff and volunteers have completed training to facilitate trauma-informed art  workshops, through the “A Window Between Worlds” (AWBW) program. Our facilitators create a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for participants of all ages by providing a window of time on their healing journey through hands-on art creation. 

“This is what I love about support group. You see people changing, finding hope, believing in themselves. And even for those that haven’t been able to exit their abusive situation yet, the fact they remain engaged in group and continue to come is a cause for a hope. The idea behind “A Window Between Worlds,” is it allows participants to express their emotions and experiences through art when they don’t have the words. Trauma can make it really hard for people to express themselves, and these workshops have really helped survivors process what they have been though in a new way.”

– Henderson House Volunteer Coordinator Trudy Siderius

Trauma experiences, trauma responses, and healing do not occur in isolation but in the context of the person, family and community. In providing these workshops, Henderson House’s goal is to provide the opportunity to create art in a safe environment that can empower individuals and communities throughout their healing process. When asked about her experience as a volunteer AWBW facilitator Joni Jorgensen shared, “What I like is watching the transformation in participants – it’s so beautiful – it’s even healing for me as a facilitator. (PS – I love Trudy).”

To learn more, please contact Henderson House Volunteer Coordinator Trudy Siderius at tsiderius@hendersonhouse.org.