Insights Foundation Inc.

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Creativity & Healing Arts

Our Healing Arts program offers opportunity to heal and create

opportunities for personal enrichment Through creative expression,

Insights Foundation assists trauma survivors in taking steps to change their

lives. Our program has been enriched through the training and certification

of ‘A Window Between Worlds’. Creative expression as a healing tool has

benefited over 40,000 battered women and their children in crisis shelters,

transitional homes and outreach centers throughout the United States.

By providing an environment that promotes healing, art workshops help women and children to develop a renewed sense of hope and possibility that profoundly impacts future decisions regarding the direction of their lives, their relationships, and how to stay safe. Art empowers survivors to transform how they view themselves, allowing them to see past the abusive messages they learned from their batterers and rebuild their self-confidence.

• I.F. makes art available as a powerful resource for domestic violence survivor’s
• Assists domestic violence agencies in creating vital, permanent art programs
• Leverage the impact of our work through collaboration.

Through creative expression individuals gain a sense of renewal and power.  Our images of hope, survival and strength educate others as to the work survivors of trauma take to change their lives.

One Woman's story:

Sexual abuse has affected my entire life; my entire being; my entire existence.  Some say, that is the past, get over it. or what is the big deal? IT IS A BIG DEAL! I never had a chance to just be.  I never had a chance to enjoy my childhood or to live a so-called ‘normal’ life.  Early on I was always reacting in my life in context to what happened to me...
It took me a very long time to figure out who I really was.  Who I really wanted to be when I grew up.  It took me a very long time to even begin to LIKE myself.
Now, I am healing.  I am continuously growing as a person.  I am continuously figuring out who I am. I am trying to be gentle with myself.  I am learning to be my own best friend.  This is me...

This is an example of the Healing Arts Work, there are many reasons it is effective. For assistance in apply the program listed please e-mail.

Introduction: Many of us are not able to talk about sexual/domestic abuse and the profound affect it has had on us. My hope is for all of you to express yourselves in a different way, one that may feel safer to you. The project we are doing is called “Take a Walk in My Shoes.” Everyone wants to be understood so as not to feel alone.

Make this shoe that you have chosen - speak for you. There are no limits, so use whatever you need to tell your story of bravery and courage.

Opening Circle: At the beginning of each session, check in with yourself, to see how you’re doing. As you can express yourself, open up in this safe environment – let the symbolize flow.

Closing: share how it felt working on your shoe. I find that they are always surprised how the shoe seemed to create itself. Encourage creativity in your life.

Our Personal Development program is designed to teach insightfulness, enhance natural abilities and mprove communication skills.

Creating strength and lifestyle strategies to influence growth and bring empowerment.

Our direct outreach is in trauma recovery

Our program has been enriched through the training and certification of ‘A Window Between Worlds’. The following introduction to the organization and website link to is provided to answer questions you may have. A Window Between Worlds (AWBW) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using art to help end domestic violence. Since 1991, AWBW has provided creative expression as a healing tool for over 40,000 battered women and their children in crisis shelters, transitional homes, and outreach centers throughout the United States. By providing an environment that promotes healing, art workshops help women and children to develop a renewed sense of hope and possibility that profoundly impacts future decisions regarding the direction of their lives, their relationships, and how to stay safe. Art empowers survivors to transform how they view themselves, allowing them to see past the abusive messages they learned from their batterers and rebuild their self-confidence.
The AWBW Windows Program is available to any person, agency or organization seeking to implement art as an activity to gain a sense of renewal, clarity, and strength. We invite you to learn more about our programs and to join us in using art to empower survivors and to break the silence surrounding domestic violence in our communities. For further information on our programs please call us at (310) 396-0317 or e-mail info@awbw.org. website: www.awbw.org