Join us at Vincent Library for a workshop on self-exploration led by poet and counselor, Samantha Melia.
“Everywhere I go as a scientist, I find that a poet has beaten me there” Sigmund Freud.
This unique workshop offers tools and techniques within the genre of poetry to improve mental health. By expanding our self-awareness, examining what we write in a stream of consciousness exercise and by applying compassion, self-care and curiosity a deeper knowing of ourselves emerges. By writing in a safe and reflective way we begin to access the subconscious mind, past the conscious mind and deep into the recesses of our beliefs. By using this technique of “name it, to tame it” we help to acknowledge, accept and release negative beliefs and thought patterns. Writing poetry is a beneficial self-care practice and mental health resource. By finding our voice and writing our truth we focus on what is important and we determine our reason for being which leads to a profound sense of contentment.
When we process and articulate painful experiences, we bring relief. We see that words have power and by creating a work of art from the pain it offers a feeling of empowerment. By being still in ourselves we find inner peace and deep reflection; we allow ourselves to be intimate and vulnerable. The spoken word has immense healing ability.
Reading our poetry out loud can be a form of therapy by releasing trapped emotions in the body, where they are held, out of the body and onto the page, in a safe and secure environment.
Samantha Melia
Samantha Melia is originally from Dublin, Ireland, she holds a Diploma in social care studies, a Bachelor of Science in social psychology and sociology and a Masters degree in mental health counselling. Samantha lived in the Bronx, New York for ten years and then settled in Perth, Western Australia for the last fifteen years, where she lives with her Irish husband and two daughters. Samantha is a poet and spoken word performer, who featured in the Perth Poetry Festival 2019, she produces poetry with images on canvas, she is the deputy chair of WAPoets Inc and the Perth Poetry Festival director. Samantha has a lifelong passion for mental health and creativity, especially poetry.
Samantha is a registered member with the Australian Counselling Association, has worked in many areas of mental health including one to one counselling, psycho education and group counselling.
samantha.melia6@gmail.com
dep.chair@wapoets.com