From Pain to Portrait: Transforming Lived Experience Through Art

Discover how creative expression can be used to promote mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and support healing within diverse communities. This interactive training introduces behavioral and mental health professionals to arts-based approaches that can deepen engagement, elevate underheard voices, and create more meaningful opportunities for connection, reflection, and advocacy.

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Through visual art, spoken word, movement, discussion, case examples, neuroscience-informed insights, and hands-on experiential exercises, participants will explore how creative modalities can be integrated into behavioral health, community, and educational settings. Attendees will leave with practical tools and strategies that can be adapted to support individuals, groups, and communities in thoughtful, culturally responsive ways.

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Sponsored by Arts Equity Collective
2.0 Ohio CSWMFT Board CEUs offered

Cost: FREE
Presenter: Rachael DuBose, M.S. Ed., LPCC-S, CCTP

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By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe at least three ways creative arts can be used to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma within diverse communities.
• Apply a culturally responsive framework for integrating art into mental health advocacy and engagement efforts.
• Develop one actionable plan for using creative expression to educate, engage, and inspire change within professional or community-based work.
  

This training aligns with Arts Equity Collective’s broader community work through the Survivor’s Ball, a signature event that uses art, storytelling, and collective remembrance to honor lived experience while shifting dominant narratives around survival and strength. Learn more at

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Interactive Creative Exercises
Participate in guided arts-based activities that demonstrate how creative expression can support reflection, connection, and healing.

Discussion and Case Examples
Explore examples of how art can be used in behavioral health and community settings to foster engagement and reduce stigma.

Neuroscience-Informed Insights
Learn more about the relationship between creativity, emotional regulation, healing, and resilience.

Practical Strategies for Professional Use
Leave with ideas and tools that can be adapted for use in clinical, advocacy, educational, or community-facing work.

Supportive and Thought-Provoking Dialogue
Engage in meaningful conversation about how creative approaches can expand the way we promote mental health

awareness and support diverse communities.

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Behavioral health professionals
Mental health professionals
Social workers
Counselors
Peer supporters
Case managers
Community health workers
Prevention specialists
Educators and school-based support staff
Advocates and nonprofit professionals
Anyone interested in creative, healing-centered approaches to mental health awareness and stigma reduction

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We are limiting this event to a smaller group of up to 40 attendees to allow individualized support and questions when needed.

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Please contact MoPoetry Phillips at [email protected] for any additional questions.

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Host or Publisher MACC, Inc. & Arts Equity Collective