Rest & Replenish: School Counselors, Social Workers, and Administrators

You give so much.

Now it’s your turn to receive.

Join fellow educators and student support professionals for a restorative day of creative self-care, reflection, and renewal through intuitive painting — no art experience necessary.

This workshop offers a gentle, non-judgmental space to:

🎨 Reconnect with your inner creativity

💛 Release stress and emotional weight

🌀 Restore your sense of purpose and passion

🌿 Return to your work with renewed energy and clarity

Together, we’ll use color, images, and mindfulness to explore what it means to heal in community — and to care for ourselves as deeply as we care for others.

WHEN: Saturday, October 25th, 10am-5pm (lunch break from 1-2:30pm)

WHERE: The Center for Creative Exploration’s Intuitive Painting Studio, 300 Chenery Street, SF, CA, 94131

INCLUDES: All art materials, light refreshments, and a midday break

Open to all school counselors, social workers, and administrators — no art skills needed, just a willingness to show up.

✨ Space is limited. Come as you are. Leave restored ✨

TESTIMONIALS

"I feel calm and relaxed after this experience. I was able to engage my structured thinking brain that plans and starts developing ways to bring this work back to my work. But I was also encouraged to let my thinking go and allow something to be created without control or a plan. That freedom is difficult for me but it opened me up and was very soothing. Thank you for this time and for the space to rest and create!"

- Kate, School Counselor in San Francisco

"Healing. I would encourage teachers, admin and anyone who works with students directly to take this training."

- Maria, Head Counselor in San Francisco

"Personal challenge and connection with myself through artistic expression. Great team building experience. Awesome opening circle."

- Daniel, School Counselor in San Francisco

"Participating in the Intuitive Art Experience was truly unique and enriching for both me

and my team. The facilitators were incredible, fostering a supportive and welcoming

environment. As an administrator, I believe in providing real-life experiences that

prioritize self-exploration and self-care. This experience not only nurtured our own

well-being but also reinforced best practices for working with children — reminding us

that meaningful impact can come from low-stakes, creative, and reflective activities."

- Stephanie, Director of Student Services in Daly City

About us

Established in 1999, the painting studio is a lively place filled with light, color, and the warmth of a community sharing a space in which to explore the creative process. The Center for Creative Exploration is a nonprofit organization that values freedom of expression with brush in hand and beyond. We are committed to creating a sense of community in our painting studio where people feel comfortable to be themselves in whatever way they choose. We are committed to providing an affirming, welcoming, and accessible studio for all people through co-creation and open communication.

We offer weekly adult classes, community classes, workshops, retreats and kids/family classes. Check out our upcoming events here!

🖌️ For additional information on intuitive painting and our studio, please visit our website or email [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook to join our social media community!

Our teachers

Maria Freebairn-Smith is a teacher and Family Program Coordinator at the Center for Creative Exploration. She has been painting and teaching the intuitive painting process for over 30 years. She participated in the first teacher training for The Painting Experience, facilitated by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley. Along with Barbara Kaufman and others, Maria was one of CCE’s original founders. She also helped to establish the nonprofit Drawbridge: An Arts Program for Homeless Children, and The Open Circle Cooperative Preschool, both in San Francisco.

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Along with her process painting training, Maria holds a degree in Psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University, and has a graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice Practices. Other advanced trainings include Waldorf Early Childhood Education, Middendorf Breath experience, and Motion Improvisational Theater.

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When Maria began raising a family, she moved to Sonoma County. Focusing on education for children in her new community, she founded The Creative Parenting Center and helped establish Sunridge, a Waldorf-methods charter school. Returning to the CCE painting community, Maria brings a lifetime commitment to body, breath, and inquiry practices that ground her teaching in a broad transpersonal perspective.

Host or Publisher The Center for Creative Exploration