Telling Story, Weaving &
Sexual Violence Trauma

An Arts Psychotherapeutic Workshop using First People Weaving Techniques, Creating a Space for Individuals Affected by Sexual Violence to Tell their Story & Heal

a course for individuals affected by sexual violence, and the community

We know how difficult the subject of sexual violence trauma is to talk about and it can be hard to hear about the injustices when we feel powerless to help. So how can we help? We know that being able to express how one feels about their assault is the way to healing. And people need to be educated on the very real effects of this crime in order to stop it from happening.

Telling Story is a melding of First People weaving techniques and arts psychotherapeutic direction, to enable participants to non verbally access the trauma and learn healthy coping skills in a natural and supportive environment. The end product then displayed in a public exhibition - inviting the community to engage, empathise and open conversation in finding solutions to the problem of sexual violence.

value for those affected by sexual assault trauma

Lisa created the program, Telling Story, and participants and community alike found immense value in it. So much so, that participants did not want it to end (neither did Lisa!). The community wanted more and there was incredible interaction from the audience with added participation required art.

Outcomes from participants were increased hope, resilience, friendships and support formed within the group, several went on to run their own weaving groups and Lisa has used the medium of weaving in her one on one client work and in groups since.

So whats the difference between the beautiful and ancient wisdom of First People weaving - special thanks to the Quandamooka weavers for their knowledge - and the traditional weaving group of womens business in our Country? Its the Arts Psychotherapeutic (Arts Therapy for short) process applied to it. There are two weaving ways and one process, the products of weaving the sexual violence trauma can be enough or can then be extended into one on one sessions where the product is sensitively unpacked by a qualified Arts Therapist.

There was more to this special group and duplicatable process than just the process. The environment, foundation and people involved all helped to make it a supportive experience for participants. Lisa Brewster, of Shift F7 Content, wrote about her time of sitting in the group. It was her job to assist the participants to write the descriptors for their pieces to be exhibited and it turned out to be a great witnessing component.

Purchase Telling Story Course

Lisa and Live Live Revolution is now offering a pre-ordering of the step by step process of Telling Story which includes all the information you need to facilitate the group. Specifically written for a professional environment, it is available here. Lisa thoroughly enjoys collaborating for group work and would encourage anyone interested in running the program to contact her. Lisa is happy to assist facilitators to run Telling Story. It would be wonderful to know of all the support being done for participants, so please feel free to contact Lisa. To be placed on the waiting list for Lisa facilitating Telling Story in 2020, please email.

Along with Lisa McDonald as a facilitator and collaborator for Telling Story, Lisa Brewster, is available to assist with the narrative component and weavers from Quandamooka can be contacted through Live Live Revolution. The course covers details on how to connect with weavers in your area. Using local weavers can be a great pathway to build community.

If you are a group or an organisation the payment for the course can form part of the materials required for grants or budget. Part of the profit goes towards the pro bono aspect of Live Live Revolution.

Telling Story was recently presented at Mental Health Services Conference in Brisbane in 2019 and the associated paper and journal article will be available from MHS and Live Live Revolution in October 2019. Lisa will be presenting the workshop in greater detail at the ANZACATA Symposium on 28 September, 2019.

telling story, 2016

Public Exhibition held at Redland Performing Arts Centre