Iranians in the Diaspora: A FREE 4-hour Workshop

Healing the Wounds of History
Presents

Iranians in the Diaspora

WOMEN*LIFE*FREEDOM

An exploration of Iranian identity through drama therapy and the creative arts
in response to the current cultural revolution.

A free 4 hour workshop

When: Saturday, Feb 4, 2023

Time: 9am-1pm, Pacific Time

Where: Online Live via Zoom

Facilitated by
Niloofar Alishahi and Armand Volkas

Workshop Description:
As members of the Iranian Diaspora we hold many unexpressed feelings. We experience helplessness, confusion, shame and guilt as we witness the current cultural revolution in Iran from a distance. The reality is that we are relatively safe outside of Iran. However, each day we receive horrific images and reports of oppression taking place in our homeland. We long to help and be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. During such traumatic times, we need a place to process, to metabolize all that we are going through. We need to witness and emotionally hold each other.  We need to tell our stories and explore our unique identities and complex struggles. We seek to make sense and gain fresh insight to  empower us to be a support for those who are fighting inside Iran.

Members of the Iranian community in the Diaspora are invited to  join us for this FREE transformative 4-hour workshop.

Space is limited so please reserve your spot ASAP:

Workshop will be conducted in English.

REGISTER NOW!

A zoom link will be sent to you after you register

Please contact Niloofar at niloofar.alishahi@gmail.com for more information.

Facilitator Bios:

Niloofar Alishahi, MPS, LCAT, ATR-BC. Licensed Art Therapist. Drama Therapist in training. Niloofar (She, her, hers) provides individual and group therapy to various populations, including acute psychiatric patients, immigrants, asylum seekers, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, seniors and individuals with emotional and behavioral diagnoses. As a first generation immigrant of ten years, Niloofar is aware of the challenges to access collective spaces and mental health resources for people living in the diaspora and is hoping to create and expand such opportunities. She believes in the healing power of community and the arts. Niloofar has used art and drama to support her own post-immigration struggles and now seeks to share these benefits with the larger community.

Armand Volkas, MFA, MA, MFT, RDT/BCT is a psychotherapist, drama therapist and theatre director.
He is Clinical Director of the Center for the Living Arts in Berkeley, California where he directs a drama therapy training program for interns and licensed therapists who want to integrate drama therapy into their psychotherapy practice. Armand directs the Healing the Wounds of History Institute. Healing the Wounds of History is a therapeutic approach in which theatre techniques are used to work with groups of participants who share a common collective or historical trauma or with two cultures with a legacy of violent conflict.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Healing the Wounds of History is a therapeutic and creative process in which experiential techniques are used to work with people who share a common legacy of generational, historical and/or collective trauma. Healing the Wounds of History helps participants work through the burden of shared historical legacies by transforming their pain into constructive action.