Meet Helen Spaw, MPS | Wellness Through Art: Healing Art Circles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Helen Spaw, MPS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Helen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been leading a variety of contemplative, outreach and arts programs, including an art school, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for 13 years. In 2020, I realized I would like to reach more wellness through arts participants in the community, so I started my own business leading wellness through art circles and events.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

It seems to take a lot of experience, effort, and time to expand or create new wellness through art groups or programs, but once they start the momentum increases. This year, I have been happy to share more wellness through art workshops throughout Houston. In these experiential art groups, participants access their inner guidance and wholeness through art and community.

I continue to lead a monthly Healing Art Circle for Healing of Racism sponsored by The Center for the Healing of Racism, and a quarterly art class at The Clarewood House. In January I facilitated an art workshop for clients at The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, and in February I led Wellness through Art Circles for their staff. Also in February, I led Art Circles for 60 participants at Ecclesia’s Women’s Retreat. In March, I led Wellness Through Art Workshops for 60 Pediatric Nursing Students at the University of St. Thomas. In April, I will be leading staff Wellness through Art Circles at Bread of Life.
In the staff and student circles, we rediscover the wellness skills we already have, and discuss how we can apply them to our work and life.

I also continue to lead programs through my full time work at St. Paul’s, such as The Art Tent for Emergency Aid Coalition clients. We have our 3rd annual Art show in April featuring artists from The Art Tent. In March, we are launching new children’s Ballet & Creative Movement classes through St. Paul’s Fine Arts Academy. In May, St. Paul’s will be participating in the World Labyrinth Day walk.

All programs seem to keep expanding, and through all of this I find it is still essential to keep my own art practice.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is always something happening in Houston. I am most familiar with the museum district, so we would explore there, as well as Sawyer Yards for some art and food, and look up some festivals to visit. We would definitely go outside the city for kayaking, “hiking”, paddle boarding and possibly camping.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Thank you to my family and friends. Thank you to Carlos! Thank you to Jenny for your friendship and believing in the wellness through art programs.
Thank you to all of the art circle and workshop participants.

Website: www.healingartcircles.com

Instagram: @healingartcircles

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenspaw

Facebook: Healing Art Circles

Image Credits
Helen Spaw