Art workshops that provide first aid for the heart & soul.
For helping professionals, folks with medical or mental health challenges, and family caregivers.
Art is relief. Art is self-care. Art is joy. Art is validation. Art regulates the nervous system. Art heals.
I believe creativity is your birthright
— and it’s especially needed if you’re deep in the tumble of a challenging, heavy season of your life.
Hi, I’m Cris Sanhueza,
I facilitate online art workshops for medical centers, non-profit organizations, and schools that support people’s well-being and creative expression, backed by my experience as an arts in health professional, social worker, and artist.
Did you know: Art making is anything but frivolous?
Smooshing paint across canvas, stitching multicolored threads in and out, cutting out collage elements, and organizing colors becomes a form of meditation. It transforms us from overwhelmed and exhausted to being back in flow with life and remembering who we really are outside of our roles as “person experiencing loss,” “person with illness,” or “caregiver.”
Find meaning at a time when you may be asking “why me?”
I focus on these particular populations in my work…
Cancer Centers
I facilitate workshops for adolescents and young adults with cancer. When you’re on an emotional roller coaster like this, you need some distraction, community, and relief.
Alzheimer's Groups
Alzheimer’s is a challenging condition for both the patient and the caregiver. Workshops are gentle, easygoing, and deeply compassionate.
Helping Professionals
The art classes are a place to calm down your nervous system, get grounded, and take some breaths. They are done weekly during or outside of business hours.
GRIEF & LOSS
I offer artmaking workshops for bereavement groups with a special focus on pregnancy loss support groups. I am passionate about helping people going through this most tender of loss. Compassionate and transformative artmaking workshops provide a supportive environment where you can navigate your grief, honor your loved ones, find comfort through the creative process, and forge meaningful connections with others who understand your journey of grief and loss. You don't have to do it alone.
Family Caregivers
There is burnout in caregiving. I believe this is a huge, underserved population.
Unlock your creativity and find solace in the transformative power of art with our engaging artmaking workshops tailored specifically for family caregivers. These workshops provide a safe space for self-expression, stress relief, and personal growth, allowing you to explore your emotions, connect with others, and find renewed inspiration on your caregiving journey.
Refugees and Newcomers
As a native Spanish speaker and former Newcomer student combined with degrees in social work and arts in health practice focused on work with Latinx families and children, I am skilled and culturally sensitive. Participants embark on a creative and empowering journey that uncovers the potential of art to support mental health as they navigate a new home and forge connections with others who share similar experiences while celebrating diversity and supporting their integration into a new community. Together, let's use art as a powerful tool to bridge cultures, build resilience, and create a brighter future.
About Cris
I have a Master’s Degree from the University of Florida’s Center for Arts in Medicine, a global leader in the field of arts in health, where I serve as a research assistant at the Center’s Interdisciplinary Research Lab led by Dr. Jill Sonke.
I have experience on both sides of the desk. My professional experience supports my capability as a facilitator and program manager, while my personal experience as a family caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s and decades of work as a helping professional brings my human self to the forefront, as I see and understand the challenges many of my clients face.
People tell me I’m a “Unicorn”
My skill, background, and personal experiences give me a unique approach you won’t find elsewhere.
Contractor
Why hire a full-time artist in residence when you can get a senior-level professional contractor at a fraction of the price who knows your needs intimately?
All Inclusive
I offer a self-contained, stress-free project that is not intrusive or a burden on the institution or staff. I can also offer curriculum writing/bilingual project development on request.
Bilingual & Culturally Aware
As a native Spanish speaker, I am particularly sensitive to the cultural norms and healing/grief practices of Latinx populations.
Trauma-Informed & Evidence-Based
I blend the joy, fun, and relaxation of artmaking with evidence-based practices to invite in self-care, meaning, and connection.
Interested in me facilitating an online art workshop for your organization?
I can offer a flexible schedule that suits your institution’s needs, whether you want weekly, biweekly or monthly classes, for 3 months, 6 months, or beyond.
Get in touch with your requirements today!