Rooted in Self, Branching into the Future: The Wellness Tree Art Experiential (Preview Night)

The next generation of therapists will be shaped by how we care for ourselves today. In this experiential workshop, participants will engage in a "Roots & Branches Wellness Tree" activity to explore self-care as the foundation for sustainable clinical practice. Geek culture teaches us that every great hero’s journey begins with a solid foundation—whether it’s a mentor, a support system, or core values. Likewise, clinicians must be rooted in self-care to branch out into the future, preventing burnout while evolving in their work. Through this guided experience, participants will map out the roots that ground their well-being and the branches representing their aspirations for personal and professional sustainability.

Using reflective prompts, coloring, and intentional journaling, clinicians will create a visual representation of their self-care journey, reinforcing that self-sustenance is key to shaping the future of mental health care.

Learning Objectives:

 By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify core self-care practices that create stability and resilience in their professional roles.
2. Illustrate their self-care goals using the Roots & Branches Wellness Tree to visualize areas of growth.
3. Develop a personalized plan that integrates both grounding self-care techniques and future-oriented professional wellness strategies.
4. Examine how geek culture values, creativity, and community-building contribute to clinician sustainability and burnout prevention.
5. Recognize how cultural and personal identities shape self-care practices, and explore ways to integrate diverse, identity-affirming approaches into sustainable clinician wellness.

This training aligns with NBCC Content Areas: Wellness and Prevention, Counselor Professional Identity and Practice Issues, emphasizing sustainable self-care and professional longevityComprehensive Materials List for Participation

• Printout of the Roots & Branches Wellness Tree
•  (This will serve as the base for your experiential activity.)
• Coloring Materials:
• Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
• Note: Crayons are advised if colored pencils tend to trigger perfectionism.
• Paper Supplies:
• Spare sheets of paper for note-taking
• Additional paper to place under your hand while coloring (to prevent smudging)
• Optional Art Supplies:
• Stickers or other mixed media elements for personalizing your tree
• Pencils, pens, erasers, and a sharpener
• These are useful if you wish to add fine details or rework your tree in a subsequent "after" experiential session (viewed as a rough draft stage).