Our Mission

HaGomel’s mission is to provide expressive arts programming that supports emotional and psychological healing for women who have experienced sexual and other trauma.

Our Philosophy

We believe that creativity is a human birthright. In addition, based on published studies and our own experiences, we believe in the healing power of creative expression. We recognize that the various forms of expressive arts – visual art, movement, music, writing, theater – resonate differently with different people. Our expressive arts workshops utilize multiple modalities to better facilitate each participant’s creative and healing process. Our intention is to offer a safe space to transform pain and shame into possibility and joy.

Creative Community

Too often, individuals who have experienced sexual and other trauma feel isolated and alone, unheard and unsupported. In the safe space of our expressive arts workshops, women feel the freedom to create and express themselves vulnerably and courageously. Through creative community, they feel accepted and learn self-acceptance and trust.

Women Supporting Women

HaGomel was conceived in the wake of the #metoo movement, at a time when many women shared their stories of sexual trauma for the first time. The women who facilitate our programs provide strong role models for our participants, teaching them that, through sharing their own gifts and talents, they, too, can be leaders in their community.

Hope & Joy

Trauma can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Numerous studies have shown, and our individual experiences confirm, participating in expressive arts programs in a trauma-informed environment inspires feelings of peace, relaxation, and joy, even for those with no experience in the arts. Our programs utilize process-oriented exercises, allowing participants to play with movement, music, writing, and art materials, creating a sense of joy and connection.

Wholeheartedness & Compassion

Those who have experienced trauma often fall into patterns of self-doubt, self-criticism and self-hatred. Our trauma-informed facilitators offer participants the opportunity to embrace their creativity in a supportive, non-judgmental way, using a social emotional inquiry process that allows our participants to reflect on their experience rather than labeling the quality of their product. This process supports the participants in developing self-love and self-compassion.

Mindful Awareness

Trauma, especially sexual or other physical trauma, can often lead to disassociation and a sense of disconnection with our bodies. In order to ground our participants and to allow them to tap into their creative energy, our programs begin with mindful breathing and often include guided visualizations as well. Learning to focus their breath and their thoughts helps our participants to reconnect with their bodies, reducing anxiety and increasing self-acceptance.