Suzanne Edison, MA, MFA

Poet • Educator

  • Suzanne Edison, MA, MFA
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February 11, 2017 By Suzanne

Writing as a Righting Journey Workshop @ Seattle Children’s Hospital

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Seattle Children’s Hospital–RC.3.906–River entrance

11am – 2:30 pm

Free

Join me and other parents as we explore how parenting children who live with an ongoing physical or mental health issue affects our lives.

No writing experience necessary. This is an exploration for you.

For information or to RSVP: suzanne.edison@curejm.org

Filed Under: events, workshops

September 6, 2016 By Suzanne

Healing for Caregivers

Recently, I re-read an article that Catherine St. Louis wrote in The New York Times in 2014. She presented research about coping techniques for parent caregivers of children with chronic health needs. This paragraph stood out for me.

“All parents endure stress, but studies show that parents of children with developmental disabilities, like autism, experience depression and anxiety far more often. Struggling to obtain crucial support services, the financial strain of paying for various therapies, the relentless worry over everything from wandering to the future — all of it can be overwhelming.”

The research focused on two coping approaches. “The first group practiced meditation, breathing exercises, and qigong practices to hone mental focus. The second received instructions on curbing negative thoughts, practicing gratitude and reclaiming an aspect of adult life. Both groups were led by specially trained mentors, themselves the parents of special-needs children.”

Not surprisingly, both groups reported reductions in stress and anxiety and even “how to redirect their anxiety into positive action.” The group given the meditation techniques seemed to report greater reductions in anxiety.

When my child was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder I also experienced high levels of stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation and fear. It was then that I refocused my writing journey to include all of what was happening in my life. I found great relief and new wells of creative energy. I became a better advocate for my daughter too.

I have had similar reports from parents in my Writing as a Righting Journey workshop where we use writing and body awareness to help reduce anxiety and find ways to channel it into creative, and more productive thinking and action.

Next week I’ll be presenting my work at an international health humanities workshop in Spain and in November, I’ll share some insights of my work at a Mayo Clinic conference in Phoenix, Humanities in Medicine. Stay tuned.

Filed Under: blog, literature review, workshops Tagged With: caregivers, healing, writing

August 23, 2016 By Suzanne

Writing and Health-Humanities Conferences 2016

I am so honored and excited to share some of the reasons for, and structures of my Writing as a Righting Journey workshop on both the national and international levels.

In September, I will travel to Spain for the 5th International Health Humanities conference to present an hour workshop with Q & A to other medical professionals, caretakers, and citizen activists in healthcare.

Also, Josephine Ensign, University of Washington Nursing professor and I will co-present our work on Evaluating Creative Modalities Use with Marginalized Populations at the same venue.

In November, I will present a short paper on my writing workshop at The Mayo Clinic’s Humanities in Medicine Symposium in Phoenix.

If you know anyone in Europe or the US that you think should attend one of these, please let them know.

I’ll report back soon!

Filed Under: events, workshops

August 11, 2016 By Suzanne

Writing New Poems

images-1 Writing New Poems Workshop

Saturday, October 1, 2016

The Richard Hugo House

1 pm- 5 pm

Come read and write poems of renewal, birth, loss and change. We will read poems by Dana Levin, Ross Gay, Mary Jo Bang, Kevin Young and others. We will also use these works as starting points for our own poems.

A love of words and writing is the prerequisite.

Early bird registration expires August 29th. See the link under the title for more information.

Hope to see you there.

Filed Under: teaching, workshops

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Events & Workshops

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Writing as a Righting Journey-San Francisco/Oakland–2020

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