Now Offering Art4Healing® Workshops

I’m proud to announce that I am now a certified Art4Healing® Facilitator offering creative healing workshops in Laguna Beach and surrounding communities!

Art4Healing® is a well-established expressive arts method, founded by Laurie Zagon, with more than 25 years of impact in Southern California. The program has helped tens of thousands of adult and youth participants suffering from the emotional impacts of trauma, illness, grief, fear or stress. 

 

 

 

The workshops I offer are the result of a deeply personal journey that has transformed my relationship with art and with grief. After experiencing profound loss in my life, I found myself searching for a way to express emotions that were difficult to articulate. My art practice became my outlet - color, paint, and movement was my emotional language.

 

The healing power of art became the cornerstone of my own painting practice, but it also led me to develop and lead creatrive workshops from my studio, particularly for women. After recently going through the grieving and healing process following the loss of my late fiancé, I found myself searching again for a way to give back and share my experience.

 

I recently completed an intensive 9-month international certification, during which I learned to step away from artistic technique and instead use color as a direct emotional language. Today, I guide others through the same process with care, presence, and respect for each individual’s experience.

 

Art4Healing® sessions are two-hour guided experiences focused on emotional expression rather than artistic outcome. Participants work on three abstract canvas boards, moving through a series of prompts that encourage reflection, release, and insight.

 

Traditional paintbrushes are intentionally excluded. Instead, we use makeup sponges and Q-tips, tools that help reduce self-judgment and allow emotions to surface more freely. There is no drawing, no symbols, and no expectation to create something “beautiful.” Everything is abstract, intuitive, and personal.

 

 

Group sharing is optional and gently facilitated. The emphasis is always on how the process feels, not on interpreting or evaluating the artwork.

 

• Safe emotional expression without words
• Stress relief and nervous system calming
• No art skills required
• Increased self-awareness and insight
• Supportive group connection
• A dedicated space for self-care and reflection

 

Art4Healing® offers a pause from everyday demands—a chance to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect through the simple, powerful act of creating.

 

These classes are open to all adults, regardless of artistic background. Many participants come seeking support during periods of grief, stress, transition, or emotional overwhelm, while others are simply curious about exploring their inner world through color and movement.

 

 

I am currently facilitating Art4Healing® workshops at the Susi Q Senior Community Center in Laguna Beach, with plans to expand to additional community venues, private groups, and customized sessions.

 

Address:
The Susi Q

380 Third Street
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

 

To learn about upcoming classes or to schedule a private session, please contact me at clara@claraberta.com

 

I look forward to welcoming you into this healing, creative space!