Workshop Info
When I first began offering workshops in 2023, I envisioned them as being for medical practitioners to heal from their work and traininng, or maybe for those recovering from medical trauma. But, as I’ve progressed in writing my memoir, I’ve come to learn that my audience is all lightworkers, all who want to raise the vibration of the planet, but struggle to do so within current systems.
As a response, I now facilitate online generative writing workshops via Zoom. When I became certified by Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) in 2017, I got the confidence to do workshops. But it wasn’t until 2021, when I took online classes at Columbia in their Narrative Medicine program, that my whole method emerged. The combined effect of these two approaches lends itself to healing from all kinds of trauma, including the trauma of medical training.
Visit my Worshop Registration page to see what workshop offerings are coming up.
The AWA Philosophy
Founded by the late poet Pat Schneider, the AWA method emphasizes the importance of each writer’s unique voice. Schneider details her teaching philosophy in her book, Writing Alone and with Others, which serves as a guiding resource for our workshops.
Core Values:
- Everyone has a strong, unique voice.
- Everyone is born with creative genius.
- Writing belongs to all, regardless of background.
- Craft can be taught without compromising artistic self-esteem.
- A writer is someone who writes.
Workshop Structure and Schedule
Our engaging eight-week workshop series meets weekly for two hours, providing you with the opportunity to connect with fellow writers and hone your craft. Currently, we offer two sessions:
- Mondays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Time
- Wednesdays from 12 to 2 p.m. Eastern Time
All workshops are conducted via Zoom, with links sent directly to participants before each session. The eight week series is offered four times during the year. Beginning in the Fall of 2026, workshops will be six weeks long, offered five times a year.
How Narrative Medicine Fits In
A Narrative Medicine workshop begins with the close examination of a piece of art, either writing, visual, or musical art. In my workshop participants’ experience, this added layer before the receiving of the prompt makes it easier to bypass the inner critic and access the genius of the unconscious. Writers surprise themselves, and the writing has more power.
The Science Behind the Workshops
Psychologist James W. Pennebaker is credited with the discovery that expressive writing is correlated not only with emotional healing from stress and trauma. He was also able to show a protective effect on the immune system, measured by fewer visits to a physician in the months after a prescribed expressive writing treatment. More in-depth studies of lymphocyte responses corroborated his findings.
Visit the Workshop Registration Page
to see if a workshop might fit into your schedule. Many of my participants have been participants of every cycle since they began in January 2023. Each eight-week series costs $60, with an option for a deep discount with a paid subscription to my newsletter.
Have questions? I’m happy to answer them! Reach out via email at deborah@deborahbayer.com or visit the Contact page.
Reviews from Past Participants
I’m here because I love Deborah’s facilitation: her thoughtful prompts, her open discussion, her kindness, empathy, listening skills and for her compassion for the human condition that shows up in our writing. I’m here because I want to be facilitated this way, to be surprised by the products of my own mind. I’m here and I’m grateful every week for the way I’m surprised by my colleagues’ words, by this ongoing introduction into other lives as strained through this sieve of thoughtful writing practice.
Grateful to have a writing refuge in the New Year with such a skillful and experienced facilitator.
Your writing has always struck me as so intelligent and sensitive, gentle and kind. The world needs your creative voice. And I’m so glad I know you.
Glad to be back.