Classes, Groups & Workshops Winter 2025
As we settle in to our new location on Pine Hall Road in State College, The Healing Room will be offering a variety of classes and workshops. From movement and mindfulness, to expressive arts and self-care, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter (scroll to bottom) to stay up to date on all of our offerings!
Sacred Sounds: Music & Mindfulness
Fridays 5:30-7:30 pm
NEXT SESSION: FRIDAY FEB. 28
Feb. 7-March 14 (no class Feb. 21)
An exploration into the power of sound to reset the nervous system and unlock transformative healing. Achieve calming balance through the combination of music and mindfulness This group incorporates simple drumming, rhythmic exercises and mindfulness practice into a fun therapeutic experience of connection and emotional regulation and expression. No experience is necessary to participate. Instruments will be provided but feel free to bring your own as well. Groups led by Josh Crownover, LAPC.
Benefits of drumming:
Stress Reduction: The rhythmic nature of drumming helps lower stress levels by reducing cortisol (the “stress hormone”) and increasing endorphins.
Emotional Expression: Drumming provides a nonverbal outlet for emotions that may be difficult to articulate otherwise. It can also help to soothe and calm your nervous system
Community Building: Group drumming creates a sense of belonging, togetherness, and connection with others, enhancing social-emotional development.
Mindfulness: . Music can fully engage our senses and help us slow down and focus on the present moment. The focus required to create music promotes present-moment awareness, a key component of mindfulness practices.
Increases brain activity- Making music can help with problem solving and with creativity. It also helps your brain release dopamine-This impacts mood, thinking and behavior
Benefits of mindfulness:
Participation in music-based mindfulness can help improve mood, relieve anxiety, reduce pain, and improve a greater overall sense of well-being.
Mindfulness brings about various positive psychological effects, including reduced psychological symptoms and emotional reactivity, and improved behavioral regulation.
Consistent mindfulness practice is associated with fewer PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and addiction issues such as cravings.
Mindfulness-based treatments may also be effective in restoring connectivity between large-scale brain networks among individuals with PTSD.
Mindfulness-based therapy has been shown to be effective as a treatment for addictions & for aiding in relapse prevention.
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Yoga Nidra: Rest and Restore
First Thursday of every month!
6:00pm
NEXT SESSION: THURSDAY, MARCH 6
March 6 | April 3 | May 1
Join us in person OR online via Zoom!
(Make your selection when you register.)
Yoga Nidra is a guided relaxation practice intended to induce deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation and restoration. Students are invited to lie down and use supportive blankets and props to get as comfortable as possible. (Yoga Nidra may also be practiced sitting up if preferred.) All that’s required is to relax and listen!
Studies have shown that Yoga Nidra can help regulate the nervous system, improve sleep quality, and help support conditions including cardiovascular disease, stress-related illnesses, chronic pain, and anxiety/depression.
Sessions will be led by Lori Wieder, LAPC, C-IAYT. Yoga Nidra will be offered the first Thursday of each month at 6pm. You can choose to attend in person at The Healing Room or online via Zoom. Cost for each session is $20.
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Mondays at 6-7:30pm
beginning on March 24th
Creative journaling is a safe space to explore and release feelings through visual and written expression. A regular art practice can help with understanding one’s emotions and can improve clarity and insight. Art journaling also encourages experimentation with different materials and techniques without fear of judgment. It can help rekindle creativity that may be dormant due to daily pressures.
Join us for this 6-week series, where you will create an art journal from a vintage book; learn expressive techniques to help flush out limiting beliefs; and encourage healing, growth, and creativity. This group is designed for adult participants who are seeking something engaging and creative. Our session will focus on process, exploration, discovery, and play.
This group provides a safe and sacred space for expressing our creative selves through a variety of activities including collage, acrylic paint, pastels, and watercolor.
All materials supplied. No art experience necessary.
Instructor: Amy Frank is a dedicated art therapy intern at The Healing Room. In addition to finishing her training at Penn West University, Amy is the founder and director of The Makery, a non-profit art studio in State College and Bellefonte and a mixed-media artist and art instructor.
Cost: FREE! Registration is required.
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Saturday April 19, 6:00-8:00pm
Join the first ever "First Responder Only" drumming group and learn new strategies to help navigate some of the emotional chaos that accompanies your work. We offer techniques to help reduce stress, improve sleep, quiet racing thoughts, regulate mood, and manage anxiety & other emotions.
Beginners are welcome. Absolutely no musical experience is necessary to participate.
Untreated stress is a silent killer. But for first responders, it's an unavoidable part of the job. As first responders, we know the importance of working together & supporting each other. I have created a unique group that brings together two of my personal passions - being of service to others and making music. This group will allow first responders to join together, share that unspoken bond, and have fun while learning about the positive impact music can have on reducing stress. I incorporate education on stress-reduction, easy drumming, & activities that provide a solid foundation to help you add some stress-management skills to your tactical toolkit. This group is not a therapy session. We won't be "talking about our feelings". Its about having fun, connecting, and simply learning how to better manage stress. And really, nothing is better for relieving stress than beating the heck out of some drums!
And to show thanks for all the ways you continue to serve your communities, cost to attend will be donation only. Registration required.
Open to: Law enforcement, fire services, EMS, corrections, dispatch, military, lifeguards, emergency medical workers, journalists, and more.
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Somatic Release Class
Fridays 7:00-8:30pm
NEXT SESSION: FRIDAY APRIL 25
April 25 | May 23 | June 27
When was the last time you let yourself feel? That you gave yourself space to think about what you really want? During this class, you’ll be guided through joy, grief, confidence, and more by licensed trauma therapist and women’s empowerment coach, Kathy Gates LCSW CTT and live musician, Jennifer Bitner. Through physical and emotional movement, you are invited to step into your power and release what you no longer need to carry. Learn how to give yourself permission to relax into abundance and receive all the juicy bits of life.
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Gentle/Therapeutic Yoga: 8-Week Winter Series
Every Tuesday!
5:30 PM
January 7 - March 4, 2025
A weekly opportunity to unwind and nourish yourself! Combining mindful movement, somatic release, and relaxation techniques, this class is designed to help reduce stress, release tension, and promote overall well-being. Led by Lori Wieder, LAPC, C-IAYT, these sessions are designed for all levels, ensuring everyone feels welcome and supported.
This is offered as an eight-week series, Tuesdays at 5:30pm starting January 7 through March 4, 2025 (no class 1/21). Cost for the series is $120. Single class drop-in is $20.
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The Emotional Tour Class
The Emotional Tour™️ Class is offered monthly by licensed trauma therapist and women’s empowerment coach, Kathy Gates, LCSW, CTT, and live musician, Jennifer Bitner. Through physical and emotional movement, you are invited to step into your power and release what you no longer need to carry. Learn how to give yourself permission to relax into abundance and receive all the juicy bits of life!