What’s your natural high?
art music cooking adventure mindfulnessbeing with animals writingspiritualityperformance enhances my recovery!
Exploring creativity can dramatically benefit our recovery, whether we have a history of substance use, or have been impacted by another person’s addiction.
art music cooking adventure mindfulnessbeing with animals writingspiritualityperformance
enhances my recovery!
Exploring creativity can dramatically benefit our recovery, whether we have a history of substance use, or have been impacted by another person’s addiction.
Join us for programs and workshops that feature a variety of creative recovery topics. You’ll meet treatment professionals and people with lived experience who will share some amazing possibilities for a richer, fuller life in recovery!
We are exploring creative ways to enhance, celebrate or deepen our recovery! If substance use disorder has impacted you or someone you love, you’ll find countless paths that exist to find meaning in the journey of recovery.
Whether you are new to recovery, or if you have been in recovery for some time … there’s so much to discover!
2-Part Writing Workshop
☝️Part 1: Wednesday, September 29, 2021 from 6 to 8 pm
✌️Part 2: Wednesday, October 13, 2021 from 6 to 8 pm
📍at Be a Part of the Conversation’s office in Ardmore
Creative Recovery Writing workshops will give participants an opportunity to transform a personal experience into a short story or memoir.
- You must be fully vaccinated in order to attend, as we are meeting in person and will be indoors.
- These workshops will only be conducted in person at Be a Part of the Conversation’s office in Ardmore (16 E. Lancaster Avenue, Suite 101, Ardmore, PA 19003). They will not be available online.
- Be sure to bring your favorite tools for writing: laptop, notebook, paper, pencil … whatever works best for you!
- Limited to 20 people. If for any reason you cannot attend, please cancel your registration to free up space for others.
Please register for both parts!
Music Workshop
Thursday, September 30, 2021 from 6:30 to 8 pm
📍at Be a Part of the Conversation’s office in Ardmore
Music therapy is an evidenced-based practice of using music to promote non-musical goals. This workshop is open to both musicians and non-musicians, individuals in recovery, individuals who know someone in recovery, or anyone interested in learning more about music therapy. We’ll focus on using songwriting and song rewriting as a means of positive self-expression, coping, and gaining insight into areas that one may be struggling with.
You DO NOT need to be a songwriter or have any experience in this area to engage and learn from this workshop!
- You must be fully vaccinated in order to attend, as we are meeting in person and will be indoors.
- This workshop will only be conducted in person at Be a Part of the Conversation’s office in Ardmore (16 E. Lancaster Avenue, Suite 101, Ardmore, PA 19003). It will not be available online.
- You do not need to bring anything.
- Limited to 10 people. If for any reason you cannot attend, please cancel your registration to free up space for others.
Learn More about Creative Recovery!
In the summer of 2021, we introduced Creative Recovery with the help of panelists representing adventure, yoga, cooking, working with animals, music, art, writing and spirituality/mindfulness.
Below are recordings of the two introductory programs, along with information about our panelists.
View the Recording from Part 1:
Adventure • Yoga • Cooking • Animals
View the Recording from Part 2:
Music • Art • Writing • Spirituality/Mindfulness
Meet Our Panelists
Resources by Creativity Topic
Are there resources you’d like us to add? Send an email to kim@conversation.zone
Sync Recovery 
Sync Recovery on Facebook: facebook.com/syncrecovery
The Phoenix
Thank you to John Shields for sharing the following resources!
Surfing: John Shields – 215.908.1879 john@pointbdesign.com
Ad-hoc group connecting via text or group chat. Currently have boards and wet suits for people to try.
Swimming: Jeff Rake – 610.212.3776 jprake@gmail.com
Currently do both pool and open water sober swimming.
Climbing: John Shields – 215.908.1879 john@pointbdesign.com
Indoor at a number of good rock gyms (reach is best in my opinion).
Outdoor Climbing: Gunks is a world class outdoor area; 2.5 hour drive.
Also, the Wissahickon has many outdoor areas.
Fitness in Recovery: Sidra 570.412.4454 info@fitnessinrecovery.org
Workouts in many areas including crossfit. Lots of opportunities.
Soccer: John Shields – 215.908.1879 john@pointbdesign.com
YSC in Wayne. Five seasons per year; competitive soccer at night.
Manor of Hope
Read a story about Andrew Deery
Book referenced by Andrew: Culinary Artistry by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page
Find Daniel Benonis on LinkedIn
Vampr is the #1 Network for Musicians
Find fellow musicians on MeetUp
Publication referenced by Daniel Benonis: Defining Music by Kenneth E. Bruscia
TED Talk: Why I Want to Change the World with Music Therapy
Thank you to Ken Beldon for providing the following resources!
Mindfulness Meditations recorded by Ken
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With The Heart Of A Buddha by Tara Brach
Addiction and Grace: Love And Spirituality In The Healing Of Addictions by Gerald May
Breathing Under Water: Spirituality And The 12 Steps by Richard Rohr
Find Ken Beldon on PsychologyToday.com
Other helpful resources.
The 12-Step Buddhist: Enhance Recovery from Any Addiction by Darren Littlejohn
Recovery Dharma: Using Buddhist Practices and Principles to Health the Suffering of Addiction
Celebrate Recovery: A Christ-Centered 12 Step Program
Addicts Victorious: Christ-Centered Addiction Support & Transformation
Dog fostering program referenced by Matthew McFadden: To Love a Canine Rescue, Inc.
Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
31 Addiction Recovery Journal Prompts to Use During Your Healing Process
Link to classes with Arielle Ashford at Unity
Nidra is Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays at 8 pm. 🙂 All are welcome.
Contact Arielle: Arielle@unityyoga.guru
View a recording of the July 21, 2021 Creative Recovery: Yoga class with Arielle Ashford of Unity Yoga / Unity Recovery:
Arielle also shared this voice recording of a guided meditation:
Caroline Farrell (Website) – 610.733.2721 carolineozeroff@yahoo.com
Jean Schaller / Yoga On Main – 610.955.3026 schallerjean@gmail.com
Hummingbird Yoga & Massage: Trauma Sensitive Yoga and Massage Studio
Book: Creative Recovery by Eric Maisel, PhD and Susan Raeburn, PhD
Lisa Kelley
Lisa Kelley is a trauma-informed artist who is interested in the connection between art and social change. She was born and raised in Kensington (a neighborhood in Philadelphia) and has worked there for the past four years, practicing art as harm reduction and facilitating art workshops with people experiencing homelessness and people in active addiction. Her personal art-making is often impacted by her interactions and relationships with the community she works with. Lisa’s background in graphic design has influenced her work through explorations of color, pattern and repetition. Collage, paint, fibers, textiles, metal, found objects and hand-carved stamps make up some of her recent work.
Lisa is the founder of Epidemic (www.epidemicweavings.com), a series of weavings thematically connected by the struggles, the despair, and the stories of hope surrounding addiction. Each weaving is created with strips of fabric on which people affected by addiction write a wish, a prayer, a dream, a memory. The messages of love and loss are knotted and woven together, then threaded onto and suspended from sticks found in parks in Kensington. The project is a story about bearing witness, of gaining empathy and compassion, exploring the stigma and shame of addiction and of taking action and reaching beyond the personal to affect change in the community.
email: lisaakelley@yahoo.com
Eric Tankel, M.S.ED, LPC, CAADC
Patrick Montgomery
Patrick’s role as a Recovery Coordinator at the Manor of Hope challenges him every day to support the young men under his care to find the path to long-term recovery. He believes the journey must include the right balance of clinical care, vocational training, and life skills, along with a healthy dose of fun and finding your passion in life. Himself, a Manor of Hope graduate, Patrick offers residents a compassionate ear and first-hand knowledge of the Manor of Hope program and its unique benefits.
A native New Yorker, Patrick attended the University of Scranton and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology as well as minors in Theology and Criminal Justice. He also attended Palm Beach State College where he attended courses in Addiction Studies.
In his spare time, Patrick enjoys exercising, martial arts, cooking, and visiting family in New York. As an avid musician, Patrick can often be seen jamming on his guitar teaching residents on the Manor of Hope campus.
Daniel Benonis, M.A., MT-BC, LPC
email: dbenonis47@gmail.com
Barry Salop
email: lucky013@gmail.com
Ken Beldon, LSW
Ken Beldon, LSW is a psychotherapist who works at Revive Wellness in Conshohocken, specializing in the outpatient treatment of dual diagnoses, grief and loss, and matters of personal growth and spirituality. He is also a person in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder. He has been ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister since 1998, founding the WellSprings Congregation in Chester County in 2005. He has been a daily mindfulness practitioner since 2011 and integrates mindfulness into his clinical practice, and has led numerous mindfulness retreats and small groups over the last decade.
email: kbeldonsw@gmail.com
John Shields
John Shields (13 yrs in recovery/one daughter active addict)
I am fortunate to have been born with a creative mind, I am an Artist and an Architect (my studio is Point B Design; I also have a small brand at Dontpanicposse.com). I feel lucky to be able to use some of that creativity in considering new angles of approach in the fight against addiction. I have been an adventure sports athlete all my life – my focus has shifted depending on where I happen to be living at the time. I am a mountaineer, trail runner, backcountry skier, rock climber, surfer, long distance prone paddling, and recently open water swimming. I am constantly seeking nature at her most wild extremes for the challenge and for the beauty of “those places” and “those moments.” The opportunity to foster that passion and share those experiences with people in recovery is amazing. It can fill a void and open a future.
Arielle Ashford
Andrew Deery
Andrew Deery, Culinary Director, Manor of Hope
Andrew was born and raised in Phoenixville, PA where he first discovered his passion for cooking. He graduated from Baltimore International Culinary College in 1992 with an Associates Degree in Professional Cooking.
After graduating, he moved to Maine where he worked under James Beard awarded chef, Sam Hayward. While there, he gained an appreciation for the seasonality of ingredients and the surrounding network of local farmers, foragers, and fishermen. He stayed in Maine for 8 years before returning back to Pennsylvania.
In 2004, Andrew came back to his hometown of Phoenixville to open his own restaurant, Majolica where he was awarded the “3-Bell Review” from food critic, Craig Laban of the Philadelphia Inquirer. While at Majolica, he received numerous awards and accolades, including the “Best Chef of Chester County.” He was also highlighted in many magazines and publications as well as being included on the cover of internationally circulated Art Culinaire Magazine.
Andrew eventually forged a friendship with Steve Killelea, founder of the Manor of Hope, after participating in its Building Futures Program. He employed and worked for several years with one of the first Manor residents to graduate from the program, Steve S.
On the 15th year anniversary of its opening, Andrew decided to close Majolica Restaurant to pursue a higher calling at the Manor of Hope.
He brings an accumulated skill, experience and expertise to the program, with a focus on culinary education and agricultural program development.
Andrew’s interests include food, yoga, kayaking and music, specifically guitar and enjoys playing music with many residents to help further their music education.
Matthew McFadden
As Executive Director of Resident Services at Manor of Hope, Matthew ensures that the programming and staff at the Manor of Hope are designed to deliver the highest quality experience to all residents during their stay.
He is responsible for supporting staff through oversight and ongoing professional development while continually seeking out the innovative opportunities and strategic partnerships necessary to achieve the organizational mission of excellence.
Matthew brings to the Manor of Hope a passion for teaching and a commitment to learning from all those he supports. His career in the fields of education and recovery began while living and teaching in Argentina and Honduras. After returning to the United States, Matthew began coordinating the supportive services of a young adult substance abuse program located in Philadelphia. While in that role, Matthew observed firsthand the devastation that drug use inflicts on our families and our communities. He also witnessed inspiring stories of triumph and had the honor of working with some of the brightest minds in the field of recovery.
Matthew earned a Master’s of Education from Temple University in 2013. Since then he has utilized his training and experience to design and implement resilience and life skills programming. He has served as a mentor and advisor to both students and professionals alike. His work has helped build pathways towards meaningful employment and education opportunities which promotes lasting change in those he serves.
Matthew is an adventurer at heart who has enjoyed his time traveling the world. These days you’ll find him exploring the forests closer to home with Scout, his Australian Cattle Dog.
Dr. Caroline Fenkel
Dr. Caroline Fenkel’s passion lies in helping heal adolescents through the use of experiential therapy, group therapy, and animal-assisted therapy. Her career began with her love for horses: She majored in equine studies and minored in psychology at Delaware Valley University, then completed her master’s degree in social work at Bryn Mawr College. From there, she combined these two focuses through practicing equine-assisted therapy and other forms of experiential therapy, including Relational Trauma Repair and adventure therapy. Caroline has worked with adolescents and young adults at all levels of care, including outpatient and residential, at numerous national programs, including Pyramid Healthcare, Adolescent Advocates, Mirmont Treatment Center, Elements Behavioral Health, and Newport Academy. Most recently, she was the Executive Director of Center for Families in Malvern, PA. Caroline earned her doctorate in clinical social work from the University of Pennsylvania. Her passion for helping those with substance use disorders stems from her own experience in long-term recovery. Caroline’s strong systemic, evidence based social work background, propels her to support prevention programs throughout the region.
