Stories matters. Voices matters. Experiences matters. Autonomy matters. In a time where our stories and our voices can be so quickly shared, widely accessed, and just as easily distorted, the I Want You to See Me Project, is a platform for individuals who have been oppressed, marginalized, or exploited and gives them the reigns on how they want to be seen, heard, understood, and supported. The I Want You to See Me Project (“See Me”) is a creative, collaborative piece with the intention of shining a light on the stories and experiences that are often ignored, forgotten, or altered and amplifies the voices of those who have been silenced by society or among their community. This presentation highlights the results collected and lessons learned from implementing the “See Me” Project with various populations. By exploring the intersection of theatre and therapy, this presentation shares tools on how to create spaces to amplify the voices of others, instead of telling the stories of others. Audience members will learn the personal and societal barriers that prevent us from truly seeing one another, while also exploring the concept of storytelling through a digital era and will obtain a deeper level of understanding and connection across communities and populations. Participants will walk away with a greater understanding of how to support clients, friends, peers, and strangers through the process of claiming their stories.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Rosie Best combines her diverse training and knowledge of theatre, therapy, and social justice to create spaces for marginalized individuals to reclaim authority and autonomy over their stories and their experiences. Through her organization, Issue Box Theatre, Rosie provides community education on topics related to mental health and social justice.
Meg Kraner integrates Narrative Therapy (NT) and art-based therapy methods into the healing process with her clients. Meg has used NT with various client populations, as well as within her own therapeutic journey, and highly values the art of healing through therapeutic storytelling and community connection.