The FORT
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A community space where teens meet once a month to connect and grow stronger together through resiliency based, interactive workshops that nourishes their mental wellness. Delivered in different modalities, teens build resilience and connection by shared experiences across these disciplines:
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Expressive Arts – healing and connection through various forms of creative expression from painting, music, journaling, to photography and more.
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Mindfulness – calming and connection between the mind and body through meditation, yoga or other mindful practices.
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Nature & Animals – healing through the connective force of equine & canine therapy
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Social Emotional – building trust and healthy connections through group games and discussion
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Relationships – fostering positive peer and adult connections through the above shared experiences.
A place where you can be yourself
De-stress, connect with peers and learn new skills to cope better with the challenges of life. Participate in fun ice-breaker games, group sharing and discussions, and activities that build resilience and allow you to just be yourself.
Sunday, October 22, 1:00 - 4 PM
Fusion Academy, 19300 Promenade Dr Suite 200, Leesburg, VA 20176
Movement for Well-being
Show your favorite dance move at the Movement for Well-being Workshop! Movement and dance have profound connections to mental health. Do you listen to music when you need a boost? Did you know that moving and dancing boosts the effect music has on you? That’s because dance offers a unique avenue for emotional expression, so you can convey feelings and experiences that you just can’t put into words. Have fun moving and dancing while you hear about all the ways dance can boost mental well-being.
Pumpkin Decorating
Join us for a Pumpkin Decorating Workshop! Painting is a powerful tool to cultivate mindfulness and manage emotions. Let go of worries over the past and anxieties about the future, while focusing solely on the paint strokes of color. Have fun decorating pumpkins while exercising self-expression and emotional regulation which helps promote overall mental well-being.
FORT Providers
Unfancy Fitness
Doreen Zebdi
Hello Friends!
I’m Doreen Zebdi, a movement specialist with a MA in Dance from American University where I studied modern dance. Are you ready to create and move at the Movement for Well-being Workshop? I’m so excited to share my passion for movement with you! Creative dance is one way you can express how you feel without words. Movement and dance have profound connections to mental health. The best part is that there is no right or wrong. When we move more, we simply feel more. That’s because dance offers a unique avenue for emotional expression, so you can convey feelings and experiences that you just can’t put into words. Have fun moving and dancing while you hear about all the ways dance can boost mental well-being. The way you feel in your head matters. Let’s use those feelings and create an expressive outlet through creative dance. Just Move!
Visit unfancyfitness.com to learn more about movement for well-being.
Art Therapy
Allison Gong, BFA, MEd
Hello, I'm Allison Gong and I'm excited to be at The FORT!
I received my B.F.A. in Drawing from George Mason University as well as a Master’s in Art Education. I teach art K-12 in Northern Virginia. On weekends, I enjoy teaching art classes at an assisted living facility. All of my art teaching is done to increase students’ understanding of resiliency, self-understanding, and connections in their lives. My goal as a teacher is to deepen students’ understanding of art practices and, in the process, encourage self-discovery.
Sunday, November 5, 1:00 - 4 PM
Bridle Paths Equine Assisted Services, 43247 Spinks Ferry Rd, Leesburg, VA 20176
Equine Therapy
Did you know that in Equine Therapy, interacting with horses can foster a deep connection? Join the Equine Therapy Workshop to learn the ways horses can help you with emotional regulation and stress reduction. The presence of horses will encourage you to be fully present in the moment, as you will learn to attune your senses to the horse's non-verbal cues and emotions. Mindful interaction like this helps with awareness of your own feelings and behaviors, promoting self-reflection and emotional intelligence.
Equine Art Therapy Workshop
Learn how horses can help you create art! The interactive Equine Art Therapy Workshop combines the therapeutic benefits of equine-assisted activities with the healing power of artistic expression. Both animals and art contribute to mindfulness and well-being. The combination of horses and art provide therapeutic outlets for self-expression and contribute to overall emotional well-being, connecting you with the present and reducing stress.
Photography
Photography, as both an art form and a mindfulness practice, offers a remarkable avenue for enhancing well-being and presence in the moment. When individuals pick up a camera, they are encouraged to observe the world around them with acute attention to detail, searching for beauty and meaning in their surroundings. This act of framing a shot and adjusting settings compels them to immerse themselves fully in the present, setting aside distractions and worries.
FORT Providers
Bridle Paths Equine Assisted Services
Katie Fallon, Founder and Executive Director
We provide adaptive horseback riding instruction, equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy services to individuals and families faced with physical, cognitive, psychological, and emotional challenges. The program serves those with a wide variety of needs and diagnoses, including attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, cognitive impairments, anxiety and depression, genetic problems, seizure disorders, brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and trauma. To learn more, visit: bridlepathsva.org
Sharon Hallman Photography
Sharon Hallman
We underestimate the magic in the mundane. Often, we take for granted the time spent with our loved ones and the impact that we have on one another. Capturing generations, life’s transitional moments (birth, graduation, end of life), and everyday interactions are preserved in natural imagery through my work. It’s not just a photoshoot, it’s an experience, customized to create a meaningful day that preserves lasting memories. Visit: sharonhallmanphotography.com
Art Therapy
Allison Gong, BFA, MEd
Hello, I'm Allison Gong and I'm excited to be at The FORT!
I received my B.F.A. in Drawing from George Mason University as well as a Master’s in Art Education. I teach art K-12 in Northern Virginia. On weekends, I enjoy teaching art classes at an assisted living facility. All of my art teaching is done to increase students’ understanding of resiliency, self-understanding, and connections in their lives. My goal as a teacher is to deepen students’ understanding of art practices and, in the process, encourage self-discovery.
Also available for teens, check out our
Teen Support Groups and Teen Mental Wellness Series