HeART Therapy event:

February 14, 2025

Heart Assisted Therapy:

Heart Assisted Therapy (HAT) is a comprehensive and humanistic approach to psychotherapy that enhances mindfulness. It combines traditional therapeutic techniques with insights from energy psychology and energy science, operating within a holistic framework that integrates mind, body, and energy.

In this model, therapy involves a mindful integration of an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and sensory experiences through a self-nurturing process. Rooted in scientific principles and a mind-body approach, HAT is both client-centred and client-directed—drawing inspiration from the philosophies of Carl Rogers and Milton Erickson. The personal significance and associations that a person brings to the therapeutic focus are central to the process, gently acknowledged and transformed by the client.

HAT also considers the subtle yet crucial roles of the heart, its energy, breathing, and the body’s natural electromagnetic properties in influencing our experiences, memories, emotions, and sensations. Although the method is gentle, it can swiftly reach the core issues, leading to profound and healing changes.

At Antonia Verna, we believe that the heart is the wellspring of creativity—and the starting point for true healing. Our recent event, HeART Therapy showcased how connecting with the heart and engaging in art therapy can pave the way to deep relaxation and self-discovery. By first grounding ourselves in the external world, we prepare for a journey inward, setting the stage for both physical and emotional therapies.

Connecting Through HeART Therapy:

At the core of our approach is the belief that true healing begins by connecting with the heart. Heart Therapy is about connecting inward—awakening our inner senses and emotions—so we can prepare for the transformative power of creative expression. Our approach to Heart Therapy encompasses a variety of techniques that not only nurture self-awareness but also pave the way for Art Therapy.

Art Therapy is a psychotherapy modality that harnesses the power of creative expression—whether through drawing, painting, dancing, or writing—to articulate the emotions and experiences that reside deep within. Through art, individuals can not only visually represent their inner struggles, track their progress, and even measure the impact of trauma, but also find inner joy, happiness, and desire. By integrating creative expression into therapy, individuals are empowered to explore and process their experiences in a non-verbal, yet profoundly impactful, way.

This process is essential because it allows each person to pinpoint the source of their discomfort or pain. By establishing this inner connection, we lay the foundation for effective therapy, ensuring that individuals are emotionally present before they engage in more specialized treatments like occupational or physiotherapy.

Event Highlights:

Our approach to HeART Therapy begins with establishing a deep internal connection—laying the groundwork for transformative emotional exploration.

At our HeART Therapy event, we brought these foundational techniques to life through dynamic, experiential activities. Building on the calm and introspection developed through meditation and nature, our event showcased:

Breathing Exercises: Guided sessions that further calm the mind and body, preparing participants for deeper emotional work.

Dancing and Movement: Expressive sessions that allowed attendees to translate inner stillness into physical freedom, releasing tension and fostering emotional expression.

Drawing and Visual Arts: Creative workshops where participants turned their inner experiences into visual stories, bridging their inner world with artistic expression.

Other techniques include:

Meditation helps cultivate stillness and clarity, inviting the mind to focus inward.
Nature Engagement—such as connecting with soil, sand, and grass—awakens the senses and promotes introspection (see our Garden therapy event).

Benefits of Art Therapy:

Art therapy offers a holistic approach to healing by addressing both physical and mental challenges. It has been shown to be beneficial for:

Anxiety and Depression
Eating Disorders
Self-Esteem Issues
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Arthritis and Chronic Pain
Communication Issues
Dementia

By first grounding ourselves with Heart Therapy techniques—especially through nature, mindful breathing, and movement—we create the ideal environment for Art Therapy to flourish. The event highlighted how a calm, centred heart naturally gives rise to creative expression, making healing both a personal and transformative journey.

AIM OF EVENT:

Building a Safe, Private Psychotherapy Space:

One of the key goals of our recent event is to raise funds for a dedicated psychotherapy office for our psychologist. Currently, our sessions are held in a classroom—a space that lacks the necessary privacy and confidentiality. We believe that effective therapy requires a secure environment where individuals can feel protected and truly open up without interruption. With your generous support, we can build a purpose-designed space that ensures every session is conducted with the utmost privacy, safety, and care.

How to Help:
Visit our Donation Page for detailed instructions on how to contribute. We accept donations globally through CRDB, making it easy for supporters from around the world to join our cause.

Launching Our New Child Development Book:

In addition to our fundraising efforts, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our new book—a comprehensive guide to child growth and development designed for all families.

This book offers practical insights on:

Early Nutrition & Play: Guidance on what to feed and how to engage your child during their crucial first month.
Training for Delayed Milestones: Techniques and exercises designed to support children who may be experiencing delays in developmental milestones.
Simple Therapy for Parents: Practical strategies for managing child behaviour and employing basic therapeutic methods, ideal for parents who live far from our centre.

The book serves as a valuable resource for understanding and nurturing your child's unique needs. It is not only beneficial for families with disabilities but for anyone interested in promoting healthy development.

How to Order:
If you’d like to order a copy, deliveries are available (subject to delivery fees). Orders can be placed by telephone or via our social media channels.

Together, these initiatives aim to enhance the quality of care we provide and ensure that our community has access to both private, secure therapeutic services and practical resources for child development. Thank you for your support and for being part of this transformative journey.

More pictures of the event here.

Save The Child event

June 22, 2023

On Satuday, the 22nd of June, Antonia Verna CBR organised an event to support the disabled children who live in poverty. The event was a great success and everyone had a lot of fun! We started with a sponsor run. After the run, the event continued with informative and interesting speeches and a tour of the Centre. At last, a lunch was provided for all our guests.

We saw many faces showing up and we appriciate all the donations made.

46 children have now their therapies paid. Some per day, some per week and some per month.

We want to thank everyone who contributed on this event, showed up or donated.

More pictures of the event here

Siku ya Jumamosi, tarehe 22 Juni, Antonia Verna CBR aliandaa tukio kusaidia watoto walemavu wanaoishi katika umaskini. Tukio hilo lilikuwa la mafanikio makubwa na kila mtu alikuwa na furaha nyingi! Tulianza na kukimbia kwa kuwafadhili watoto wenye walemavu masikin. Baada ya kukimbia, tukio liliendelea na hotuba za kuelimisha na za kuvutia na kutembelea Kituo hicho. Hatimaye, chakula cha mchana kilitolewa kwa wageni wetu wote.

Tuliona nyuso nyingi zikijitokeza na tunathamini michango yote iliyotolewa.

Watoto 46 sasa wamelipwa matibabu yao. Wengine kwa siku, wengine kwa wiki na wengine kwa mwezi.

Tunataka kumshukuru kila mtu aliyechangia kwenye ghafla hii, aliyejitokeza au kutoa mchango.

International day of the African Child

May 2, 2023

On Friday the 16th of June, it is International Day of the African Child! This day is about honoring the people who participated and gave their lives in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 to help students today to reach their goals.

This day we focus our attention on the challenges African children face in order to get quality education.

At the Antonia Verna Rehabilitation Centre, we put the extra focus on children in the community with a disability and, therefore, we are organizing a sponsor run!

The sponsor run will be 10 KM with a registration fee of 20.000. Donating extra is also possible. The money from this event will be used to help these children with getting the help and care that they deserve!

The Event will take place on Saturday the 17th of June at 05:30 AM at Antonia Verna Rehabilitation Centre

Siku ya Ijumaa tarehe 16 Juni, ni Siku ya Kimataifa ya Mtoto wa Afrika! Siku hii inahusu kuwaenzi watu walioshiriki na kutoa maisha yao katika Machafuko ya Soweto mwaka 1976 ili kuwasaidia wanafunzi leo kufikia malengo yao.

Siku hii tutaangazia changamoto zinazowakabili watoto wa Kiafrika ili kupata huduma muhimu.
Katika Kituo cha Utengamao cha Antonia Verna, tunaweka mkazo zaidi kwa watoto walio na ulemavu katika jamii na, kwa hivyo, tunapanga kukimbia kuwafadhili!
Mbio za kuwafadhili zitakuwa KM 10 na ada ya usajili ya 20.000. Kuchangia ziada pia kunawezekana. Pesa za tukio hili zitatumika kuwasaidia watoto hawa kupata huduma za mazoezi!

Tukio hilo litafanyika Jumamosi tarehe 17 Juni saa 05:30 asubuhi katika Kituo cha Urekebishaji cha Antonia Verna.

Minister of health visits Antonia Verna

March 13, 2023

On Friday the 10th of March, the minister of health, the Honourable Ummy Mwalimu, came to visit the Antonia Verna Rehabilitation Centre. We gave her a tour of the centre and met with each department to get a detailed explanation of the services that Antonia Verna provides.

Siku ya Ijumaa tarehe 10 Machi, Waziri wa Afya, Mheshimiwa Ummy Mwalimu, alikuja kutembelea Kituo cha Antonia Verna Rehabilitation. Tulitembelea katika kituo hicho na tukakutana na kila idara ili kupata maelezo ya kina kuhusu huduma ambazo Antonia Verna hutoa.