Twistshops
Welcome
“Twistshops” are art therapy-focused workshops that promote healing, relaxation and emotional recovery through art therapy based interventions that are designed to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress related to cancer.
Twistshops welcome individuals who have been touched by cancer to engage in art therapy based workshops that focus on utilizing the arts as a mechanism for healing.
Download Our Information Booklet
Survivors, caregivers and previvors are invited to participate. Participants will be guided by a licensed art therapist through a variety of art-making activities that will allow participants to process their past and current experiences as a patient, caregiver or supporter of someone with cancer. Through storytelling and mindful art-making, the intention is to help participants explore different emotions, and in turn revive self, heal and find ways to move forward.
Twist Out Cancer is committed to offering our programming free of charge for cancer survivors, patients, caregivers and family members. If you’re in a position to make a tax deductible contribution to support our work, please feel free to do so. We are so grateful for our community that supports us in so many ways.
January Virtual Twistshop: Radical Writing: A Healing Workshop
Description: Research tells us we have to NAME IT (eg. the anxiety, the shame, the frustration, the guilt, the overwhelm) TO TAME IT. Radical writing is a safe space to explore it all and help you write the story that meets YOU where YOU are with compassion and support. This is a space for self-expression, reflection, and healing—using words as a pathway to connect with yourself and others in a kind, judgment-free community.
No writing experience needed. Our one-hour Twistshop together includes: a mindfulness practice, creative writing exercises, and group reflection that inspire both creativity and connection in a nonjudgmental, compassionate space.
What you can expect:
– Gentle prompts to guide reflection
– A nurturing space to connect with yourself and others
– Big health benefits from a small time investment
Facilitated by Mindy Brodsky (she/her), JD, MSW, LCSW/LICSW.
Mindy facilitates healing art and writing workshops and support groups for cancer survivors, co-survivors, and those who have lost a loved one. She has completed advanced professional trainings through the Center for the Mind-Body Medicine and the Compassion Institute, is a Certified Grief Educator and a First Steps® Advance Care Planning Certified Facilitator.
Questions? Contact Jacqueline Carmody at jacqueline@twistoutcancer.org
Questions? Contact Jacqueline Carmody at jacqueline@twistoutcancer.org
February Virtual Twistshop in partnership with Young Lung Cancer Initiative
Explore self-love, personal validation, & self-appreciation through a relaxed art directive. Will explore how we can use the 5 love languages to take care of ourselves during difficult times and remember what feels good! Celebrate yourself this evening with the Twist Out Cancer & Young Lung Cancer Initiative for this collaborative Twistshop program!
Materials:
Colored pencils
Watercolor paints
Cut paper or collage materials
Markers, pens, pencils
Chalk or oil pastels.
March Virtual Twistshop: Exploring Self-Care through Art Therapy
Join us as we partner with Colontown. COLONTOWN is an online community of more than 100 private support groups for colorectal cancer patients and care partners.
This Twistshop will focus on exploring your current self-care routine and discovering different art materials and art-making intentions that can promote new creativity and relaxation in your life. If you have been wanting to try a new art material, this is the perfect opportunity to use it!
Facilitated by Jacqueline Carmody, LCPC, ATR-BC, ATCS
Suggested materials:
- Colored pencils
- Watercolor paints
- Cut paper or collage materials
- Markers, pens, pencils
- Chalk or oil pastels
Questions? Contact Jacqueline Carmody at jacqueline@twistoutcancer.org
April Virtual Twistshop: Collaboration with Wonders and Worries
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Start time:6:30pmCST/7:30pmEST
Facilitated by: Twist Out Cancer facilitator & art therapist, Callie (Cullinan) Ludwig, LPCC-S, LPAT, ATR-BC
Theme: Collaboration with Wonders & Worries.
Wonders & Worries provides free, professional support for children and teenagers through a parent’s serious illness or injury, so that they can reach their full potential.
Theme and Suggested Materials: TBD
Twist Out Cancer Art Journal Club Twistshop Series Session 1: Exploring Amazement of Mycelium
Join Twist Out Cancer community and art therapist and facilitator, Mignon Dupepe for a new Twistshop Art Journal Club series starting in 2026! This series is inspired by author, Suleika Jaouad’s book The Book of Alchemy. We will use art making, journaling, and discussion to stir our creativity and connect around themes shared in her book. Suleika offers storytelling, writing prompts, and journaling for self- discovery and to spark imagination.
Our Twistshop series will provide a “twist” to this idea by including an art making component. The first Art Journal Club will highlight The Book of Alchemy’s storyteller, Fernando Murillo and his amazement of mycelium, the underground fungal network that sustains and enhances life. He proposes that we are not alone but we are mycelium, connected, a network that creates and sustains life and growth. We will explore this idea using art processes, zine making, journaling and discussion. No art or journaling experience required, just an interest in creating and connecting as a community.
When: Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 06:30 PM CST / 7:30 EST
Supplies to be considered:
8×11 white copy paper or art paper
Scissors
Glue stick
Colorful marker/pens/oil pastels
Collage papers/magazines
A suggested donation of $10-25 is recommended to cover program fees and art therapist facilitation.
A suggested donation of $10-25 is recommended to cover program fees and art therapist facilitation.
Twist Out Cancer Art Journal Club Twistshop Series Session 2: Anchoring Through Uncertainty and Cloud Exploration
Join Twist Out Cancer community and art therapist and facilitator, Mignon Dupepe for a new Twistshop Art Journal Club series starting in 2026! This series is inspired by author, Suleika Jaouad’s book The Book of Alchemy. We will use art making, journaling, and discussion to stir our creativity and connect around themes shared in her book. Suleika offers storytelling, writing prompts, and journaling for self- discovery and to spark imagination.
Our Twistshop series will provide a “twist” to this idea by including an art making component. The second Art Journal Club will highlight The Book of Alchemy’s storyteller, Rebecca Rebouche’ and her cloud examination and grounding “This is me” present statements towards anchoring in all-encompassing emotional moments. We will explore this idea using art processes, cloud imagery, journaling, and discussion. No art or journaling experience required, just an interest in creating and connecting as a community.
When: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6:30 PM CST/7:30 EST
Supplies to be considered:
Heavy paper or art paper
Watercolor paints/palette
Watercolor brush/water
Colorful markers/crayons/oil pastels
In person: RUSH Lisle Twistshop Series
Join Twist Out Cancer and RUSH Lisle for a monthly arts therapy workshop with art therapist and Twistshop facilitator, Mignon Dupepe.
When: Thursdays every month from 10-11:15am CST.
2026 Twistshop Dates: January 8th, February 12th, March 12th, April 9th, May 14th, June 11th, July 9th, August 13th, September 10th, October 8th, November 12th, December 10th
Where: RUSH Lisle
2455 Corporate W Dr, Lisle, IL 60532
Series will be held in the atrium.
Who: survivors, caregivers, patients, healthcare professionals, and previvors. This series is open to the community and individuals seeking treatment at any RUSH locations.
Questions? Contact Jacqueline Carmody at jacqueline@twistoutcancer.
Space is limited, please register for each monthly session to attend.
2026 Twistshop Dates: January 9th, February 6th, March 6th, April 3rd, May 8th, June 4th, July 10th, August 14th, September 4th, October 2nd, November 6th, December 4th
In person: RUSH Twistshop Series
Join Twist Out Cancer and RUSH Cancer Center for a monthly arts therapy workshop with art therapist and Twistshop Director, Jacqueline Carmody.
When: First Friday of every month at 10-11:15am CST
Where: Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building
1520 W. Harrison Street
Chicago, IL 60607
Room Number: Supportive Oncology Suite (4th Floor)
Who: survivors, caregivers, patients, healthcare professionals, and previvors. This series is open to the community and individuals seeking treatment at any RUSH locations.
In-person: OSF Little Company of Mary Twistshop Series
Join Twist Out Cancer and OSF Little Company of Mary for a monthly arts therapy workshop with art therapist and licensed clinical professional counselor, Jacqueline Carmody.
When: The first Thursday of every month in 2026 from 10:15am-11:30am
Where: OSF Little Company of Mary Cancer Center Library 2800 W. 95th Street 1st Floor, South Pavilion Evergreen Park, IL 60805
This series is open to the public.
This series will introduce you to new and exciting art making techniques to promote social connection, relaxation and healing. All art materials are included!
Free Monthly Sessions available to OSF Little Company of Mary patients and families starting January 8, 2026!
Questions? Contact Jacqueline Carmody at jacqueline@twistoutcancer.org or Donna Reed at Donna.S.Reed@osfhealthcare.org
Space is limited, please register for each monthly session to attend. Each session will be hybrid, allowing participation in person and virtually!
2026 Twistshop Dates: January 8, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 13, September 3, October 1, November5, December 3
Jacqueline Carmody, Director
Jacqueline Carmody is a Twist Out Cancer Board Member, Brushes with Cancer Artist, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Registered Board Certified Art Therapist. Jaqueline will be running our signature Twistshop programs with a team of talented clinicians and is excited to bring this unique program to the community!
“My goal as an art therapist is to provide a safe space for everyone and offer them guidance in exploring different emotions that develop throughout their experience. What typically transpires is an evening filled with art making, bonding, and camaraderie.”
