The Resilience Journal: A Path to Healing and Self-Discovery

The R.I.S.E Method: A Framework for Healing Through Expressive Arts

The R.I.S.E Method is a structured, seven-phase methodology developed by Dr. Leetal Benzvi to guide therapeutic programs rooted in expressive arts therapy, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness. Designed for integration into retreats, long-term interventions, or organizational workshops, this method offers a clear, repeatable framework for facilitating emotional healing, self-discovery, and resilience-building through creative, nonverbal expression.

Why Use the R.I.S.E Method?

During periods of stress or trauma, verbal processing may feel out of reach. The R.I.S.E Method offers a different pathway—one that honors the body, emotions, and imagination as equal partners in healing. Through structured drawing, writing, mixed media, and movement, participants are able to process difficult experiences, discover new internal resources, and restore a sense of agency and connection.

The Seven Phases of the R.I.S.E Method

Each phase of the method mirrors a natural process of resilience-building. Together, they create a therapeutic arc that is both emotionally safe and creatively expansive:

• Arrive – Cultivate presence and internal grounding.

• Contain – Establish emotional safety and boundaries.

• Explore – Access personal narratives through symbolic expression.

• Recognize – Identify patterns, archetypes, and inner strengths.

• Identify – Shift perspectives and surface internal resources.

• Integrate – Apply insights to daily life and emotional regulation.

• Embody – Anchor healing through somatic awareness and movement.

Applying the R.I.S.E Method in Programs

Throughout the course of a therapeutic program—whether a multi-day retreat or a year-long intervention—the R.I.S.E Method serves as both structure and compass. Each day or session is mapped to one of the seven phases, with expressive arts exercises designed to support the emotional and psychological goals of that stage. No artistic background is required—the emphasis is on internal process, not aesthetic outcome.

At its heart, the R.I.S.E Method creates space for transformation—through art, through movement, and through meaning-making. It helps participants reconnect to their story, their body, and their strength—one step at a time.