Healthy Minds
At the YMCA, we want everyone to be strong and healthy in spirit, mind, and body. The new Healthy Minds program is one of the ways we can help you thrive by offering support, mental health education, workshops, opportunities to build meaningful connections with others, and resources to get help when needed.
Have an idea for a mental health topic you’d love to learn more about? Email Mel Kistner, Healthy Minds Program Director, at [email protected]. Mel is also available for 1:1 support if you are feeling overwhelmed, have questions, or would like to talk.
Expressive Arts Painting Workshop- Ehlinger
Use your creativity to express emotions and relax!
Come paint and express yourself in this fun workshop! Our Healthy Minds Director, Mel Kistner is a former art therapist and an artist. She will lead you through some creative exercises to express emotions, learn techniques and foster self-expression.
Use paint, watercolor paper and drawing materials to complete a few guided exercises and create your own unique piece to bring home. Art supplies included but feel free to bring your own as well. No art experience required. Just a desire for creative exploration and connection!
Note: This will take place in the Ehlinger Center conference room in Watertown and is a repeat of the May session offered at Pabst Farms.
Join this interactive workshop hosted by our Healthy Minds Director, Mel Kistner.
Registration Information
Open | Close | Register At | Member | Community Participant | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6/11/25 | 7/23/25 | Online / Front Desk | $ 10.00 | $ 15.00 |
Available Sessions
Date(s) | ||
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07/24/25
Tu - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Register Closes 07/23/2025 |
Expressive Arts Workshops- Pabst Farms
Use your creativity to express emotions and relax! Come express yourself in these fun workshops! Our Healthy Minds Director, Mel Kistner is a former art therapist and an artist. She will lead you through some creative exercises to express emotions, foster self-expression and develop resilience. Each workshop will have a different theme and materials focus. This fall we will be doing collage, mixed media and painting. Create your own unique piece to bring home. Art supplies included but feel free to bring your own as well. No art experience required. Just a desire for creative exploration and connection!
You can register for just one or all 3 of the fall workshops.
Registration Information
Open | Close | Register At | Member | Community Participant | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7/28/25 | 8/12/25 | Online / Front Desk | $ 10.00 | - | |
8/13/25 | 11/20/25 | Online / Front Desk | $ 10.00 | $ 15.00 |
Available Sessions
Date(s) | ||
---|---|---|
09/18/25
Expressive Arts: Collage - Th - 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
|
Registration Closed Opens on 07/28/25 |
|
10/16/25
Expressive Arts: Mixed Media - Th - 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
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Registration Closed Opens on 07/28/25 |
|
11/14/25
Expressive Arts: Painting - Th - 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
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Registration Closed Opens on 07/28/25 |
Painting on Canvas workshop-Ehlinger
Relax and paint in community! You will be lead through the steps of painting a bird on a branch and take your painting on canvas home with you! Our Healthy Minds director will lead you through an acrylic painting in a fun, social atmosphere. No painting experience necessary. Come try something new! All supplies provided. Light snacks served.
Workshop will be in the Ehlinger Center Conference Room in Watertown.
Registration Information
Open | Close | Register At | Member | Community Participant | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7/28/25 | 8/12/25 | Online / Front Desk | $ 10.00 | - | |
8/13/25 | 9/12/25 | Online / Front Desk | $ 10.00 | $ 15.00 |
Available Sessions
Date(s) | ||
---|---|---|
09/12/25
Fr - 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
|
Registration Closed Opens on 07/28/25 |
Stress Management Workshop- Ehlinger
Overwhelmed? Stress can impact our physical health, mental health and relationships. It can also increase our risk for disease and lower our immunity. But there is hope! We can calm our bodies and minds and learn new ways to respond to stressors. Want to have more daily peace and be fully engaged in the present?
We will discuss how our brains and bodies respond to stress and learn practical, effective stress management strategies for a healthy mind, body and Spirit. Join this interactive workshop hosted by our Healthy Minds Director, Mel Kistner. Adults and teens 16+ .
Note: This session is at the Ehlinger Center Conference room in Watertown. This is the same content as the April session at Pabst Farms.
Registration Information
Open | Close | Register At | Member | Community Participant | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6/13/25 | 8/12/25 | Online / Front Desk | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Available Sessions
Date(s) | ||
---|---|---|
08/12/25
Fr - 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
|
Register Closes 08/12/2025 |