Healing Through Art Offers A Sober Sip And Paint Mixed With Therapy

There's a version of healing that doesn't require a drink in your hand.

On May 30th, three El Paso women are hosting a guided art therapy experience that trades the usual wine for coffee, matcha, and tea, and replaces the noise of a typical paint night with something a lot more intentional. It's called Healing Through Art: Paint and Sip (Sober Edition).

This isn't a vendor fair with a wellness aesthetic slapped on it. This is the real thing.

Three Women, One Shared Belief

The event was created by Ashlee Candelaria of Talkin About It, a community-driven podcast and platform built around honest conversations on mental health, healing, culture, and personal growth. Ashlee built the platform out of her own healing journey after struggling to find spaces and conversations that felt real and relatable, especially before mental health discussions became more normalized in the years following COVID.

She brought in Dr. Viridiana Ortiz, a licensed clinical social worker and certified trauma professional with MindForward Health Center, and Yvette Castro Smith of Honey and Myrrh Collective, where the event will be hosted.

Three local women. Three survivors of trauma. One shared belief: that healing is possible, and that nobody should have to navigate it alone.

Why a Sober Space Matters More Than You Think

Sober spaces are rare. And for people in recovery, for people navigating mental health challenges, for people who simply don't drink but still want community, the absence of those spaces is felt every single time an event is built around alcohol.

The decision to make this event alcohol-free isn't a footnote. It's the whole point. Healing centered experiences should be accessible to everyone, not just the people who are comfortable in a bar setting. Coffee from Pedaling Coffee, matcha, tea, and mini pancakes from Lil' Stacks replace the usual pour, and what you get instead is a morning that actually leaves you feeling grounded rather than foggy.

No art experience is necessary. This isn't about technique. It's about expression. The guided session is designed to help participants reconnect with their younger selves, work through emotions that don't always have words, and leave feeling lighter and more connected.

Art Therapy Is Not a Trend

There is genuine clinical weight behind what this event is offering. Guided creative expression in a supportive community setting has documented benefits for people processing trauma, anxiety, grief, and depression. The presence of Dr. Ortiz as a co-creator means this experience was built with that clinical understanding baked in, not as decoration but as foundation.

This is what the BE ABOUT IT Initiative, the community action branch of Talkin About It, is built around. The idea that awareness alone is not enough. That real change happens when communities create actual spaces for actual people to do actual healing.

Get There Early

Spots are limited and the early bird price won't last. Get your tickets HERE!

• Where: Honey and Myrrh Collective
• When: Friday, May 30th, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
• Early Bird Tickets: $35 (limited availability)
• General Admission: $45
• No art experience necessary

This is a small-group experience by design. The intimacy is the point. If this sounds like something you or someone you love needs, don't wait on it.