Journey to Oz: A Therapeutic Course
A six-week winter adventure in 2025
Join creative therapist Stephen McCabe in late 2025 for a therapeutic course like no other: the Journey to Oz.
The 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, is adored worldwide. Once upon a time, the movie would beam into our homes every Christmas, enchanting children and adults alike with Dorothy's journey through a colourful fairyland to find home.
In this seven-week course, we will watch clips from the movie to inspire personal exploration and healing. We will delve into the film's major themes and explore how it speaks to our lives. Which characters do we relate to, and why? How is Dorothy's journey like our own? What can we learn from her adventure? How does it feel to long for home, or to feel like we are missing brains, a heart, courage?
We will pull some cards from Wizard of Oz Tarot decks for collaborative exploration, adding a touch of synchronicity and magic into the process. Furthermore, there will be space to work with other, related Oz art, such as the original Frank Baum novels, Oz artworks or other Oz movies or cartoons, should you like to. (This depends on group consensus – the 1939 film will always remain our focus.)
(Credit: The Temperance Tarot card pictured is from the wonderful Wizard of Oz Tarot by Melinda Starr.)
The character of Dorothy Gale became an icon for young girls, everyday people and interestingly, gay men, who for many years described being 'a friend of Dorothy' as code for being gay. There is so much to explore in this colourful world of cowardly lions, talking scarecrows and little faery people.
As the nights darken in the northern hemisphere, join us for a powerful journey into Oz that will last right up until the week of Christmas. Then, we will end the journey with our own private screening party and group celebration, just as we would have done in years gone by, followed by group gushing and chat with mince pies. (You'll have to provide your own!)
Who is this course for? You may have a particular issue that you would like group support with. Working with stories and art – and Oz in particular – is a powerful way to explore difficult themes. You may, however, simply be a fan of the movie and would like to explore your connection with it on a deep level. Why does this old movie still speak to us so much? Let us look into the Wicked Witch of the West's crystal ball and find out.
When does it happen, and how much does it cost?
The group will meet at the same time on Thursdays for seven weeks, taking a week out somewhere in the process. The first session is on 30th October 2025, and each session lasts for 1.5 hours. The course will end with our private movie party on 18th December. Sessions start at 6.30 pm UK. (Check your timezone here. Please note that, if you are in Eastern Time, it might be a different time than usual on the first week due to Daylight Saving Time!)
The course costs £155. This fee covers all seven online sessions, email support and a private group forum away from social media. If you have any questions before booking, feel free to email me.
Meet Stephen McCabe - A Friend of Dorothy’s!
Stephen McCabe is an eco-therapist, counsellor and tarot therapist with training in storytelling therapy. He has hosted other story-based therapeutic groups such as the 'Myths and Tales Ecotherapy Programme' and 'Mythic Maps: Creative Ecotherapy'.
As a child, Stephen would snuggle up with his mum on the sofa every Christmas to watch The Wizard of Oz. Like millions of others, the magic of Dorothy's story left a lifelong impact on him. In 2024, as he was approaching the anniversary of his mum's death, Oz came into his thoughts and heart, providing comfort as the winter nights drew in. The idea of creating this therapeutic course appeared soon after, and there was no stopping it from developing!
