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Published Jan. 2026. At M.I.T. and Antioch College libraries and lulu.com

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Make a drawing using three colors to represent different aspects of yourself or your organization. Keep it abstract. Show and tell.

Compose and perform a song about your situation which is at least four lines long. Find a way to notate it. Perform it. Relate it to your vision or goal.

Create a dance which expresses a personal feeling state of yours. Notate and perform it. (Alternatively, choreograph something for a small group which represents an ideal work relationship)

Write a poem in cinquain form (2/4/6/8/2--number of syllables in each line) which expresses a belief or observation about your work.

Create a fictitious character, an alter ego, and present yourself as that person in an improvised narrative in a relevant setting.

Create an improvisation based on a dream, fantasy, or unresolved situation.

Design a ritual for team building with a small group. Apply to family, task force.

Make a small orchestra out of found objects, compose a piece, perform it.

Be a stand-up comedian and present the foibles of your career, clients, work life, personal life. Amplify your self-imposed obstacles and big dreams.

Create an original exercise that you have never done before which involves some type of creative self-expression for use with a work team.

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Here are two samples of pieces from my Piano Vignettes Concert below... then a commentary and demo of my piano music by Eric Kamen...then my Songs of Leaving singer-songwriter album. Enjoy!

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If you find any of this material helpful...

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If you find any of this material helpful...

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... please consider making a donation to your favorite do-good organization.

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This is a listing of videos showcasing my artwork and music, along with ones that explain and demonstrate Symbolic Modeling (SymMod), an exciting process that I developed in Second Life which can be used for many purposes.

Option 1 Link to YouTube Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/hoorayarts/playlists

Option 2 Links to website archives:

Second Life Performances & Exhibits

Second Life Conference Workshops

Creative Music & Art Films

Interviews

Videos about SymMod (Symbolic Modeling)

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VWEC Experiential Workshop #1:  Intuitive Teaching and Learning  with Marly Milena (in SL) aka Niela Miller

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Virtual Worlds Education Consortium VWEC

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VWEC Experiential Workshop #1:  Intuitive Teaching and Learning  with Marly Milena

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Octagon:Creative Exploration and other SL videos

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Introduction to the Creative Process and Symbolic Modeling

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Now that I am mostly retired, I am devoting myself to many creative projects and products. I am always open to finding collaborators and welcome your comments, questions and interest. If you are seeking a mentor to help you bolster your own creativity and ability to self-explore, teach or facilitate in new ways, contact me.

My uniqueness is my ability to combine my extensive and varied background in the arts, humanistic psychology, organization development, coaching and educational design. I usually provide learning experiences that produce insight and results in ways that have not been experienced before by the client. My recent interest in virtuality has provided me with a creative venue called Second Life-- for teaching, learning and playing.

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Introduction to Gestalt and Field Theory

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Introduction to Gestalt and Field Theory

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Octagon:Creative Exploration and other SL videos

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Symbolic Modeling Principles:  Gestalt and Field Theory

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Being Alive! Creative and Emotional Intelligence Tools...

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Being Alive! Creative and Emotional Intelligence Tools...

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Learn to communicate, think and express yourself with metaphor to gain new insight, problem solve in new ways, shed inhibitions about being expressive, become skilled at designing learning experiences for yourself and your clients.

Please make a donation to any organization that supports the well-being of humanity and the planet.

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Counseling in Genderland: A Guide for You and Your Transgendered Client

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Counseling in Genderland: A Guide for You and Your Transgendered Client [Miller, Niela] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Counseling in Genderland: A Guide for You and Your Transgendered Client

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Next time you are in a conversation with a client or friend, try these techniques for creating rapport:

Mirror their posture

Give non-verbal responses to their communication (such as nodding your head or subvocalizing "mm hmm")

Use their first name periodically when communicating a thought.

Reflect back what you hear them saying before responding.

Speak in a similar rhythm.

Smile when they smile.

Listen for verbs and use similar verbs in your sentences.

Example:

References to vision

Your partner: I'm not sure I see what you mean
You: So, it doesn't look clear to you? Suppose we try to see it from a different angle.

or

References to body sensation

Your partner: I have a gut feeling that's not going to work
You: Maybe we can handle it differently

Notice what effect this has on the interaction.

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These approaches can be useful in any important relationship:

Asking client to move from general statement about an issue to specific details. (e.g. Exactly what bothers you about this?)

Observing obstructive behavior and giving clear feedback about it.

Reflecting back what you've observed, both verbal and non- verbal.

Encouraging client to take responsibility for the problem/solution

Empathizing

Asking clarifying questions.

Being fully present, contactful, respectful of client's process.

Accepting client as s/he is.

Being clear about your boundaries.

NON-HELPFUL INTERVENTIONS

Giving advice.

Shifting focus to yourself.

Arguing with client's feelings.

Using humor inappropriately.

Ignoring your feelings and/or theirs.

Paying attention only to content, not to process.

Feeling over-responsible, failing to set boundaries.

Projecting your feelings on to client.

Having a preconceived goal for the outcome or the relationship.

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The Five C's: Risk and Boundary Questions

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The Five C's: Risk and Boundary Questions

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Think of examples where you have been successful in taking risks in each one of these areas, when you have needed to set boundaries, and when you have inhibited your responses to the detriment of your client.

Connection- How close will you let yourself feel to the client? How much empathy? How deeply are you willing to access your own experiences to feel with them? How can you use your empathic experiences to help the client? When do you need to remain detached for the client's sake?

Confrontation- How willing are you to "call it as you see it" even if it may momentarily upset your client? How good are you at giving constructive criticism? How accurate are you at sharing observable, specific data? How good is your timing?

Confession- How able are you to share your own feelings, images, hunches, dreams when appropriate? How much are you willing to take in deeply personal disclosure on your client's part? How can you reframe it to be useful in the work situation?

Collaboration- How much teamwork can happen between you and client/organization? How clear are you about the limits and benefits of collaboration with particular clients?

Conscious Creating- How much do you let yourself believe, have faith in the possibility of dreams coming true? Where is the cynicism in your own psyche which may get reflected in your client's ambivalence about "going for it"?

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Questions to Ask Yourself for People Professionals

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Questions to Ask Yourself for People Professionals

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Is the exchange between you and your student (client) fostering mutual respect?

Do options and possibilities for learning open up or shut down?

Do you know and understand this student better than you did before the class or interaction?

Do you regard yourselves as allies in a common mission? Or are you the commandant with an unwilling prisoner who must obey orders?

Can you get support from your peers and colleagues when you feel stuck?

Can you follow the student's process well enough to know how s/he will best learn? or do you have a one-size fits all approach?

Are you taking care of the tension in your body by staying aware of muscle tightness and remembering to breathe? In general, how would you rate yourself on self-care?

Are you picking up on metaphors, figures of speech, intonations, shifts in body position, eye movements, distractions, your shifting feelings as valuable information for enriching the learning process?

When you get confused, what is going on?

What intuitive hunches do you have? How do you incorporate them? If you don't, why not?

What is the quality of the contact between you and the student?

How do you demonstrate your support and encouragement for the student?s learning process?

Where is your focus? When you become unfocussed, what's happening?

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How to design a learning experience characterized by the active participation of attendees.

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These videos demonstrate ways to use Symbolic Modeling (SymMod) in an educational setting. Choose from the videos listed below.

Introduction to Using SymMod in Educational Applications (15:30)

Here is an short example of how SymMod can be used in an educational setting, as part of a climate change workshop:

Marly working with participant during a climate change workshop (5:33)

Here is the complete video from the workshop on climate change, in which participants were asked to adopt differing positions on the subject of climate change, and then build a SymMod to represent their assigned position, with the goal of gaining a better understanding of all sides of an argument.

Climate Change Experimental Workshop in Second Life (Pt1 - builds) (31:30)

Climate Change Experimental Workshop in Second Life (Pt2 - discussion) (40:45)

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Symbolic Modeling: Personal Development Playlist

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Symbolic Modeling: Personal Development Playlist

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These videos demonstrate ways to use Symbolic Modeling (SymMod) to guide individuals in personal development.

Choose from the videos listed below.

Introduction to Using SymMod for Personal Development (7:30)

Marly Studies Her Self-Portrait (2:22)

2012 Gestalt Session (9:59)

Here are two approaches that can be used for SymMod as it applies to personal development:

Inside-Out: Starts with a recognized feeling, body sensation or thought challenge, which is then modeled into an object or a picture. The person is then guided into a further exploration of what they have created.

Example 1 of an Inside-Out Process (4:59)

Example 2 of an Inside-Out Process (6:51)

Outside-In: Starts with creating an object or a picture with no preconceived ideas in mind, and then being guided to discover what it wants to tell you.

Example 1 of an Outside-In Process (6:17)

Example 2 of an Outside-In Process (6:29)

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These videos demonstrate ways to use Symbolic Modeling (SymMod) for creative expression. Choose from the videos listed below.

Introduction to Using SymMod for Creative Expression (13:00)

The following video shows an excerpt from a recurring program "Improv: Musicians and Artists". A musician improvises while an "artist", or builder, creates a visual SymMod at the same time while being inspired by the music. The roles are then reversed: The artist creates a SymMod spontaneously, while the musician tries to compose a melody that echoes what they see.

Improv: Musicians and Artists excerpt (3:07)

The next video shows how SymMod can be used by a director to help cast members get a better feel for the characters they will be portraying.

SymMod in Creative Expression: Concepts (9:10)

SymMod in Creative Expression: Romeo & Juliet (22:00)

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"Piano Vignettes by Niela Miller," an 85th Birthday Special at First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA on 1/19/20. Featuring Piano performances by Molly Lozeau and Justin McCarthy with Karen Luttik on clarinet.

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Eric Kamen discusses and plays Niela's piano pieces

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Eric Kamen discusses and plays Niela's piano pieces

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Eric Kamen plays and discusses Niela Miller's Piano Music

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This was a surprise occurrence in my late life--the finding of me from an old album recorded by Dave Van Ronk, a professional NYC folksinger who had covered one of my songs. When this producer discovered that I had a previously unreleased album from the 60's he decided to produce it.; The Numero Group works counter-intuitively, produces little known singers and bands from that era---and has quite a following!

For those of you who have been rock fans, you might be interested that one of the songs is the predecessor of the rock classic, HEY JOE, which Jimi Hendricks made famous.

Click to read more, listen, order or download at Numero Group Records.

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Interview with Marly Milena

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Today we are shining a spotlight on Marly Milena, a creativist known as Niela Miller in the physical world. At the age of 88, Marly has been bringing years of her educational experience and expertise to build communities in Second Life! How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first…

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"Working with Niela is the best investment I've made in a long time. In a nurturing,supportive yet no-nonsense way, she cuts through to the core of any issue while consistently working on two levels (micro and macro, short term/big picture, doing process and teaching the process, individual and group, to name just a few) to maximize the experience. She is an inspirational role-model and incredible teacher, producing dramatic results. The personal insight and awareness I've acquired has allowed me to step up to a larger game, attracting more of the clients I want to work with. The professional knowledge I've gained has brought me to a new level of effectiveness that both I and my clients are enjoying."

- Louise Morganti Kaelin, Life Success Coach--

"Niela is fabulous! She is a master at what she does. She possesses a huge variety of creative methods for working with people. Anyone who is a coach, trainer, therapist or facilitator should spend some time learning from her."

- Janet Parker, Coach, Facilitator-Insight Seminars

"Niela is an irrepressible fountain of wisdom; a brilliant, clear wise guide for expanding oneself and one's life practice. She has a gift for viewing people from the inside out. This enables her to draw from her enormous repertoire of methods for working with people in just the perfect way for each individual. "

- Leslie Fabian, LICSW

"I have learned so much from Niela. She is a brilliant facilitator of personal and professional growth processes; an expert in the use of a myriad of emotional intelligence and creativity tools and techniques; a powerful, wise and loving woman--and so much more. Every person and organization can achieve impressive results and receive great gifts through working with Niela Miller."

- Lisa Kleitz, Inner Assets Life Coaching, Executive Coaching, Training

See my LinkedIn Profile page

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Organizations

Communication skills improvement, conducting peer reviews, giving and receiving feedback, running meetings, interviewing, resolving conflict, thinking outside the box, developing decision-making strategies, team building, improving information flow, envisioning the future, management development, organizing an internal coaching capacity.

Coaching

I have helped people formulate a strategy for getting the results they want in their personal and professional lives. As a coach trainer, I have taught coaches how to use creative, sensory, metaphorical processes to enhance their practices.

Therapy, Counseling, Training, Supervision

As a Gestalt therapist, I helped and trained hundreds of individuals to lead better, more productive and satisfying lives. I worked with many populations in addition to the general public; transgender people, social activists, artists, business managers, group leaders, therapists, coaches and consultants.

Workshops

I have designed and implemented over a thousand workshops in areas of personal and professional development and presented them in learning centers, at conferences, in hospitals and mental health centers and as self-sponsored events.

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Click above for the complete article. My article starts on page 52 and ends on page 55, and is part of the Virtual Education Journal Fall 2024 Issue.

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Virtual Education Journal Fall 2024 Issue

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The theme for the Fall 2024 Issue of the Virtual Education Journal (VEJ) is “Digital Tapestry.” The issue features “Weaving Our Digital Tapestry” and explains how AI assisted in the cover design. It includes an interview with WIC Foods and Dr. Valerie Hill. VEJ highlights the SL Welcome Hub and Community Expedition and the Second Life Friends For Life group. Lots of other articles from digital and inworld educational associations and groups. VEJ - Out of this World!

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Colorful Approaches to Transforming Self & Society

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Colorful Approaches to Transforming Self & Society

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An Artist-Therapist Travels with Arts Processes in Gestalt-land

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An Artist-Therapist Travels with Arts Processes in Gestalt-land

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PURPOSE: To learn about roles in teams and be able to apply to collaborative tasking, to be competent with observation and feedback.

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 My art padlet  - Use horizontal slider on bottom of page to access more columns. Use vertical slider on each row to see all the samples in that category.  Your comments on that site are welcome!

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Take a look at some of my art produced either in classes, on my own, or with my Arts Playshop group.

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Take a look at some of my art produced either in classes, on my own, or with my Arts Playshop group.