![]() We’re over one week into our New Year's resolutions, and some of us are already wildly off track. In my household, for example, we are recovering from a whirlwind combination of a sprained ankle, Covid, and pink eye, which means our “to do” lists are completely backed up and any loftier goals feel even further out of reach. Logically, I know health is most important and that the body knows best. So why is delaying my own imagined timeline so inherently frustrating then? It’s multifaceted. American culture promotes an “all or nothing,” fast-paced, quick-fix lifestyle: holiday parties with booze and decadent desserts all December followed by a “dry January” in the gym. Where is the step-by-step middle ground or sick/mental health day factored into all of this? Its absence contributes to a sense of failure when we aren’t able to make progress toward or meet our personal goals right away, especially for those of us with high-achieving, perfectionist tendencies, who love to get things done (which includes myself and most people I support.) The family building journey itself is a seemingly endless moving target of unknown variables starting with the trying-to-conceive process, navigating a complex medical system in hopes of having some semblance of an empowered birthing experience, finding affordable childcare, and then actually parenting and trying to keep the strong-willed little humans you’ve created safe. Keeping ourselves and our offspring healthy during cold and flu season is enough of a challenge, without the added pressure of reaching self actualization through more novel reading, language learning, or muscle building. Yes, striving for personal growth and excellence is important to motivate and anchor our trajectory, but allowing for dips in motivation, unpredictability in scheduling, and other inevitable setbacks should also be factored into our goal-setting timelines. Especially if you’re responsible for someone else’s well-being on top of your own. In art therapy, process is always emphasized over product; the journey vs. the destination. So let’s go easy on ourselves as we ease into 2024. We’ll get there. Post by Sharon Itkoff Nacache ATR-BC LCAT LPAT PMH-C Original photograph by Alessio Soggetti
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Throughout human history and culture, symbolic representations of the perinatal experience have been expressed through the Arts, spiritual practices, and ancient mythology. There is a powerful parallel between one’s innate creative process–including conception, incubation/gestation, loss, and rebirth–and a birthing person’s reproductive journey. Unfortunately, today's Western medical model allows little room to explore this connection.
Jung writes, “Initiations bring the realization of a part of the personality which has not yet come into existence but is still in the process of becoming.” Indeed, the birth of a parent is both personal and archetypal, a rite of passage ripe with creative energy and also immense growing pains. Becoming: A Virtual Art Therapy Group for Pregnancy This is a space for gestational birthing persons to explore this intense bio-psycho-social-spiritual transition through a safe, trauma-informed, creative lens. We will be using an open studio process model that is gently structured and allows participants to be both seen and heard through both verbal and creative processing. It requires absolutely no artistic experience other than the availability of basic art supplies and a willingness to try something new. It can be a stand-alone treatment or complement existing individual psychotherapy work. Group goals include: -Creating a sense of community and reducing isolation among birthing people -Allowing a safe space to destigmatize “messy” or ambivalent feelings about becoming a parent -Exploring identity development and new social roles -Developing a mindful practice for distress tolerance and self expression -Cultivating innate creative resilience skills including: role flexibility, creative problem solving, self compassion, and positive reframing Brass Tacks: --Minimum commitment of 4 weekly 1 hr groups to create a sense of continuity for participants -$200/total to be paid by 1/19 via a secure digital platform after a brief phone screening and completion of basic clinical documentation Mon Jan 22 1-2p Mon Jan 29 1-2p Mon Feb 5 1-2p Mon Feb 12 1-2p -Possibility to continue for another cycle depending upon interest -Email [email protected] with questions and to register About Me: I am a mom of two active littles and a perinatal art therapist certified and trained via PSI and Seleni Institute. I’ve been in practice in NYC for almost 15 years and my work has been featured in both the LA & NY Times. I am also a wellness consultant with the Whitney Museum of American Art bringing creative healing spaces to NYC public hospital systems through the HHC Art of Medicine program. To learn more, check out www.cocreatearttherapy.com |
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February 2025
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