Becoming: Art Therapy Group for Pregnancy Support

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