COASTAL PSYCHIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATES, INC.

Coastal Psychiatric Medical Associates is now offering an 8-week art therapy group entitled “The Creative Journey”, facilitated by a professional registered art therapist. Art therapy is a powerful avenue toward healing and personal exploration that anyone can participate in, with or without prior art experience. Engaging in art therapy benefits a wide range of experiences, whether one is dealing with specific losses or traumas, significant life transitions or someone who is simply wishing to develop a deeper connection with their creative spirit.

Creating art helps express what words often cannot express. It also helps access emotions to guide us in important decisions and goals. Themes and common challenges important to group members are explored through art making. Some themes of past groups have included expressing a wide range of feelings, developing positive relationships with others, uncovering personal strengths, setting boundaries, practicing self-care and creativity in daily life, and exploring one’s own experience of spirituality.

The emphasis of the group is on the process of making art for personal expression in a supportive setting with others and putting aside self-criticism that many of us have associated with our creative voice. There is no right or wrong way to create art. All art is accepted as an important and valuable expression.

Some examples of art experiences and materials that will be experienced in this group may include creating art within a circle (referred to as a Mandala), using paints, clay and printmaking to explore needs and feelings, creating collages, safe place imagery, doll making and other crafts, creating group murals and painting wooden boxes and frames.

Each group session allows time to reflect and share the experience of making art together as a group and to apply these experiences to current challenges and goals. Members will have the opportunity to find common sources of hope and validation. The group provides a separate space from everyday demands to focus on each person’s own needs and feelings.

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