Group Art Therapy

Groups focus on three primary areas

Open Studio: Participants work on personal projects in a shared space, individually or in collaboration – or both! Learning to work with new materials is encouraged. Each person decides on the nature of the group’s creation. Individuals will value the energy and spirit of sharing a creative space during this process. Making art is inherently therapeutic, and the group members will foster a positive and nurturing environment during any verbal presentation and processing of the work.

Self-Care Themes: These groups focus on spiritual/well-being concepts chosen by the group. Art directives help prompt exploration into personal meaning, and ways to integrate insights and takeaways into everyday life are paramount.

Social Activism/Community Focused: These groups involve creative projects centered on a cause/crusade chosen by the group. The group can consist of an existing friend group or like-minded individuals that haven’t met yet and get assembled at the start. The group’s first task is to agree on a project and then devise a plan to go forth and make a difference.

How do groups work?

Groups of 3-5 people meet weekly for six 75-minute sessions. All groups involve some creative process/self-expression and focus on process-oriented self-expression, as this is a NO-Judgment Zone (NJZ!).

You can join a group to meet new people or create a group with a few friends and come together for studio time.

Groups are closed/private; we add no new members once the group starts. Below are some options for themes, and I am open to creating content based on a group consciousness (such as Community Action, Social Activism, Mindfulness, and Self-care).

Create Change

Most people participate in therapy to make some changes in their life. Participating in a group can offer you another window into what that might look like in a way that individual therapy won’t.

Group therapy allows you to see yourself reflected in the eyes of another. The energy exchange removes the patterns and cycles (aka well-worn pathways in the brain) that might keep you stuck – unhappy, unfulfilled, and uncertain of your next “right” move.

Connecting with others while making art is a healthy way to express your thoughts and feelings through the creative process, offering you a fresh perspective. Consistently nurturing your creativity will help you tap into energy from within and build a sense of mastery, self-awareness, and self-acceptance.

Here’s the Group Formation Process

We create groups after an individual meeting with each participant. I will then do a bit of matchmaking, coordinating members in terms of age, mindset, and interests.

And if you already have a couple of friends you’d like to spend some structured time with regularly to create together, pre-existing friend groups are encouraged!

LGBTQ+ – Art Social

Individuals in this group will participate in eight sessions as they hone their social skills and build connections while creating art with peers in a safe space. The group will decide to work individually on projects or collaborate within the group or out in the community.

For participants looking for a way to work with friends and create something powerful, this group can be an excellent opportunity to put your original ideas into action.

Participants will receive a directive-based studio experience, exploring social themes through the creative process to crystallize and communicate their thoughts and feelings.