On Wednesday we had our last session of the Caretaker Art Group, which focused on wrapping up the group and reflecting on the learning we had done over the six weeks. We started the session reflecting on the past activities and themes we had explored. I taped up member artwork from the previous weeks on the walls of our meeting room and to serve as a “gallery” of the art created by the group. Seeing all the various art activities from the past 6 sessions displayed together this way, members began to point out connections between art pieces. Continue reading
Tag Archives: caregivers
Caretaking
On Wednesday, we had our second-to-last session for the Caretakers’ Art Group. This session began the process of synthesizing the topics we have discussed in the previous sessions. We began by thinking back on the art activities we had done and reflecting on the themes we had discussed: self- exploration with the symbolic self-portraits, self-care practices with our self-care zines, and boundaries with our boundary maps. Continue reading
Self Care
Happy Holy Week! Today is the day: Richie’s Easter play is upon us! I am so excited for the performance and feel honored to direct it alongside Richie once more before my time at Emmanuel is through. The main goal of the performance is to have fun, enhance connection, and spread joy, which I know will be achieved. Stay tuned for my performance recap next week! Continue reading
Establishing Group Norms
We had another great week here at Common Art and Boston Warm! Last Wednesday, we had our first session of the 8-week caretaker group, which I am leading. For anyone who might have missed the musings in which I explained the caretaker group, here’s a recap: This group is for members who often put aside their own needs to help a family member, a friend, or a partner to an extent that may be harmful to themselves. Over the course of 8 weeks, we will do art activities that promote identity exploration, model self-care techniques, explore and define healthy boundaries, and develop self-regulatory tools. Above all, it’s a time for members to learn about their needs and explore more about who they are as an individual. By learning that prioritizing their own needs is not wrong, they may help them care for others in a more sustainable way. Continue reading