Are you experiencing political anxiety?
Are you finding yourself experiencing additional anxiety related to your race, gender or sexuality?
Would you like to connect with others and use art as a way to process emotions?
Can you imagine having a safe place to manage your anxiety?
We can.
Brave Reflections: Art Healing Political Anxiety
3 Session Art Therapy Processing Group
During this time, there is a distinct feeling of uncertainty lingering in the air. After the recent elections, perhaps you are struggling with feelings of fear, frustration, or overwhelming hopelessness. Perhaps you may be experiencing political anxiety. Election stress can produce anxiety symptoms such as overthinking, fatigue, drastic mood changes, or even sleep struggles.
Now a space where you are able to safely unpack and process these feelings.
Consider what the ideal processing space may look like to you. Perhaps it’s a nonjudgmental, inclusive space, with likeminded individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms as yourself. Imagine being able to freely discuss how this time has been stressful for you, or sharing some of your concerns with peers & a group facilitator who will listen.
Imagine being in a space where you can express yourself freely, and begin to reframe for the future.
It is completely valid to feel lost or numb during this time. Try to envision what it will feel like being in a validating and affirming space. With a community of individuals who are experiencing feelings similar to yours, discussions can begin on how we can navigate through this difficult time. Emotional processing can be done through channeling creativity. Ideas can be formed on how we all can group together during this time, and practice solidarity.
Within this group, we will begin to further explore and process these feelings of politically-induced stress and uncertainty. How will these recent election results impact you if you are a Person of Color? How can it potentially affect you as a queer, trans or gender-nonconforming individual? How can it potentially affect your reproductive rights? Or potentially impact your children’s future education?
Together we step into community empowerment.
The goal is to band together during this time, and better understand and support our peers. As we work together to cultivate resiliency, we can also begin to imagine ways on how to navigate through this new sociopolitical climate. By the end of this three-session group, we aim to:
- Fully reflect, begin to heal, and overall navigate through these systemic challenges, by engaging in community empowerment
- Develop individual and group strategies for resiliency and advocacy
- Find meaning and hope within the midst of this season of uncertainty
- Move forward with a newfound sense of encouragement and the tools necessary to address political stress & anxiety
Why an Art Therapy Group in New Jersey?
Because we find power in relationships. Isolation fuels the stress.
This Art Therapy Group is about connecting with community. The connection that comes with sharing your story with others who will understand and listen. And that you can connect with the community you need to help you navigate during this difficult time. You can bear witness to the newfound sense of hope and resiliency that can begin to form in you, and your peers. You can also aid in lifting up your peers with your own perspective, experiences and support. Additionally, you can walk away from this group after learning and demonstrating a new way of reducing your stress and anxiety.
Through creation and community.
This group will meet for 3 weeks, virtually or in person. All members will need to be located in NJ.
Topics of discussion for this Art Therapy Group in New Jersey include:
- Understanding identity-based trauma & its intersection with political stress
- How to process politically-induced stress & anxiety
- Building Resiliency and Imagining a Hopeful Path Forward
Rates and Details:
- $15 per session (slide scale spots available)
- 3 session program
- Friday Evenings at 6:30 virtually or 7:30 In-person at our Branchburg location
- Materials included in In-person sessions. Those in virtual sessions can use materials they have at home.
Many material options you may have at home already such as paint/coloring tools (colored pencils , markers , acrylic paint pens, acrylic paint , watercolor , watercolor pencils, and/or paint brushes), mixed media paper, pre-cut collage images, glue stick, liquid glue, and scissors.
Questions?
Connect with our Scheduling Team at 908-224-7727
Next group starts January 10th, 2025
To express interest in the group, please fill out the form below:
Jayln is a Counseling Intern with a concentration in Art Therapy who is passionate about helping those struggling with racial, gender and/or sexual identity related trauma. She creates a safe place for her clients to share their stories and develop the necessary skills to thrive. Jayln works with children, teens and adults of all ages.