I was recently over at a friend’s house for dinner and was quite struck by their daughter, a bright six-year-old that I have known most of her life. I have been shown her paintings and drawings often and always marveled at the whimsical freedom and beauty of them, but had never before witnessed her actively making art. I was entirely distracted from the conversations around me and felt drawn to come see her standing at a desk, busily sketching. I watched her make a drawing, turn it around, draw on the back, pick up another piece of paper and begin the process again. There was something so incredibly liberating about watching her simply be with the creative experience, as if there was no judgement, no pressure, and no end goal involved in her making.
What would your life look like if you were similarly connected to a creative process with such freedom? This is a question I was left with and one that has been knocking about in my brain ever since. Like so many things in life, creativity can become a complex, complicated entity as we grow older. There can be pressure about how we want something to look or be perceived, disappointment in our ability, shame and avoidance when the feelings grow too difficult to sit with, and so many other heavy experiences that can sap us of our desire to be creative. Along the way, we may also receive messages about our artistic creations that dissuade us from pursuing them. Or maybe we integrate broader global stories about limitations that reinforce what we believe we can and cannot do with our life. These experiences and emotions can build up a wall, closing us off from an outlet that once felt like second nature to us and perhaps made the world feel like a brighter place.
Maybe you have also had the occasion to watch a young child busily in the process of making art and wondered what happened that led you so far from your own connection to creativity. If you’ve experienced something like this, I first want to say that you’re not alone. It’s an unfortunately common story. At some tender moment (or collection of tender moments), we perceive judgement, whether internal or external, that causes us to disconnect from the joy of simply being creative in lieu of the emotional weight and expectations of what that creativity should produce.
There’s no one path for getting back in touch with a sense of artistic creativity in life. Your story is unique and the experiences you’ve had that have held you back or dissuaded you from making art may need to unfold in many ways. Something I can offer to you in this process, however, is a group focused on the practice of finding our way back toward a creativity that feels free, uninhibited, and genuine.
Maybe you’ve heard of the book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. Perhaps you’ve worked your way through it in the past, either dabbling in some chapters or dedicatedly doing the full 12-week process. Whether this book is new to you or you’re glancing at it on your shelf right now, I’d like to offer you the opportunity of exploring it with others. I think there is power to the experiences we take on alone, and I am also simply awed by what we can build when we work with a group.
So, what will this group be like? If you’ve never come to a therapeutic group before (or even if you have!) you might have some questions about what this experience may entail. I’ve listed a few below with answers to help you consider if this is something you’d like to pursue.
What is the structure of this group? It’s a 12-week process that will meet on Monday evenings, from 5-6:30p. The group begins January 26th and concludes on April 13th. I know that may feel like quite a commitment upfront, but there is so much to dig into. Each week, we’ll read a chapter in the book “The Artist’s Way”, work on a weekly and a daily practice, and come together to process and experiment as a group. During sessions, there will be discussion and connection, but there will also be dedicated time to engage in creative work with prompts that align with the topics of the week.
Who is this group for? This group is for anyone, regardless of your connection to the creative process and your inner artist. This group might be for you if, in reading this, you remember that writing project you started fifteen years ago and haven’t touched since. Or if you’ve always wanted to draw but feel too critical of yourself to pick up a pencil and start. Or if you make a living as an artist and feel like it might be time to reevaluate your process. Or maybe you feel creative, but you want to know your inner artist more and are interested in exploring that in a group setting. Or maybe you’re feeling held hostage by a creative block and want to try something new to help free yourself. Regardless of your current practice or whether you consider yourself an artist, you are welcome in this group.
What will the group cost? Each session is $30, but we want to make sure all who are interested can come. If this fee is not accessible to you, we will work to find a financial agreement that does. No one who would like to join the group will be turned away for financial reasons. Similarly, if you do not already have a copy of the book “The Artist’s Way” and getting one would be a hardship, we will make sure you have access to a copy. Please let us know what your needs are and we will work with you.
What if I can’t keep up with the reading? That’s okay. Nowhere is it written that to become attuned to creativity, you must read every word of Julia Cameron’s book, nor do every single prompt or task suggested therein. We welcome group members to be following along with the chapters as we work through the process, but what’s more important to us is that you come to the sessions and engage in group work. There is a vulnerability to sharing with others and we think you’ll find both great support as well as inspiration from the work we do together. Plus, the topics discussed in the chapters will be prompts for conversation and exercises in the sessions so even if you haven’t read the book, you will get to interact with the subject matter.
Do I have to share what I make in the sessions with the group? This is entirely up to you. There will be many prompts to engage in art making and there will be opportunities to discuss the process. If you want to show what you have made, you are welcome to but there is no pressure to do so if that feels too vulnerable. This process is for you and your creative journey and not about other’s opinions about what you make.
Who will lead the group? This group will be run by me (Grace) and Crystal Nero. A little introduction about us: Crystal Nero is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and the founder of Mending Roots Healing Center. She has been working in the field for 15+ years, specializing in couples and family work. She has extensive trainings in experiential modalities, Emotion-Focused Couple, Individual, and Family Therapy and has facilitated many groups over her years of experience.
I am the intern at the group practice, in my final semester of graduate school at Lenoir Rhyne University earning my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have worked in residential treatment centers, where running groups was a daily practice. I also have a long history working in the arts and have wrestled with and overcome creative blocks countless times. Both of us love the creative process and see so many intersecting lines between how we approach the world of creativity and how we are in relationship with ourselves and the world around us.
What this group is not: This group is not a critique. You will not have to bring your artwork to receive feedback about it from other members. You will not be assigned work and have to compare it with others. This group is also not a workshop. We will utilize various materials and approaches to experiment with creativity, and while there will be prompts, you will not be guided through a specific technique. This experience is designed to allow your own creativity to take the wheel.
Do you have more questions about this group? I would love to answer them. Please reach out to me at grace@mendingrootshealingcenter.com and we can schedule a quick 15-minute phone call to see if this might be a good fit for you. I look forward to hearing from you!