What's in my nest? Art Therapy for

Emotional Wellbeing Presented by ; The Moorabool Shire Council Maternal and Child Health Robyn Howarth – Maternal and Child Health Coordinator Contact number 53667100

Why run an Emotional

Wellbeing Group?

• Isolation/rural community

• Lack of family supports

• Parenting journey struggles

• Relationship/financial issues

• lack of services

Why Art Therapy?

Art Therapy uses art mediums to express and communicate thoughts that are hard to put into words. The art work acts as a mirror in which you can; • See yourself more clearly • Understand and appreciate

yourself more • Release painful emotions • Resolve conflicts .

Referral and evaluation process

• Clients referred through Maternal and Child Health

• Assess using Edinburgh PND Scale prior to attendance and at completion of the group.

• Identified PND, Anxiety, emotional issues

• Liaison with other agencies to identify potential clients including WRISC, PEHP and CAFS.

Safe and welcoming space to meet

In consultation with a qualified Art Therapist we have developed the program for our Emotional Wellbeing Group We trialled and tested the art activities using different mediums and developed an understanding of the benefits of each medium, which we could present in a creative and therapeutic manner.

A bit about nests The nest drawing represents an unconscious metaphor for the clients perception of her home and family life and attachments. We use lots of different art media and they are free to create as they please, all we ask them to do is create their nests, no other information is given.

This mum was experiencing a very tough time of isolation and loneliness. She is looking to her partner for support and help to work out what her little chick wants.

This mum’s father died the day after she gave birth to her son, she has been trying to cope with her grief and the demands of having a new baby. She told us her nest was in a deep, dark forest and that she liked being there alone where she can just be her and not have to consider anyone else.

This mum shared a very emotional story at the beginning of the group which touched everyone. She lost one of her twins “a girl” and so her parenting journey had been filled with grief. She also has a history of PND. Her nest represents her family (hearts) including her baby girl who passed away.

This mum is a professional and has struggled with her new role as a mother since her son’s birth, she is highly stressed by the chaos and uncertainty and the recent loss of her mother. Her nest is orderly and interestingly the three headed gumnut represents her in her three roles, one as a professional, one as a mother and the other as “Just her”.

What's in your nest?

Once the mothers have completed their nests and are comfortable to do so we ask them to share some information about their creations.

• Does your nest feel secure?

• Is the environment supportive?

• Are the parents/ parent present?

• Give your image a title, what do you think your image is teaching you?

• What would it feel like to be in your nest?

• What and who is in your nest?

3D Nests

One Mothers Journey This mum has a busy family of four children ranging from 4

months to 13 years, when she told us about her nest, which was 3D, she stated that the art was the only way of letting go of her

emotions.

How I see myself

How others see me

How I want to be seen

Note how the mother sees herself, she described it like being in a black hole with lots of mess to fix.

The masks of motherhood

• green represents ENVY • coloured feathers represent her four children • flowers and butterflies the love around them. • eyes are covered to hide her emotions from

others • little love hearts are her silent tears.

The little heart in the middle of her mouth represents the love she should have for her children but the other jewels on her mouth stop her from speaking of it and allow her to zip her mouth and keep her emotions to herself.

Felting

Felting is a good way to express emotions whilst working out anger and frustrations. It allows the mother to throw, squeeze, rub and they even get the enjoyment of thwacking it against the brick wall.

Needle Felting

This is a process by which felt is created with barbed needles. The needles are used to force the fibres into each other, creating a web of interlocking fibres.

What’s Bottled up inside? The mothers decorate jars to their liking and are able to write or cut out words to describe their inner feelings, the words Are then put inside their jars. They can choose to share or keep them to themselves.

Feathers and Ink

Using feathers and ink the mothers explore different strokes and techniques to create a picture.

This mum was surprised with her first attempt at using feathers, she found it very relaxing and said it soothed her mind.

Clay

Clay has great healing powers, it has a calming effect for those mothers that don’t mind getting their hands dirty. We use it for mandalas or to fill our 3D nests.

Totem Poles

Totem poles are used to tell a story and represent ones history. The mothers are each given a wooden totem pole to paint and decorate to represent their parenting

journey.

Calming Collage

Using magazines the mothers are asked to find pictures of things that make them happy and reminded them of times when they felt calm.

Buntings

We have a sewing machine and materials and the mothers work together to make bunting flags that represent their feelings on being a part of the EWBG, these flags are displayed in our room.

Journaling

Why journal? • Clarify your thoughts and

feelings • Know yourself better • Reduce stress • Solve problems more

effectively • Resolve disagreements

with others

Connect and Play playgroup

At the end of the 8 week EWBG the mothers and their children are moved into a supported Playgroup specifically set up for these woman only. A facilitator sets up activities and welcomes them each week, offering support in a safe space. This group has access to other professionals should the need arise.

Questions ?