The Invisible Thread

Description

WORKSHOP CODE: W16

DATES: 6, 13, 20, 27 October and 3 November

TIMES: 12:00PM to 1:00pm / 1:30pm to 2:30pm

DURATION: 1 Hour

LOCATION: CATA, 135 Station Street, Fairfield, Victoria, 3078

The Invisible Thread workshop is designed to support and empower mothers. Reconnecting with oneself, finding moments of relaxation and self-expression are crucial for the well-being of mothers, especially those in the early stages of motherhood.

About the facilitator:

Brooke is a second year Art Therapy student from La Trobe University. She is currently on placement at CATA as part of her studies. Her personal experience as a mother of three girls make her a valuable facilitator for these sessions. Art therapy can be a powerful tool for processing emotions, fostering self-awareness, and building connections, and it's great to see it being applied in a supportive and inclusive environment at CATA.

Who sees me?

• Objective: Promoting self-expression
• Materials: Magazines, glue, cardboard, scissors, pens
• Connection to Child: Exploring how your child perceives you and how you want them to see you.
• Description: Participants use collage materials to create a visual representation of how they see themselves and how they want to be seen. This activity encourages self-expression and reflection on their identity as mothers.

Building on relationships

• Objective: Noticing the relationships around you
• Materials: Clay, tools, cardboard, natural objects
• Connection to Child: Building attachment through role-playing relationships.
• Description: Participants create two creatures out of clay and use them to role-play different relationships. This hands-on activity helps mothers explore and reflect on their relationships with their children and others in their lives.

Let’s make a mess

• Objective: Emotional healing with the flow of materials
• Materials: Large sheets of paper, paints, watercolors, cornflour, food coloring
• Connection to Child: Exploring emotions and how to deal with them.
• Description: This session allows participants to freely express their emotions through messy art-making. It provides a non-verbal outlet for processing feelings and encourages participants to reflect on how they cope with different emotions.

A container for holding emotion

• Objective: Self-awareness to understand who you are
• Materials: Small boxes, PVA glue, scissors, colored papers
• Connection to Child: Designing symbols for oneself and one's child/children.
• Description: Participants create symbolic representations of themselves and what makes them unique. This activity promotes self-awareness and introspection about personal identity, while also considering the identity of their children.

Mindfulness art-making for self-care

• Objective: Creating a non-judgmental environment and fostering a sense of community
• Materials: Mindfulness art supplies
• Connection to Child: Exploring one's support network and "village."
• Description: In this session, participants engage in mindfulness art-making to promote self-care. It provides a space for relaxation and reflection on the support system and community that surrounds them, helping them feel less isolated and unsupported.

These sessions offer a holistic approach to self-care, emotional well-being, and building connections among mothers in the community. By involving their children in some of the activities, it also strengthens the bond between mothers and their children while encouraging open communication and creativity. Overall, it's a well-rounded program that addresses various aspects of motherhood and personal growth.

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