Above photo: A community sand art project created during Refuel and Restore Workshop.
by Jenny Murphy, LMHC, ATR-BC
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to facilitate a 4 week self-care group for women at The Well called “Refuel and Restore.” This group used art, music and movement to help women re-connect to a deeper part of themselves. The hope was to use these creative modalities to help one another feel uplifted, inspired and most of all, validated in our experiences. For me, validation ended up being the most powerful part. The amazing and all too important reminder that we are not alone. We are not alone in our experiences, our feelings, or this big journey we call life. It also reminded me that we have community all around us, if we are open to receiving it. In the simple fact that we are women, we have an unspoken connection, and layered on top of that, motherhood became another powerful experience of simple understanding.
The opening song for the group was called “Welcome to the Circle” by Betsy Rose. The line that always sticks out to me is: “There is no one in this circle who has never felt this way.” I find this to be incredibly comforting, grounding and a source of great relief. Our experiences make us wise, and we all have something to give, and we all have something to learn. Why don’t we come together to create this meaningful exchange? There were many beautiful moments shared throughout the 4 evenings we spent together. Even in this short time, I witnessed these seven women create shifts, and change in personal growth, great insights, delight in creativity and joy in the group process. There was laughter, a few tears, and what I believe was a deeper felt sense of connection.
I have found that today, there are fewer and fewer opportunities for women to gather in community, and yet it is such a gift. This group was promoted as a “gift to yourself” and I believe it was for all of the women there. And the added bonus was that it was an incredible gift for me!
If you’re interested in future classes like Refuel and Restore, contact jmurphy@visitthewell.org
Jenny Murphy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Art Therapist, and Certified Yoga Teacher. Jenny is passionate about helping people use the creative process to facilitate a deeper connection to themselves and the world around them.