This week is children’s mental health week here in Canada. With many events promoting awareness about children’s mental health and the importance of supporting services.  As an art therapists who primarily works with children and youth I see the need for more understanding and compassion towards children who often become labeled as “difficult” due to behaviours which are symptoms of past and or present experiences.  The pressure to “fix” these children as quickly as possible regardless of what each individual needs can sometimes take a toll on those of us who are providing treatment.   Exposure to the depths of their trauma can skew the way we as clinicians look at the world.  Self-care is a necessity rather than a frivolous after thought.

On Tuesday at the children’s mental health centre I work at, we had a half day retreat with a focus on self-care.  No discussion of work, or staff meeting.  Instead, after some icebreakers to reconnect those of us who work at different sites, we took time for some meditation to calm the mind.  Then of course, with 4 art therapists at our centre, we all engaged in some group mural making!  In the past when we have introduced art activities to other staff for self-care or “just because”, there have always been a few skeptics who weren’t sure they wanted to participate. Everyone’s comfort level is different of course. But today my colleagues led a wonderful exercise with just enough structure to help contain any anxieties and allow play to happen.

There were 4 canvases laid out for each of the four element: earth, wind, fire and water and we were invited to go to the theme which called to us. I chose earth.  At our table we had social worker, social worker fellow, out-patient manager, support staff, intake worker and myself an art therapist.  We had paint, and collage materials to choose from to form a mural based on “earth”.  As we scrambled through the collage photos unsure where to start we decided to put a paint wash over background, but what colour? Brown? Green? Then I had an idea, remembering videos I’ve seen on artists who paint with tea, I suggested we use coffee.

When I think of earth I think of grounding. The earthiness of coffee grounds and the idea of grounding just seemed to make sense. And luckily everyone else agreed. Though uncertain about how it might turn out, the group quickly were convinced once each member had opportunity to paint coffee (as a water colour)  on the canvas.  It was an intuitive process, one that required a letting go of uncertainty and an openness to play and expereiment with what shows up. There was a  magicical feeling about watching the lines transform as they dry on the canvas leaving an organically outlined form.  The original collage photos chosen were quickly whittled down to a single tree. From there grew the roots, wild and spreading across the page. Much like the work and connections we are making everyday when we support our clients in therapy, there is plently going on below the surface.

The process of painting with coffee, staining the paper, waiting for it to dry before adding more, became a meditative grounding process.  When we were done, one of my other colleagues guided us through a multi-modal arts response. We each were to visit the other tables and write one word that spoke to us while witnessing the four finished murals. Returning to our table we were invited to pick 2 of the words from the list, these “gifts” as she called them were an opportunity for feedback from others, giving another perspective.

Earth reminds us to stay grounded, but also represents  the depths of connections that can be made, often unseen, that nurture us,  support us and keep us growing, strong and healthy.

From there we each wrote two lines with our chosen words and then cut them out to arrange with other group members lines in order to make an Ode.