The Winds of Change
Hi There Wild at Art Family,
The Winds Of Change
Working through shifts and transition as you leave Hong Kong
Many of you out there are facing sudden and abrupt change involving transitions which may or not be welcome. Feelings of overwhelm and anxiety might be triggered, as you face a complex range of emotions as well as the stresses around packing, moving and then relocating.
You may have much to look forward to, and you may find yourself feeling anticipation, but these feelings can often sit alongside trepidation, fear and a sense of grief at leaving your long term home. Relocation can be extremely traumatic and needs to treated preciously and honoured, in order to successfully navigate the experience and find closure as you depart.
You may be facing:
Having to make decisions about locations, schools and long term realities.
The practicalities of finding packers and all manner of logistics.
Financial changes and strains of various kinds.
You may be sifting memories as you pack away and redistribute your material possessions.
You may be wondering how to ‘feel’ yourself into a whole new context where you feel that you are having to start anew.
You may be wondering how people ‘ at home’ will understand your grief and loss around leaving Hong Kong.
Working through these issues with a guide / therapist can help you process some of the complex emotions as well as helping you to find coping strategies and plans for your emotional self care. Art therapy can offer solid coping strategies during this time, it can allow you to express yourself in a variety of ways an help you deal with future changes in your own time- with guidance and without judgement.
Art therapy allows you to express yourself without having to find the words. Colour, line, texture and shape give us the tools we need to unconsciously put our feelings onto paper, functioning as a visual way of “venting” our thoughts, fears and frustrations. Expressing ourselves in one way or another is intrinsic to dealing with the stresses associated with change and transition.
When you focus on creating art, rather than honing in on stress, you are able to access the parts of your brain that allow you to deal with those external stresses.
If you would like to find ways to externalise tears and emotions around the departures, symbolise your frustrations, process grief and loss, frame safe ways to look ahead and adjust to new routines these sessions aim to help you create your own road map for this process:
please contact me, practising Art Therapist Katie Flowers, at wildatartweekly@gmail.com, for an initial free consultation and I will create a plan tailored to you and your needs for a series of face to face sessions.
You don't have to do this alone.
