Art Therapy Group for Adopted High School Girls

Explore the meaning of adoption for you in both positive and negative ways, and how it has affected your life. Discuss the issues often expressed by adoptees in a safe environment with other teens who share a similar experience. Group time will include simple art-making (you do not need to have any artistic talent) to aid in the process of self-exploration, as well as group processing time.

Group Details

This group will be ideal for high school girls who were adopted. The program includes two family sessions and six group art therapy sessions.

Two individual family sessions will precede the group’s commencement: 1. Family Intake and Information Gathering Session 2. Family Adoption Story-Telling Session. These sessions can be scheduled at a convenient time for the family and will take place at Devine Counseling, 11985 Technology Drive in Eden Prarie.

The six group art therapy sessions will take place on Friday afternoons from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., September 9-October 14, 2016. They will be hosted at Wayzata Free Church, 705 County Road 101 Plymouth, MN 55447.

This group is organized and facilitated by Devine Counseling. We are helping promote this opportunity because we believe it may be beneficial to adoptees.

Cost and Registration

The cost for this art therapy group is $380. This includes the family sessions and art therapy group sessions. If you would like to register, or have any questions, please contact, Jody Schreiber at 952.220.7250. Participants must register by September 2, 2016.

Why Join?

Adolescence is the developmental state where teens are actively engaged in the process of self-exploration. For the teen who is adopted, the question, “Who am I?” can be more complicated, especially when internal questions still linger. Providing a safe and objective space to ponder such issues can be quite relieving to teens at this particular point in their development.

Why Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses simple art media to enhance a person’s level of self-expression. Utilized in conjunction with traditional verbal therapy, art therapy offers a visual “picture” of the problem or emotions being expressed. Participants do not need to have any artistic talent, as the focus of art therapy is not on the art product. Simple art media such as chalks, oil pastels, markers, paint, clay, and photo collage are used to create a visual depiction. Spoken words float in the therapy room; however, when a participant attaches an image to the issue they are verbalizing, they connect with their emotions and feel better heard and understood.

Each art project is therapeutically designed to allow participants to explore parts of themselves in a deeper way. The mask project is a real favorite! From the process of creating the mask on the face, to its final photo collage stage, this project begs the question, “What do I show people on the outside and what do I keep hidden on the inside?”

As we shared our masks, I realized that I was not the only one who was hiding things that I was struggling with.” – Laura

About the Instructors

Susan Devine is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. In addition to seeing clients in her Eden Prairie office, Susan conducts on-site life skills group training for adolescent girls in an 8-week program called GutziGirlz.

Jody Schreiber is a licensed clinical social worker. She works with families and individuals through her private practice in Eden Prairie Minnesota. She is married and has three sons.