Our Creative Arts Group is a free monthly group for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) / Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) to come together and engage in creative activities, with a focus on exploring/expressing/celebrating the positive aspects of ourselves and our lives. No Artistic ‘skill’ or experience is needed.
Anyone who is over 18 and has a diagnosis of BPD/EUPD is very welcome to come along to our art group - you really don't need any art experience or talent - it's more about just expressing yourself and playing!
- Each session usually has a theme to explore (e.g. hope, gratitude, DBT skills), using any arts materials we have available on that day.
- In some sessions, we may be able to teach new art/craft skills for those who want to explore them (e.g. crafts, crochet, silk painting, clay) if the group would like that.
- Our groups are simply a space for creative enjoyment (we are not working towards an end performance or exhibition).
Our Groups are not therapy groups to explore difficulties, but rather a space to focus on positive elements of ourselves and our lives. We'll creatively explore/express our qualities, interests, quirks, happy memories, healthy relationships etc.
We have chosen this focus, as many of us with BPD struggle to know who we are outside of the BPD label. Much of the time we may even feel that we are 'innately bad'. We want to strengthen the realisation that the diagnosis of BPD is essentially a list of (often overwhelming) difficulties we are faced with, but that it does not define who we are!
Format
The format is generally something like this:
Settle in: Each session, we'll come in and sit down. Grab a drink/snack if people want to, sign in etc. Go through group guidelines briefly for new people.
Activity: We'll then have a focussed activity - this could be making collages from magazines, playing with clay, doing something with textiles...but they will always be something related to exploring positive aspects of our identity.
Sharing: At the end, we go round the table, so people can share what they've made if they want to - but again there is no pressure at all to do that!
Feedback: We then ask people to fill in a quick feedback form (it just helps us for getting funding for future groups).
It's all really laid back - if there's anything you don't want to do, we can find an alternative option.
One group member said:
“Attending this group has really opened up a new way for me to express myself. Things are still very tough, but having a safe, friendly environment where my inner creativity is encouraged to come out has been so beneficial for me. And now and I'm using the skills I learn in the group to help me at home - art has started helping me in times of crisis as a distraction/soothing technique that I wouldn't have used before. This group has been a real lifeline for me, so I just want to let you know it really is appreciated”.
We hope that having fun and creatively exploring these themes will help group members to build up a more positive self-image and sense of identity.
We know it can be scary coming to a new group, but everyone is really lovely and will make you feel welcome. If you have any other questions about the groups, please email workshops@borderlinearts.org. We’d love to see you at a workshop soon!
