Insight into the mask project:
At MRIBH, my group sessions are solely focused on the mask project. Patients complete their individual masks over the course of a three session series.
Session one begins with a group discussion of what they think of when they hear “mask” and many ways it resonates with the military and first responder culture. I share an article on this project by National Geographic, from 2015, featuring NICoE’s masks. Then, patients have a chance to reflect and brainstorm what their own mask is. Session two is spent workshopping the masks and then, session three is spent processing them. As each mask gets passed around, I ask very specific questions before they reveal the meaning of their masks to their peers.
Themes often include pre-post injury, pre-post service, internal experience vs external presentation, or anything else they feel pertains to the mask they wear. They can work on the inside and outside of the mask, create multiple, create an environment for it, deconstruct it- the possibilities are endless.
This project can be the most vulnerable and I appreciate and am inspired every time a patient is willing to take it on!
I have done this project with the SUDs population, as well, so this project is applicable in many other ways!
To check out the article:
https://lnkd.in/efFmZ9WU
*everything on display in my studio has been consented for by the patients to be on display and posted*
#arttherapy #maskproject #mribh
Lead Nurse Practitioner at The Spine & Pain Institute of New York
5dCongratulations my friend!