Centering Sessions
Introducing "Centering Sessions" - Michigan's First Mindfulness-Centered Clay Art Therapy Group
Facilitated by Kathryn Whitlock, MA, ATR, LLPC, CCTP-II, Clinical Director of New Branch Art Therapy Services, L.L.C.
Our Centering Sessions include:
- A studio shelf in our Education Studio space upstairs
- Open studio opportunities
- 25 lbs. of clay per 8-week session
- Access to three different glaze firings
- A wide array of glazes, decorative slips, and underglazes
- Specially curated Centering Sessions supplies provided by NBATS
- One hour of group therapy from 1PM to 2PM weekly
Join us for a unique therapeutic experience that combines the mindfulness of clay art with the support of group therapy.
Meet Kathryn Whitlock
kathryn's professional background
Kathryn is a Registered Art Therapist, Limited Licensed Counselor, and Certified Trauma Professional. She holds a BA in Ceramics with a Minor in Psychology and an MA in Counseling with a Specialization in Art Therapy from Wayne State University.
She utilizes a combined approach of Mindfulness Based Art Therapy, Existentialism, and Person-Centered approaches inflected with Transactional Analysis, Object Relations and Internal Family Systems perspectives to facilitate Art Therapy courses that support participant growth and encourage introspection and greater emotional regulation. She has been a practicing clay artist for more than 15 years, and has been working with Pewabic since 2015.
who should take this class?
Class Terms: You must apply to participate in future classes below. Check this page for updated Centering Sessions offerings.
These classes are best suited for adults (18+) who would like to set aside time for mindfulness, self centering, and personal artistic growth regardless of clay experience or skill level all under the supervision of a licensed art therapist. Apply Below!
fall 2024 sessions:
Visual Journaling in Clay
Instructor: Kathryn Whitlock
Dates: Fall 2024 - Sessions 1 and 2: August 23 - December 6 (16 week course)
Time: Friday mornings from 10am - 1pm
Price: $800
Class Description: This IFS-Informed 16-week Clay Art Therapy Group fuses Narrative Art Therapy with surface and decoration-focused clay instruction in order to help group members communicate more effectively with their Inner System, improve technical skills in wheel-throwing and hand-building, find their artistic voices and learn to leverage surfacing techniques such as Sgraffito/Mishima to enhance self-expression, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by increasing the frequency and quality of mindfulness practices.Â
GUIDED EXPLORATION
Instructor: Kathryn Whitlock
Dates: Fall 2024 - Sessions 1 and 2: August 23 - December 6 (16 week course)
Time: Friday afternoons from 2pm - 5pm
Price: $800
Class Description: This course is open ONLY to continuing Centering Sessions students – you must have taken at least 1 Centering Sessions class prior to qualifying for this session.Â
In this FS-Informed 16-week Clay Art Therapy Group, instructional content is decided by a group vote prior to the beginning of the term. Group sessions and instructional material will help group members communicate more effectively with their Inner System, improve technical skills in wheel-throwing and hand-building, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by increasing the frequency and quality of mindfulness practices.