Using Art to Heal from Narcissistic Abuse [176]

“This was the big whammy… My whole life had been centered around pleasing the abusive person…trying to meet their ever-changing expectations…I really didn’t know who I was anymore.”Art therapist Jennifer Kramer practices what she paints. She’s a survivor of narcissistic abuse and now teaches an art therapy process she developed during her recovery. She discovered that the most powerful part of art-making isn’t what we create — the final drawing or painting. It’s not about making something that looks pretty or gets displayed in an art gallery. It’s about the way art reconnects our minds and bodies and how it rebuilds an abuse survivor’s sense of identity. Because the real masterpiece…is YOU.Put on your listening ears and grab a crayon:What art therapy is (and isn’t)The emotions of art media (pencils can be comforting and paint can be overwhelming)Art-making and responsive writing: the left- and right-brain connectionWhy talking to your art is helpful (even if it feels weird)How art puts you back inside your body and rebuilds your intuitionWhat the “no-comment rule,” “process over product,” and “scribble drawings” areArt therapy techniques to try at home (with nobody looking!)Access the transcript, read the show notes, and/or ask Natalie a question here Related Resources:You’re gonna want to follow Jennifer’s Instagram account. It’s the reason I interviewed her. Redefine yourself and color your life, with art! Download Jennifer’s app, Redefined, to get more info on her core program, weekly emails, video bundles, and group or 1-on-1 coaching. If you are a Christian woman who thinks you may be in an emotionally destructive marriage, learn more at https://flyingfreenow.comI'll send you (free!) the first chapter of my book, Is It Me? Making Sense of Your Confusing Marriage, which has an assessment to help you figure out if your relationship is abusive or not. All you have to do is hop on my mailing list at https://flyingfreesisterhood.com/free-downloadYou can also find out about our online education and support program for women of faith at https://joinflyingfree.comAnd finally, if you are a divorced Christian woman who wants to take back her life and get healthy, lose weight, have amazing relationships, get things done, build a business or career, and even find a good man (if you want one) - check out Flying Higher at https://joinflyinghigher.comJennifer Kramer is an artist, licensed art therapist, and online coach who helps women overcome the lasting effects of narcissistic abuse. She is the creator of The Redefined Process, an approach that uses a combination of spontaneous art-making and responsive writing, which she developed while recovering from narcissistic abuse. The Redefined Process works because it engages our bodies and minds in such a way that subconscious emotions, limiting beliefs, and desires are brought to the surface and (quite literally) made visible.