In 2020, the Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling (MAATC) community learned the importance of self-care and self-compassion in everyday actions as students and budding art therapists. For 2021, the MAATC Student Organization (MAATC-SO) seeks to encourage students to prioritize themselves, their well-being, and experiencing joy from accomplishing small wins. Marissa Ferrao, second-year MAATC student, found inspiration in creating this event after her own experiences in developing positive self-care practices with a friend.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the MAATC-SO Self-Care Challenge is a month-long event in February that is designed to continue for the rest of the spring semester. Current MAATC students set three small, achievable goals each week of the month. The pairs, or Palentines, check-in with their pals each week to review small wins and ways to improve if self-care goals are not met. Check-ins are suggested to be no more than 10 minutes, with the understanding that this is not a replacement for therapy. The challenge is completed virtually, but pals are welcome to meet in person if they wish to.
When setting self-care goals, Palentines are encouraged to think ‘mind, body, soul.’ Goals can change or stay the same each week, and there is no shame in not achieving goals. The purpose of this event is making more time for self-care, self-love, and self-compassion. Marissa checks in each week with Palentines to share reminders and encouragement to continue. She creates graphics specifically for the challenge and shares them with all MAATC students to extend the self-care inspiration to those not participating in the event.
Maria Penedo-Warren, first year MAATC student, shares, “Anyone can research self-care tools, but genuine accountability and support is the missing link to reach our personal self-care goals.”
After receiving support and approval from Dr. Lisa Furman, advisor of the MAATC-SO, the challenge was shared with students by email and GroupMe. Interested students signed up through a questionnaire and were matched by requests to be paired by gender, time commitment, and examples of self-care goals they hope to achieve.
Currently, 12 MAATC students are participating in the self-care challenge. The MAATC-SO welcomes more to join in on the fun if the challenge continues beyond February. We look forward to a semester filled with new-found energy toward self-care and support from one another.