Workshop 11
Stitching stories: nurturing agency in response to trauma.
The author Anaïs Beaulieu in her book ‘A stitch out of time’ writes the following about stitching, which resonates with Anita and Aditi —
“Thread is used as a metaphor for speech, time and story — symbolically tying together, so to speak, something deeply ingrained in us. Aren’t we all threads before we’re born, ready to become a story?”
“Embroidering is meditative, Each stitch with the needle conjures a thought… and then another… and another. The act of stitchery — a gestural to and fro — can create an experience that leads to other places… and back again.”
“Then again, embroidering is not so different from taking a stroll. It is an occasion to take our time and observe. Embroidery allows me to resist the pace that is imposed on me, and i am able to find my own rhythm.”
Stitching in different forms has been a cultural practice that has been passed on from generation to generation. Stitching our stories on a cloth collectively in groups is a way to experience personal stories in new ways of commonality and connectedness. People come together to sew their stories on the cloth, share their stories, support one another and engage in collective healing.
It provides a way to narrate our stories without focussing on words. It gives space in which to be witnessed and heard for the experiences that have been endured and the insights that have been gained. Stitching stories on a cloth will help us guide through the gentle seeking of what’s absent but implicitly present in stories of trauma. It firmly holds on to the belief that people are always responding. Stitching stories is a way to nurture these responses, a way to nurture agency.
Together we will explore in this workshop, the cultural practice of stitching on a cloth. To learn and hold on to the practice of ‘one breath one stitch’ at a time as we stitch our stories. To understand more about the relational influence on healing through group work. To explore the confluence of narrative ideas and practices and stitching stories to nurture agency.
Facilitated by Anita Prajapati and Dr. Aditi Brahmabhatt
Anita Prajapati, Founding member of Samatha Psychosocial Care Pvt. Ltd. She holds Masters in Psychology and Masters in Sociology from Tribhuvan University.
She is a Mental health Practitioner who believes in holding spaces for the people and their stories. From young age she was fascinated by people’s context and its influence on them. She is a day dreamer and love the magic space of day dreaming. Day dreaming provides her aspiration to make possibilities in her life.
She has been in the field of mental health almost a decade through counseling, research and different mental health consultancy work. She works with diverse age group and demography through nonprofit organization and private practice.
She is a trainer and supervisor of Narrative Practices diploma at Narrative Practices India. From 2021 she has been trainer of trainer in common thread trauma healing group intervention and run common thread trauma healing circle in the community. She is a visiting School counselor at French school and Niten Memorial School.
Dr. Aditi Brahmabhatt is an Occupational therapist and Director and Co-founder of Narrative Practices India Collective.
Aditi has done Bachelors of Occupational therapy from Seth G.S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai and Masters of Occupational therapy from University of Southern California, Los Angeles..
Aditi has worked for several years in New York supporting disabled children and their caregivers in clinical and school set up.. Also worked as trainer and mentor for community based organisations across India for early childhood development and disability..
Presently Aditi is engaged in working with children, young adults, adults and communities.. They also are trainer and supervisor for diploma in narrative practices.. Exploring the influence of narrative ideas and occupational therapy while working with people and communities resonates with Aditi..
Aditi enjoys to exist in spaces that are comfortable with the quiet and welcome lingering.. They try to hold close the fluidity in life.. Their most favorite place in the world is their bed.. They love to do things, not do things, read science fiction, vibe to music, play games and just exist from the bed.. Given a chance, Aditi can spend their entire lifetime experiencing the horizonless universe and nature.. They dream and work for a world where oppressive power structures are abolished and there is dignified existence..