ALTERING THE ALTERED:
A collective quilt workshop
Embedded Files
Help us with your fabric donations. Drop them off at the location above or contact Maraya for more info at mhende6@saic.edu - THANK YOU!
Altering the Altered:
A collective quilt workshop to address the manifestations of transgenerational trauma as a Black Woman
led by, Maraya Henderson,
Second year MA of Art Therapy and Counseling Student, SAIC
Transgenerational trauma is a complex concept that is continuously being studied and explored and research shows that throughout history the presence of transgenerational trauma has heavily impacted many African American women. The historical oppression, racism, and discrimination this community has experienced has created a cycle of trauma that has been passed down from generation to generation. There is an overarching awareness of the concept of generational trauma but there is a lack of understanding of how it can impact their day to day living as a community.
Transgenerational trauma has been found to manifest in not only physical symptoms but also psychological symptoms and these symptoms often go overlooked and/or go untreated among African American women due to the stigma and stereotypes that have been placed on them as a community. While transgenerational trauma alters gene expression, it is not irreversible. Many psychological interventions can be used to address its effects and presentation of this alteration.
The primary response to transgenerational trauma is transgenerational resilience—the goal of treatment is to build resilience within the affected communities. However, Black women are generally less likely to seek psychological help due to the community’s historical mistrust of the mental health field. Therefore, collective art making can offer a more comfortable environment for discussing and expressing difficult emotions and feelings among like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of community and support.
Who: 9 Black Women from 18-29 y/o in the Chicago Area
When: May 1, 2025, 5-8 pm
Where: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Sharp Blg, 37 S Wabash, Ave, Room 327, Chicago, IL 60603
Contact: Maraya Henderson at mhenderson6@saic.edu
Maraya Henderson is a second-year graduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, pursuing a degree in Art Therapy and Counseling. With a deep passion for creative expression, Maraya explores how art can communicate what words often cannot. Her experience spans a variety of mediums—from digital illustration to ceramics and fiber arts—each offering a unique avenue for emotional processing and healing. Committed to expanding the field of art therapy, she advocates for greater representation of Black women in clinical spaces and strives to make therapeutic practices more accessible and approachable within the Black community.
Bibliography and Resources:
Richards, Erica, MD, PhD, The State of Mental Health of Black Women: Clinical Considerations, Psychiatric Times, September 23, 2021, Vol 38, Issue 9. link
Thompson, V. L. S., Bazile, A., & Akbar, M. (2004). African Americans' Perceptions of Psychotherapy and Psychotherapists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.35.1.19
Stephanie Pappas, Effective therapy with Black women Black women are often pigeonholed as strong caregivers and providers who shoulder others’ burdens and do not share their own. American Psychological Association, November 1, 2021, Vol. 52 No. 8, page 38. link
Carter, Ruzanna, Healing Collective Generational Trauma and Building Resilience Through Art Therapy (2022). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 589. link
Emily L. Burt, Jacqueline Atkinson, The relationship between quilting and wellbeing, Journal of Public Health, Volume 34, Issue 1, March 2012, Pages 54–59, link
Krippner, S., & Barrett, D. (2019). Transgenerational Trauma: The Role of Epigenetics. The Journal of Mind and Behavior, 40(1), 53–62. link
McAllister, C. A., Kress, V. E., Spisak, T., & Reider, A. (2024). Hidden Burdens: Creative Techniques for Understanding and Addressing Clients’ Transgenerational Trauma. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 1–17. link
Nam, Esthel, "Exploring The Experiences Of Intergenerational Trauma And Coping Mechanisms Among African American Women: A Qualitative Study" (2023). Public Health Theses. link
Nelson, T., Ernst, S. C., Tirado, C., Fisse, J. L., & Moreno, O. (2022). Psychological Distress and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Services Among Black Women: the Role of Past Mental Health Treatment. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 9(2), 527–537. link
Petion, A. R., Chang, C. Y., Brown, T. C., Mitchell, M. D., Grinnage, D., & Huffstead, M. E. (2023). Battling something bigger than me: A phenomenological investigation of generational trauma in African American women. Journal of Counseling & Development (Wiley-Blackwell), 101(1), 69–83. link
Reynolds C. F., 3rd (2019). Building resilience through psychotherapy. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 18(3), 289–291. link
Watson, N. N., & Hunter, C. D. (2015). Anxiety and depression among African American women: The costs of strength and negative attitudes toward psychological help-seeking. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 21(4), 604-612. link
Woods-Giscombe, C., Robinson, M. N., Carthon, D., Devane-Johnson, S., & Corbie-Smith, G. (2016). Superwoman Schema, Stigma, Spirituality, and Culturally Sensitive Providers: Factors Influencing African American Women's Use of Mental Health Services. Journal of best practices in health professions diversity : research, education and policy, 9(1), 1124–1144.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse