Knitting a Web of Support and Holding

Hi lovely people, most of you know me through the worlds of movement, dance, music, and our shared communities. In recent years I have made a career transition into the practice of psychotherapy. As part of that process, I work at the Child Therapy Institute, providing community based child and family mental health services in Richmond and San Pablo CA. (For those who do not know Bay Area geography, these are extremely under-privileged and historically marginalized communities)

In that capacity, I have been exposed to worlds I would otherwise never touch. Poverty, inter-generational tragedy, and hardship which I had known of conceptually but not been intimately touched by. The kind of trauma that leads children to see me is... a lot.

Often what is needed is not just therapy - these are just kids (and families) in inhumane, oppressive, and under-resources situations struggling to survive - so a lot of social work happens too.

In this landscape, there is one particular situation and person for whom the only truly human response to grieve. I am awake many nights thinking and praying and wondering how... what could be a meaningful contribution to support and contain that experience.

Just before the holidays, I had the inspiration to bring my weighted blanket to work. The impact was profound for this person, and seeing their waves of relaxation and registering of something good in their system through it was heartbreaking and heartmelting. Alternating. Over and over again.

In that moment I had a fantasy that perhaps I could gather the support of my communities to get a blanket for this person.

The goal I have set is the cost of one, 10lb Bearaby knitted weighted blanket. They are amazing! The knit provides soft malleable containment and allows you to grip and snuggle into it.

If there is a shortfall, I will make it up and get the blanket anyway. If there is a surplus of funds, I will get a second blanket to have in my office where it will be a valuable and useful tool. A gravity net to hold, soothe, and calm while brave little people struggle to metabolize things no one should ever have to face.

I am hoping to cast this net as wide as possible to knit together support what no single thread could hold on its own. No contribution is too small.

In humble gratitude,

Ian