Broken Bowl® & Breakups
Broken Bowl® & Break-Ups:
Mending After Heartbreak
A half-day, art therapy-based experiential therapy group aimed at exploring the art of rebuilding after a relationship ends. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi and the ancient practice of kintsugi, this workshop invites you to see beauty in imperfection and strength in repair.
When a break-up occurs, it can feel as though you or your entire world is shattering into pieces. Much like kintsugi—the practice of mending broken pottery with gold—this group will guide you through a process of honoring your heartbreak, embracing change, and reimagining yourself in the aftermath. Rather than discarding what was, you will learn how to integrate your experiences into a new, more intentional version of yourself.
Next group:
April 5, 2025
This group will help you explore:
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The emotional cycle of loss and repair
Understand the natural waves of grief, longing, anger, and acceptance that follow the end of a relationship. Recognizing these patterns can help you move with self-compassion.
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How attachment shapes our experience of breakups
Our attachment styles deeply influence how we experience loss, connection, and healing. This section will help you explore your patterns in relationships and what they reveal about your needs moving forward.
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Rediscovering who you are outside of the relationship
Relationships often shape our sense of self. In this section, you’ll reflect on what parts of yourself may have been lost or overlooked and begin reconnecting with your own desires, interests, and values.
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Integrating heartbreak into your story
Rather than erasing or hiding the pain of loss, you will explore how to weave it into your personal narrative in a way that honors your growth and transformation.
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Holding space for grief while moving forward
Healing does not mean forgetting or rushing to “fix” yourself. We will explore how to balance honoring your feelings with stepping into a future that aligns with your needs and desires.
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Building a life that reflects
your growth
After loss comes possibility. You will explore ways to intentionally shape your next chapter, embracing change as an opportunity to create a life that aligns with your evolving identity.
This deeply personal experience will be a creative approach to healing, offering a tangible way to process heartbreak and rebuild with intention. Please note that this process may bring up strong emotions, and care is taken to ensure a safe and supportive space for all participants.
Materials:
Bowls and a variety of decorative supplies will be provided
Participants are asked to bring a journal and lunch.
Join us in learning how to piece yourself back together—not as you were before, but as someone even more whole, with every crack lined in gold.
About the Group:
The Broken Bowl art therapy method, created by Christa Brennan, LPC, LCAT is a deeply symbolic and experiential approach to healing inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi and the practice of kintsugi—the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Brennan developed this method as a way to help individuals navigate loss, change, and personal transformation by embracing imperfection and honoring the process of repair. Rather than seeing brokenness as something to hide or discard, the Broken Bowl method invites participants to engage in a tactile, reflective process of breaking and mending, mirroring the emotional journey of loss, healing, and reintegration. Through this method, individuals confront the realities of change, explore the stories they tell about their brokenness, and ultimately reclaim their experiences as part of their evolving identity.
Grounded in attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and expressive arts therapy, the Broken Bowl method serves as both a metaphor and a practice for working through grief, transitions, and identity shifts. Participants are guided through an intentional process of breaking a bowl, reflecting on their emotional landscape, and carefully repairing it with gold or another medium, signifying resilience, transformation, and meaning-making. Brennan’s approach emphasizes that healing is not about returning to a previous state but about integrating our experiences to create something new and beautiful. Whether used in individual or group settings, the Broken Bowl method offers a tangible, reflective way to engage with the complexities of loss, reminding us that repair is not just possible—it is an art form in itself.
Is this group for me?
This group may be a good fit for you if:
You are navigating the emotional aftermath of a breakup and seeking a creative way to process your experience.
You feel lost or uncertain about who you are outside of your past relationship.
You want to explore how your attachment patterns have shaped your relationships and healing process.
You are struggling to make sense of the loss and want to find meaning in your heartbreak.
You are ready to hold space for both grief and growth as you move forward.
You want to rebuild your sense of self and create a life that reflects your evolving identity.
You are open to using expressive arts as a way to explore your emotions and healing journey.
You want to learn how to integrate loss into your personal story rather than erase or suppress it.
You are looking for a supportive space to process strong emotions with care and guidance.
You are interested in a deeper understanding of how healing can be a transformative process, much like kintsugi.
You are currently in or willing to seek individual therapy if needing continued support
Frequently Asked Questions
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Just be prepared to come and fully immerse yourself in the experience. Bring snacks and a lunch too!
Payment is due at the time of registration
This is limited to those over over the age of 18
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Yes! If there are additional materials you may want to use, you are welcome to bring them (please nothing with odor as we will be in an enclosed area)
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Here is a rough outline of the day! (Changes may be made)
11:00-11:30 Welcome & Introduction
11:30-12:00 Attach to the Bowl (rooted in attachment theory)
12:00-12:30 Break the Bowl
12:30-12:45 15 Minute Break
12:45-2:00 Decorate the Pieces
2:00-2:30 LUNCH
2:30-4:15 Repair The Bowl
4:00-5:00 Processing
If there are multiple people with unfinished pieces, we will pose options for an additional session to continue working as a group (not included in price)
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We will dedicate as much time as possible to working on your piece, but just like healing, the process can’t always be rushed. Whether or not you complete your bowl, there is meaning in the unfinished—just as breakups take time, so does art. Even the facilitators have never finished a bowl in a single sitting. We will also try to save time for processing as a group.
A friendly reminder—art therapy is about the process, not the product. Just as we don’t always become the person we once planned to be, our art may take on a shape we didn’t expect. The beauty lies in what unfolds along the way.
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Sorry, no. Due to the experiential nature of this group, it will be required that you attend in-person.
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Not at all! This group is about self-exploration and expression, not artistic skill. Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush or you’re an experienced artist, you’ll be guided through the process in a way that feels accessible and meaningful to you.
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That’s completely normal. This process is designed to bring up emotions, and we encourage you to honor whatever comes up. You’ll be in a supportive space, and will be encouraged to take breaks as needed. We will also have a few areas away from the main therapy space to step away.
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Healing doesn’t require closure or certainty. Whether you feel heartbroken, confused, relieved, or all of the above, this group is designed to help you process where you are right now, without judgment or expectation.
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Absolutely. Healing from past relationships can deepen our self-awareness and strengthen future connections. This workshop isn’t about dwelling on the past—it’s about integrating your experiences so you can move forward with clarity and intention.
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Absolutely! This group is for anyone processing the loss or transformation of a relationship, regardless of relationship structure. Breakups, shifts in dynamics, and attachment wounds can happen in all types of relationships, and this space is inclusive of polyamorous, non-monogamous, and other non-traditional relationship experiences. The focus is on healing, self-reflection, and rebuilding, no matter what your relationship history looks like.
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The group fee is non-refundable. Due to the nature of this group and limited space, we are unable to offer refunds once you have registered. Please reach out as soon as possible if you know that you will be unable to make it.
About the Facilitators
Jenn Parretta,
LMFT, ABS, ATR-P
Jenn is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Sex Therapist, Certified Sexologist, and Registered Provisional Art Therapist in Tacoma who has trained to be a Certified Broken Bowl® Facilitator.
Sheila Poquiz,
LMFT, Sex Therapist
Sheila is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Sex Therapist who offers telehealth services in WA State. She is passionate around topics of relationships, grief and loss, sexuality, and more
Ready to Register?
Half-day group in Tacoma, WA
Our group will take place in the meeting rooms at Creative Wellbeings, PLLC in the Chamber of Commerce Building right in the heart of Downtown Tacoma. We will have two rooms reserved, plus a lounge area.
When you register at the link below, please write in the contact form that you are registering for the Broken Bowl group.
Once we receive your request, then we will send an invoice for the group and necessary forms to your personal client portal.
If the invoice is not paid within 5 days, then your spot may be given to another participant. If registering after 3/25, then payment will be due within 48 hours. Payments MUST be received prior to the start of the event.
*CURRENT CLIENTS OF JENN— E-mail or text to her to sign up*
