Maybe you're used to being the one who holds everything together.
You like to think things through, and you try to do things well. You notice what the people around you need - sometimes even before you notice what you need.
Maybe you find yourself saying yes to plans and requests when you actually want to say a big "NOOO!" 🙅🏻♀️. Maybe you worry about disappointing people, and you replay conversations in your head. Maybe you feel a ton of pressure on yourself, and feel responsible for keeping things around you running smoothly.
And after doing that for long enough, maybe you're tired (...exhausted even?!). 😭
The Unwind: Crafting Connection is a six-week psychotherapy group for adults who want space to better understand these patterns, connect with others who may relate, and experiment with relating to themselves and others a little differently.
What we'll explore
Patterns
Where do perfectionism and people-pleasing patterns come from?
Rules & Expectations
What are the rules and expectations that you carry about who you "should" be?
Recognition
What are your needs, preferences, emotions, and limits?
Discomfort
What happens when you set boundaries, feel guilty, or risk disappointing someone?
Mistakes & Self-Criticism
What happens when you make mistakes, and what might greater self-trust look like?
Relationships
How do these patterns show up in our relationships - including within the group itself?
This won't be six weeks of lectures or worksheets. There will be some guided reflection and psychoeducation, but most of our time will be spent talking, noticing, wondering, connecting, and learning from what comes up together.
Crafting is encouraged, not required.
You’re welcome to bring a quiet, portable craft or handwork project to work on during the group (e.g. knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, hand sewing, or something similar!). Beginner-level crafters are absolutely welcome.
There's a reason crafting is a part of The Unwind.
Having something to do with our hands can change the feel of sitting together and talking in the group. Rather than expecting everyone to maintain eye contact or fill every quiet moment, crafting gives us another place to rest our attention. For someone who feels anxious, self-conscious, or pressured to “perform” socially, that can make being in a group environment feel a little less intense.
And sometimes, the craft itself gives us something to notice.
-
Wanting every stitch to be perfect
-
Comparing your project to someone else's
-
Making a mistake and wanting to undo it, or hide it
-
Feeling uncomfortable with asking someone for help
-
Automatically focusing on helping someone else instead of your own project
Those little moments can become opportunities to notice the same patterns we’re exploring in the rest of our lives - and experiment with things like imperfection, self-compassion, asking for what we need, or letting something be good enough.
There's research behind this, too. 🤓
There's a growing body of research exploring how knitting and other craft-based activities may support relaxation, social connection and communication, belonging, purpose, and wellbeing. More recent research has also found physiological changes consistent with increased parasympathetic activity (in everyday language: there were signs associated with a more regulated, settled, restorative “rest-and-digest” state).
Want to nerd out about the research behind crafting, connection, and wellbeing with me? 🤓 Send me a message - I’m always happy to share the papers!
One important thing: this isn't a crafting class.
You’ll bring your own project and materials, and I won’t be teaching you how to knit, crochet, embroider, etc. The craft is simply something we can bring alongside the therapeutic work.
Beginners are welcome • Crafting is optional • Materials are not provided
This group might be a good fit if...
You might recognize yourself in some of these patterns:
01
You put a lot of pressure on yourself to get things "right".
02
You find yourself people-pleasing or saying yes when you really want to say no (especially to keep the peace or avoid conflict!)
03
You spend a lot of time overthinking conversations, decisions, or how others might be perceiving you.
04
You have a hard time identifying or asking for what you need, and setting boundaries tends to come with a hefty side of guilt.
05
You often feel responsible for other people's feelings, comfort, or reactions, and you're tired from carrying too much.
06
You're yearning for more genuine connection, but taking up space and being vulnerable with others feels uncomfortable.
You don’t need to be naturally comfortable speaking in groups. Feeling nervous about joining a group is completely okay. What matters more is being willing to participate in some discussion, reflection, and connection with the people in the room.
The Next Round
Dates
Future dates for The Unwind are currently being planned.
Time & Length
Six 90-minute sessions
Location
Any in-person groups would be based in Kingston, ON.
Any virtual groups would be available to attendees across Ontario, Canada.
Format
Closed psychotherapy group
Group Size
Small group, maximum 7 participants
If the group is unable to proceed due to insufficient enrolment, registered participants will be notified and prepaid fees will be refunded in full. If a participant chooses to withdraw, the group withdrawal and refund policy will apply.
Interested in a future round?
Step 2:
Get the details
I'll share future dates, location, fees, and registration information when a new round is planned.
Step 3:
Decide whether you'd like to explore it
If you're interested in that particular round, you'll be invited to book a free one-on-one screening call so we can talk about the group and whether it feels like a good fit.
p.s. Joining the Interest List doesn't register you for the group or commit you to participating!
Kelly Chen-McDonagh
Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
I work with adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, relationship challenges, people-pleasing, perfectionism, stress and burnout, and major life transitions.
My style is warm, collaborative, relational, and active. I’m especially interested in the patterns that shape how we relate to ourselves and other people, and in creating spaces where we can notice those patterns with curiosity rather than judgment.
For The Unwind, I’ll bring that same approach into a small group setting: offering enough structure to help us go somewhere meaningful while leaving plenty of room for conversation, connection, and whatever naturally comes up between group members.
