Transformational Learning Process

New beginnings

Self-Art Box

The self-art box is a 3D depiction of the individual journey of life experiences both personally and professionally that led me towards the pathway of art therapy. The power and potential of art came alive during my childhood through creativity, imagination, and play. Expression became an outlet to explore the world around me and eventually allowed me to process through early traumatic events of my life. Creativity has and I expect will always be a part of me. Whether through my own processing or guiding others through their own experiences, art for me is a component of wholeness, a bridge between self and the external. As I examine the influences in my life there are key qualities that permeate: an open heart, creativity, reflective practice, and awareness. Each person that has shaped my life continues to guide me towards living a life of empowerment, empathy, and unconditional love. Georgette Seabrooke Powell, Vincent VanGogh, Fred Rogers, LeVar Burton, Laura Ingalls Wilder have all captured the essence of creativity, justice, love, compassion, and self-expression. These qualities capture the nature of art therapy and have informed the practice and therapeutic space I wish to uphold as a future art therapist.

AWARENESS

Studio Art Project

Purpose: Expand my self-awareness towards my own process of acceptance, specifically as it relates to body image

Reflections:

Honor- to give gratitude to nature and it will reflect back, respect the body that I have been given, and implement compassion and empathy for self.

Flexibility- allow perceptions to bend towards the unfamiliar, encourage space for possibility of new meaning, move towards expanded states of knowing.

Summary: connecting with nature in partnership for this project, nature became a mirror revealing how I viewed myself. Seeing only the “bad” parts was a direct reflection of how I viewed myself. As I looked closer at details of each object, I obtained the ability to see how intentionally each object was made. This intimate look at nature allowed me to speak kindness for each object. Through this practice I was able to work through my own insecurities and move towards an expanded view of myself. In connecting with nature through my process of journaling, I now obtain the ability to see myself through the same lens of gratitude and compassion. I have challenged my views and my awareness towards acceptance of myself. This final art piece reflected the acceptance of both the perceived good and bad. I looked past my own criticisms and embraced the small details that allow me to exist as a uniquely complex and creative individual.

expanded states of consciousness

Light Figure Presentation

The process of entering into the essence of Fred Rogers was a journey that surprised and inspired me at every turn. Just as the magic trolly led viewers around corners into a land of opportunity, so did my consciousness as I ventured to a place of discovery. Through music and television, Fred Rogers captivated the hearts of many, including my own heart that sought meaning, imagination, and creativity. It is through his purpose and passion that I was able to open my heart and understanding to a deeper acknowledgement of empathy and attunement to the qualities that compose the human experience. It was through my own experiences as a child that I could re-enter this opportunity with the viewpoint of childlike wonder. Exploration through curiosity, compassion, and imagination allowed me to experience humanity from a perspective free of judgement and condemnation. It was in journeying back to my childhood, through my light figure, that initiated a meaningful connection back to a forgotten awareness that I still embody.

transformation

Self Care Project

It is within myself that I have found the greatest healing source. Perhaps the most considerable caveat of change has been my capacity for self-awareness. Navigating through patterns of conditioning, deconstructing belief systems, acknowledgement of shadow work all have been a means towards progress not perfection. Have I arrived?…. no, there is truly no end to all one has to experience and grow through. As I stumble I have been graciously carried through with the thing that anchors me back to my soul…. art. Self-reflection continues to become my most significant agent of growth. The continual process of I messed up, that made me feel good, I can feel that in my core, wow I never saw it that way is truly a reflection of wrestling with the inner critic that deems life is only worth living through the lens of perfection. How do I conceive that there has been a transformation? One can only express in a non-verbal way. I rely on art to bring me to a place that has the capability of not only revealing my soul, but doing so in a way that maintains I am alive, I am seen, I am valued and here is what I have to say. It makes way for others, their beliefs, their values, their perceptions and says, Hey, there is room for you also. There is no container or reason to maintain the facade of perfectionism, it is in the letting go that lets us live. I have leaned into the discomfort, acknowledged my strengths and weaknesses, and shared parts of me that needed tender resurrection from the burial of my own insecurities.

The focus of the Self-Care project for Altruism was a means in which to examine myself, to return to the core of who I am: Authentic, Loyal, Artistic, Spiritual, Honest, Sensitive, A woman of Integrity, Creative, Courageous, and Adventurous. This process allowed me to evolve through a journey with meditation, activities, journaling, and reflection. I examined boundaries, strengthened relationships, created artwork, read through scripture, had conversations, attended yoga and sound baths, paid compliments, created a mood board, expressed my needs, and hiked. Throughout these activities I came to discover there was a deep need to forgive myself, trust myself, and set boundaries. There was freedom in forgiveness, intuition birthed from that trust, and confidence in knowing my limitations. I believe that is what has been at the core of this coursework. Southwestern has provided me an avenue of exploration within myself, this is where the journey towards becoming an art therapist starts from. Forgiving myself has allowed me compassion for others, trusting myself has given me the courage to encourage others to explore, and setting boundaries has given me container to provide others with safety. The work within will reach my future work as an art therapist.