#art-therapy

#art-therapy

It stands a hair shy of five feet tall and is a bit over one-and-a-half feet wide. Made of nine interlocking pieces of gray ribbon slate, it feels as though a small push would completely wreck it. Humpty Dumpty stands on three legs, but it looks two-dimensional. It has an ovoid shape, and it juts upwards like a flat rocket ship.

"While they're very good at solving problems in a rational way, they can be less well practised at processing feelings. And due to the nature of their jobs, there are a lot of intense and difficult situations they'll be dealing with every day. Using the art therapy method helps people to communicate with colleagues in a very different way and to share feelings that might otherwise be difficult to express."

Lately, my sessions have been filled with clients reflecting on the tension that often arises during periods of transition. Some feel proud of their growth, while others feel discouraged by goals left unmet or intentions that quietly fell away as life became overwhelming. Many wonder what to do with this disappointment and whether to carry these unfinished hopes forward. As an art therapist, I guide clients toward practices rooted not in self-judgment but in intentionality, embodiment, and creative self-understanding.

The days are cold and dark, and the holidays are over. This season can bring a host of mental health challenges. Loneliness and isolation can set in as the gatherings with friends and families thin out. Many feel guilty for giving up New Year's resolutions. And others suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which means the low light and frigid weather bring on depression and anxiety. Moreover, it's more difficult to be outside or be active.

The Reverend Joyce McDonald says a pastor once told her to "ask God what type of artist you are." She says God responded, "You're a testimonial artist." McDonald's testimonies come in the form of mostly unfired clay sculptures, sometimes embellished with glitter, nail polish, fabric, or paper towels. These figures are very small and simple (a mother and child, a woman praying) and almost naïve in affect (they carry titles like

For the children of Gaza, front-line victims and witnesses to unspeakable violence, Israel's more than two-year genocidal war has left deep wounds, both physical and psychological, ones that will remain long after it comes to an end. Tens of thousands have lost parents and siblings while many others have suffered life-changing injuries. Some are also experiencing trauma from witnessing the deaths of other children. They have been displaced numerous times, lost their homes and had their educations stamped out.

As I navigated the aftermath of illness and trauma, art became my way of processing the darkness and rediscovering my light.

"I was blessed to serve this nation for 21 years in the United States Army. I was again fortunate to deploy 10 times. I'm really proud of my service."

Volta Voloshin-Smith’s workshops promote calmness and connection through creativity, offering attendees techniques to reduce stress and enhance mindfulness.

"I discovered that painting was right to express all my memories and to share them," Regina said, reflecting on how art provides a connection to her past and a means to communicate.