Resourceful Me Art Therapy

This year, one of my personal hopes is to read more fiction. I have always loved reading as a way to explore new perspectives, and I want to spend more time doing that. I started my 2023 reading list with this recommendation from one of my amazing little clients. It’s a YA novel called “Fish in a Tree” by Lynda Mullaly Hunt.

This is a story about finding a new story. It’s about a kiddo who has so far believed the story that’s been told to her - that she must be stupid because she can’t read.

Through the help of a supportive teacher, Ally discovers a new, true story that works so much better for her. She is not dumb at all. She actually has dyslexia, which is means that her brain needs to take a different path for learning letters. A different path that leads to the same destination - learning ideas and sharing her own with the world!

Through the story, reading changes from something that was once in Ally’s Sketchbook of Impossible Things, to something that is indeed possible.

My favourite part of the story is when there is an accidental rupture in Ally’s relationship and trust with her teacher, and how through communication and openness, they are able to repair that rupture. We need stories like this to normalize and model healthy rupture and repair. It happens all the time in therapy, and it’s such a vital part of human connection and relationships.

A special thank you to my little client who shared about this book with me! 💗

I made this little plasticine bunny this week, and I really love it.

I was trying to think of something profound to write for a caption, so that I could justify sharing this photo with you. But you know what? Sometimes the magic of art therapy is in its simplicity. The work is in the process.

I made this, and I love it. When we make something and just automatically feel affection and care towards the object we created, we get to practice self love in a concrete and tangible way. We get to effectively love a part of our inner world that now exists outside of us. And if we want to, we can share it with others.

When kids make art that they love, it’s so special. I feel honoured to witness the process, and to celebrate their expressions of self love. Thank you for witnessing mine!💗

Last week I gave myself permission to peace out. I set my out of office reply, I turned off my message notifications, and I logged off all of my devices. I sat outside and read FICTION. I sat outside and did NOTHING. I wasn’t creative. I wasn’t productive. I wasn’t even that adventurous. It was glorious and restorative. And that was exactly what I needed.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of giving ourselves permission to take space sometimes. To turn off and be temporarily unavailable. And how setting these boundaries can be so loving to ourselves, and to those we care about.

So if you (like me) appreciate being given permission, here it is: you have permission to peace out from time to time too. ✌️

That feeling when you have a full rainbow of new playdoh! 😍🌈💗