Culminating Projects

ARTIFACT 1:

Capstone A Mural and Reflection

Some of the symbols and metaphors that our group was drawn to were the use of bright colors, a cosmic feel, sky, flight, momentum, and movement. On an interpersonal level, I can relate to all of those symbols and metaphors, and it felt synchronistic that we were matched together as a group. For my own process, I felt drawn to bright pinks and golds. At the beginning of my journey, I felt a sense of being lost and feeling stuck. I desperately needed connection, growth, and change. Yet I knew, as my art depicts “abundance flows from the wellspring of creativity” (author unknown). As my journey unfolded, I felt ready to jump into battle with my demons of the past. I could feel growth and change bubbling up inside me. My art says, “fortune favors the brave who embrace change” (author unknown). Lastly, my final piece features me, flying in cosmic space with a broader awareness and expanded state of consciousness. I am above the sun. This final piece reads “life’s cycles are a journey of growth and transformation” (author unknown). I wear a butterfly on my head, a symbol of transformation.

ARTIFACT 2:

Capstone B Project

To me, spirituality means my connection to the cosmos, the Source, Great Mother, helping spirits, energy realms, dreams, and ancestors. It’s an area I find fascinating and that I love exploring. Energy work is important to me, as is approaching life from my spiritual heart center. I believe spirituality means something a little different to everyone and that there is beauty in our differences. When I move through life from a spiritually balanced place, I feel most at peace. Lately, I’ve found a passion for learning and exploring shamanism, dreams, rituals, and journey work. I hope to continue to grow spiritually through other ways of knowing and expanding consciousness.

ARTIFACT 3:

Cultural Humility Exploration Paper and Adaptive Tool

Approaching art therapy and counseling with diverse populations through a lens of cultural humility and with a growth mindset matters immensely. In addition, I conceptualize challenging and reducing power dynamics in the clinical setting by first starting with myself. One way I can approach that is through self-exploration and understanding by clarifying who I am culturally, what prejudices and biases I have, and understanding through intersectionality what privilege and power I hold. Only after first understanding myself can I hope to understand others and reduce the status quo inherent in the therapeutic setting and mental health community more broadly.

Cultural Humility Exploration

I decided to create a tool that could be used by an amputee missing their hands or someone with grip difficulties. That could apply to veterans, people with cerebral palsy, birth deformities, survivors of accidents or violent crimes, and others.

I used an old sock, an orange, a feather/paintbrush, and watercolors. Rather than using a tennis ball, I decided on an orange instead. The same technique could be implemented with an apple, tennis ball, or another round and puncturable object. I cut the toes off an old sock and made a small slit in the heel. I inserted the orange into the heel. I initially stuck a paintbrush into the orange. However, I wanted the experience of painting with the adaptive tool to be more fluid in nature for this exercise, so I went with a feather instead. The specific device could be changed depending on the client's needs and ETC level. A pencil, marker, paintbrush, or other items could be swapped for the feather. I slipped the sock onto my arm and was ready to create art.

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