Monica P. Butler

Reflecting on my journey of becoming an art therapist, I must say it has been challenging but well worth it. Creating and expressing myself through the arts is one of the gifts that I have been given from God, who I consider the master artist. Having the capability to express my inner most thoughts in a creative form has provided an outlet that I will always be grateful for. Beginning this program in the fall of 2018 I was excited, nervous and did not know what to expect. I started this journey at Saint Mary of the Woods (SMWC), praying that this would be the fulfillment that I desired for my career.

Through this journey I have been challenged and stretched in ways that I am grateful for. Rise and Fall, was created as an art response in the Contextual Dimensions class. The rise and fall of the wave crashing are symbolic of my journey, because at times I have experienced various emotions. On one end elation, excitement, and satisfaction; however, on the other side frustration and difficulty. As I faced every challenge I persevered and overcame every obstacle with the help of God. This last year (2020) has been the most challenging. With the pandemic in the forefront, the Black Lives Matter movement and our new normal of how we conduct our everyday lives, I have had to draw from the reservoir within. I had to pull from a place of hope and strength to meet the challenges. Giving up was not an option for me, so I had to be resilient while on the journey. We Matter, is a depiction of the Pan-African and American flag on a clinched fist which expresses the inner strength of African American people to be resilient, while continuing to endure and strive towards our truth that we are enough.

Learning and understanding what art therapy is has been invaluable. Growing, is the academic knowledge I have gained in art therapy. The beginning stages of a budding flower to a full bloom. This is a representation of my journey from my first semester to this present moment. I will continue to bud and bloom as I move forward in this journey of becoming an art therapist. Grateful, is a representation of me completing this process of my journey at SMWC. I am grateful that God has led me on a path to fulfill my purpose. I am also grateful for the faculty that has been a light, guiding and developing my skills as an art therapist. I have learned to trust the process.