Mary Ann Western

I am emerging as an art therapist who provides a safe space for my young clients where their imagination and art lead the way. I am daily amazed at their resilience and creativity. I have learned much from my clients as well as from my classmates, professors, and co-workers during practical experiences. I’ve learned the most, though, from my art responses; it is in the image where I found a deeper understanding of self. Creating art responses and daily writing during this program has taught me to enjoy the journey of self-discovery, to trust that the creative process will open the door to new ways of looking at relationships, and to be vulnerable in my work.

In my images, you will see a connection with nature. My art grounds me and it is in nature where I feel the most centered. The cycles of the seasons, life and death, growth and survival, vigilance when in danger, patience and resilience are lessons taught clearly by animals and plants alike. There is the element of time woven through in subtle ways: time spent, time lost, time standing still. Ultimately, in nature and in time, there is hope. I feel a sense of hope as I reflect on these images and my future as an art therapist.