Persephone

Once upon a time, a young maiden was playing in a flowery meadow and was carried off by Hades to the underworld as his bride. Her mother despaired at her disappearance, and when she learned that Persephone’s father, Zeus, had conspired in this, she refused to let the earth fruit. Zeus consented to her return, but because Persephone had tasted the food of Hades– a handful of pomegranate seeds– she was forced to forever spend a part of the year with her husband in the underworld. Her annual return to the earth in spring was marked by the flowering of the meadows. Her return to the underworld in winter saw the dying down of plants and the halting of growth.

Sherry Lynn, RN, RP, BHSc(N), MTS(C)
Grimsby, ON

Sherry Lynn is a registered psychotherapist and registered nurse working in private practice in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. She has always turned to her art for relaxation and creative expression. It is part of her ongoing birth-death-rebirth journey.

Grief Encounter

Grief is a tricky emotion. It can be rationalized, compartmentalized, hidden away from the surface. What happens to the grief we lock away? We may reach a point where we ask ourselves, “do I want to move on?” Sometimes, moving on can feel like a betrayal. It could leave us filled with guilt. Betrayal for all the love we felt intensely for so long. Where does all that love we still feel, go?

Friends and family sympathetically tell us to move on. This grief then changes form, sometimes into anger. Anger linked with grief is one of my favourite emotions. It protects and safeguards us. Anger shows up when we feel like we need to protect something precious. Something we are afraid of losing. So what happens to all that anger, grief, betrayal and other powerful emotions? It could get emotionally draining holding onto this for so long.

As therapists, we know the answer. People need to write about it, draw about it, work through the grief. As therapists, we hold the space, hold the emotion, hold the memories and the stories for clients, until they find a gentle way to let go. The secret is finding ways to move forward, instead of moving on.

Sarvatmika Rajeev, MA
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Sarvatmika is a queer-affirmative art psychotherapist, who has completed her Master’s in Art Therapy from LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. She currently engages in clinical work with organizations across India, Singapore, and Australia to deliver art therapy sessions to a wide demographic. Based out of Chennai, she offers virtual sessions for clients from different geographical locations. Sarvatmika's clinical experience includes working with children on the autism-spectrum and adolescents with backgrounds of physical and sexual abuse, anger management, eating disorders, body-image issues, depression, OCD tendencies, long-term illnesses and traumatic medical conditions. She has also worked with adults struggling with addiction, depression, PTSD and adverse childhood experiences.

Hibernation

Dormant

2023
3 years of u n k n o w n ; 3 years of I n s t a b i l i t y
Shortness of breath on repeat on repeat on repeat
I now lay down with a full exhale of exhaustion
2023
Moving s l o w e r ; moving s o f t e r 
Slow, intentional breaths on repeat on repeat on repeat
Planting seeds into my dormant soul
2023
Intentionally R e p l e n i s h i n g ; Intentionally D i g e s t i n g
Awaiting to re-emerge 
Soaking up nutrients to move forward

Dillon Lewchuk, MA, BA, B.Ed, RCAT, RCC, CCC)

Dillon (he/him) is a queer, (dis)abled art therapist (RCAT) and counsellor (RCC, CCC) currently living and working on the unceded traditional lands of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples of Vancouver Island. Presently, he is working at a private inpatient facility specializing in treating trauma, PTSD & addiction in adults, first responders, RCMP and military veterans.

Crystal Vision of 2023

This collage was a piece of my personal therapeutic art journey into the New Year. It was fun, playful, and inspiring. Through this art exploration I have set intentions for my year surrounding my goals and personal values. Upon completion I moved on to use this art directive with clients in the early weeks of 2023. What do you see in your crystal ball vision for the year?

Jasmyne Smith, RP (Q), DTATI, BFA
Hamilton, ON

Jasmyne is an artist and art therapist practicing in Hamilton, Ontario. Jasmyne has been a visual artist all her life and uses creative expression as a form of personal healing, as well as an invitation to support others in their growth and healing. Jasmyne’s visual art practice is inspired by shapes and patterns found in nature, and urban encroachment of rural land.