So I’m a Grad Student Now…
My journey into art therapy officially began in March of 2024, when I officially received acceptance into the Masters of Art Therapy program at Adler University in Vancouver, BC.
The final decision to apply to grad school felt quick, but in reality, I think I have been considering pursuing art therapy as a career for a long time. After graduating with my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University, I felt adrift with my artist’s identity for many years. There is that underlying pressure of being a “successful” artist and “making a living” off of your artistic talents. When this didn’t happen in the way I had hoped, I felt like a proper failure.
Eventually, I had the wonderful opportunity to shadow a local art therapist in Edmonton, where I was living at the time. She helped to show me that this is a viable career path. To use art not as a means of capital but as a conduit for creative expression and healing felt like an epiphany.
So, I made the decision to pursue this career. Below are some of the images I used in my portfolio submission. I think that, in many ways, I was already using art as a therapeutic tool.
Now, in January 2025, I am in my second term at Adler University, so this blog is a little late. However, I believe this is a fantastic opportunity to explore my experiences, art, and learning while I am in this program. Both to show the power of art and to offer a diary of my journey.
