Over the course of our Psychopathology class, I have learned that while diagnoses are indeed distressing and cause functional impairments, they can also allow us to survive intolerable traumas.  Additionally, some diagnoses might even provide unexpected strengths in certain situations.  In reflecting on the strengths of my diagnoses, I have determined that they provide four unique abilities: 1) being able to relate to other trauma survivors, 2) an increased ability to spend long periods in isolation, 3) being able to see the world with a deepened sense of existential insight, and 4) the ability to find creative outlets for healing.

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The balance of documenting clients’ distressing symptoms and identifying personal strengths is a big part of the diagnostic process.  When I began my final project with my partner, we decided to work with our real diagnoses to take an embodied approach to the bio-psychosocial, treatment plan, and DAP note.  Knowing that we were working with one another’s real lived experiences of mental health challenges pushed us to be especially considerate, thorough, and accurate.  Regularly checking in to make sure we were hearing and understanding one another was key to co-creating relevant goals for our treatment plans.  In coming up with my project partner’s plan, I drew on her creative and social strengths to draft specific, achievable, and relevant (SMART) goals.

 

This co-creative diagnostic process inspired my reflection artwork, which is a watercolor painting of a geometric mandala composed of three concentric circles.  First, the red innermost circle represents the heart-centered core, because my priority as an art therapist is to work compassionately from my heart.  Second, the green middle circle represents the intent to heal, because the ultimate purpose of the diagnostic process is to heal.  Last, the blue outermost circle represents insight, because I want my rational understanding of psychopathology to be guided by insight into the human condition. 

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In my Professional Ethics in Art Therapy and Counseling class, I created a seven-week zine project, in which I explored various ethical prompts through art therapy integration.  Following the traditional zine format, I folded a piece of eighteen-by-twenty-four-inch Strathmore drawing paper into eight pages, forming a booklet.  Using pen and ink, I created geometric imagery on each page that represented my concept of ethics, values, informed consent, boundaries, cultural humility, ethical dilemmas, and my current ethical orientation.  After completing my zine, I was surprised to discover a connection between my geometry and Metatron's Cube, which is named after the Archangel Metatron and has ties to the Jewish mystical Kabbalah.  As I drew each weekly image, I imagined tapping into my higher self and channeling answers from a place beyond my conscious wisdom mind.  In becoming an ethical professional who will be responsible for clients' lives, I intend to lean on this higher self as a means to avoid temptation and make the best decisions possible.  While all seven of my drawings taught me valuable lessons, I will focus on my three most significant pieces, which are depicted in the image below: 1) “Metatron I: Ethical Compass”, 2) “Metatron II: Wisdom, Temperance, & Justice”, and 3) “Metatron VII: Higher Self”.

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My ethical journey began with “Metatron I: Ethical Compass”, where the arrow of my ethical compass orbits within a complex social space.  For me, this piece symbolizes balancing the therapist’s and client’s needs within society as a whole.  To repair the wounds of inequity imposed by an unfair society, therapists must make a reasonable effort to support their marginalized clients, while also taking care to protect their own needs and liability.  Second, I drew “Metatron II: Wisdom, Temperance, & Justice”, which frames three values I aspire to hold high as part of my ethical practice.  Drawing this piece felt like watching a Rubik’s Cube sliding into a Metatron formation to reveal cryptic commandments: 1) wisdom, to provide insight on difficult matters, 2) temperance, to remain disciplined and avoid temptation, and 3) justice, to maintain empathy and fair-mindedness.  Third, I drew “Metatron VII: Higher Self”, which is a depiction of my inner light revealing an ethical path forward, despite feeling broken and lost in the dark.  Yes, I may just be preventing the casualties of drowning clients flowing downstream from systemic societal problems, but I know from personal experience that those therapeutic lifelines can still save lives.  Ultimately, I permit myself to practice art therapy in an emotionally and financially sustainable way that also helps clients access holistic healing.

 

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In my Professional Ethics in Art Therapy and Counseling class, I wrote this academic paper in which I applied the DO ART ethical decision-making model to the case scenario of Ray.  Ray, who is a 30-year-old white trans-masculine female and uses they/them pronouns, has a sexual abuse history.  The DO ART acronym, which was developed by Jessica Hauck and Thomson Ling, is comprised of five steps: 1) Dilemma, 2) Options and Outcomes, 3) Assistance, 4) Responsibility, and 5) Take Action.  The ethical dilemma present in Ray’s case is twofold: 1) Ray’s engagement in sex work may risk their mental health and safety as an abuse survivor navigating power dynamics with clients, and 2) the multiple relationships that have emerged via the monthly community meditation night may pose a risk to the client’s confidentiality and healthy boundaries.  As Ray’s art therapist, I address these five steps to determine how to resolve this dilemma and provide ethical care.

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Throughout my practice as an art therapist, I intend to be responsible for my profession and serve my community in the best manner possible by making ethical decisions that balance the client's needs with my legal-ethical liability.  In summary, I would take action by supporting Ray’s identity, providing harm reduction, helping them resource all financial support and options, contacting them after our public interaction via HIPAA-compliant communication regarding the need for a follow-up, having an in-session follow-up about appropriate therapist-client boundaries and roles, and finding a new meditation night group.
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​In my Hermeneutics of Self class, I wrote a reflection paper about my art therapy process demonstrating several skills and techniques that may be used with clients.  Throughout the first half of the semester, I evoked the spirit of my childhood heroine Samus Aran, and went spelunking into the cavernous depths of my psyche.  Over a few weeks, I developed my personal process and inner awareness by treading the various experiential and academic pathways of chakra meditation, active imagination, somatic group work, mandala painting, and counseling micro-skills.  Ultimately, I learned to successfully apply insights from my personal process and increased inner awareness to the therapeutic alliance.  In this alliance, I must refrain from personally relating and focus on helping the client bridge their artwork’s meaning with their needs.  Through my hermeneutical work, I learned that the more I know myself, the more capable I am of knowing and helping others.

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Please click here to read my full essay reflection.