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You know that sinking feeling when you wake up with a hangover and think: “I’m never doing this again”? We’ve all been there. But what happens when you follow through? Sonia Kahlon and Kathleen Killen can tell you, because they did it! They went from sisters-in-law, to Sisters in Sobriety.
In this podcast, Sonia and Kathleen invite you into their world, as they navigate the ups and downs of sobriety, explore stories of personal growth and share their journey of wellness and recovery.
Get ready for some real, honest conversations about sobriety, addiction, and everything in between. Episodes will cover topics such as: reaching emotional sobriety, how to make the decision to get sober, adopting a more mindful lifestyle, socializing without alcohol, and much more.
Whether you’re sober-curious, seeking inspiration and self-care through sobriety, or embracing the alcohol-free lifestyle already… Tune in for a weekly dose of vulnerability, mutual support and much needed comic relief. Together, let’s celebrate the transformative power of sisterhood in substance recovery!
Kathleen Killen is a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) and certified coach based in Ontario, Canada. Her practice is centered on relational therapy and she specializes in couples and working with individuals who are navigating their personal relationships.
Having been through many life transitions herself, Kathleen has made it her mission to help others find the support and communication they need in their closest relationships. To find out more about Kathleen’s work, check out her website.
Sonia Kahlon is a recovery coach and former addict. She grappled with high-functioning alcohol use disorder throughout her life, before getting sober in 2016. Sonia is now the founder of EverBlume, a digital tool that offers a unique approach to alcohol recovery support.
Over the last five years, she has appeared on successful sobriety platforms, such as the Story Exchange, the Sobriety Diaries podcast and the Sober Curator, to tell her story of empowerment and addiction recovery, discuss health and midlife sobriety, and share how she is thriving without alcohol.
Her online platform EverBlume launched in February 2023, and was featured in Recovery Today Magazine and deemed an ‘essential sobriety resource’ by the FemTech Insider.
The company champions self-improvement and mindful sobriety, with support groups designed by and for women struggling with alcohol.
So how can EverBlume help you meet your sober community? By offering deeply personalized support. Members get matched based on their profiles and life experiences, and take part in small group sessions (max. 16 people). In your support group, you will meet like-minded women, discuss your experiences, and gain confidence, knowing you can rely on your peers in times of need.
Whether you identify as a binge drinker, someone who developed a habit during the Covid-19 pandemic, a high-functioning alcoholic, or an anxious person using alcohol to self-soothe… There is a support group for you!
Current EverBlume members have praised the company’s unique approach to alcohol detox. “No one is judging me for not being sure I want to be sober for the rest of my life” ; “I felt so heard and understood and today I woke up feeling empowered to make the change in my life”.
Feeling inspired? Learn more about the EverBlume sobriety community at joineverblume.com, or simply listen to Sisters In Sobriety.
Your sobriety success story starts today, with Kathleen and Sonia. Just press play!
[00:00:00] Sonia: Hi, we're Kathleen and Sonia and you're listening to Sisters in Sobriety. Thank [00:01:00] you so much for being here today. And today we are talking about the role of art for healing and wellness and recovery from alcohol use disorder, and joining us is Sarah Smith, and she is the talented and compassionate owner of Soulful Art Therapy, and she's a
[00:01:15] Sonia: dedicated art therapist who practices art as therapy and has been guiding people on their wellness journeys through the transformative medium of art. With her expertise, she has helped many find self expression and healing and has even worked with people in recovery from alcohol use disorder.
[00:01:34] Kathleen: In this episode, we're going to delve into the role of art as the use of therapy in recovery. We'll explore how engaging in creative processes can provide a unique and powerful outlet for emotions, foster self awareness, and support long term sobriety.
[00:01:50] Kathleen: Sarah will share her insights, experiences, and some of the incredible stories of transformation she has witnessed in her practice. Welcome, Sarah.
[00:01:58] Sarah: Thanks. [00:02:00] Thank you for having me. I'm really, really excited.
[00:02:03] Kathleen: will also say Sarah also has a sidekick with her. His name is Louie. And Louie, it might be snoring.
[00:02:10] Sonia: You might want to mention he's a dog
[00:02:13] Kathleen: oh yeah, he's a dog. I love that I didn't mention that because to me I'm like, he is the sidekick in the room.
[00:02:21] Sarah: Yeah.
[00:02:23] Kathleen: thank you and Louis for joining us today.could you tell us, about your background and how you became an art therapist?
[00:02:31] Sarah: Yeah. So, I set out to be an artist first because at a young age, I just, I'll be honest, it came natural to me just, I'm good at art. I love art, but, um, I thought I wanted to be an art teacher or an artist. And then when I was traveling, I heard about art therapy and I'm like, okay, this is, This sounds like this would fit me.
[00:02:52] Sarah: Like, what's this about? Anyways, long story short, it just made sense. Um, because I did recognize, too, when I was [00:03:00] in college making art, my own art, just, you know, in school for fine arts, I noticed that I was turning to my own work for healing. So, I went through a bad breakup, and the first thing I did was go to my art stuff.
[00:03:14] Sarah: And just purge and create. And it was messy and I was releasing my, my tears and my anger, just all that emotion. And I went, Oh my gosh. And I've goosebumps even when I talk about it, I like look back at the work too. When I was done, I was like, wow, that's messy and that's sad. And that's like heavy. and I could just see it on the paper in front of me.
[00:03:34] Sarah: And I was just like, yeah, there's so much more to this. And I did notice that at a young age, and that's how I got into it. I thought, okay, yeah, yeah. art therapy. That's it. like anyone can do it. Everyone should make art. I'm a big believer thatwhen you engage in the creative process that, it's healing for everybody. So I got in there and then I went to art therapy school and then I came out of art therapy school, [00:04:00] started, uh, practicing art therapy and then decided not to merge with the college of psychotherapists. Because that was a better fit for me. I'm more spiritual and non traditional. And I thought, you know what?
[00:04:10] Sarah: I, I want a little more flexibility and I just want to do what I do. And I want to share what's worked for me. And, and so I practice art for wellness and I've got my own business, as you mentioned, Soulful Art Therapy, and I work at a counseling office part time. And then I travel all over sharing my, my passion for it.
[00:04:30] Sonia: That's amazing. So Sarah, what exactly is art therapy and how does it differ from other forms of therapy?
[00:04:38] Sarah: So art therapy is how it sounds. It's, Art and therapy together. so a traditional art therapist who practice practices art therapy, they would replace like a psychotherapist. And that is a form of psychotherapy. Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy. So, that's why I practice art for wellness. But somebody else, [00:05:00] that could actually replace their therapy.
[00:05:02] Sarah: So let's say they didn't want to go to a traditional talk therapist, that that doesn't resonate with them, doesn't connect with them. Then they could try art therapy, where they're with a specialized art therapist, who knows, um, What to do, a safe space, like all that stuff, and deal with the traumas and whatever the person needs,
[00:05:21] Kathleen: What are some common misconceptions about what art therapy is or does? Hmm.
[00:05:30] Sarah: people don't actually really get it until they ask questions or try it. It, there is a lot of judgment and even my own friends, when I say I do art for wellness, they don't even know what that they don't, they're like, what, what's that? Like, what, What does it do for people?
[00:05:45] Sarah: and so what people will often think is that it's child's play. There's judgment that it's just child's play. Like you're just making art, okay, so you're just making art. You have to be good at it to do it. No, you do not have to have art background, art [00:06:00] skills, nothing like that. You just have to have an open mind.
[00:06:03] Sarah: That's it. Just go in with an open mind. If you're in an actual art therapy session, the art therapist will guide you and they provide you with all the art materials, and then they address issues that you actually have, or if you don't know what the thing is, they will help you uncover that, help you reveal that by doing the creative process with you, and then the stuff will just unfold in the actual artwork. That's it.
[00:06:29] Kathleen: I really resonate with that because even though I am a psychotherapist, I know for myself, I have this block of like, well, I'm not good at visual arts. Like I have that story that I tell myself. Well, I'm not. I'm not artistic in that way. I'm a good writer. I, you know, was in drama for a long time, but visual arts is not for me.
[00:06:47] Kathleen: So I feel like there's a block there, but really what you're saying is no, like, it's not about that. It's just being open and coming in and, and seeing what comes out. And also you're not being judged.
[00:06:59] Sarah: Well, that's it. [00:07:00] We all, all of us, we can all agree with this. You are judged in school. You know, you're graded on art. You have to go to art class and then you're graded on it. And people have, people have trauma around that.
[00:07:14] Kathleen: Oh yeah.
[00:07:15] Sarah: About the, Oh my gosh, but like, I'm not good at it. And like, where do I start?
[00:07:19] Sarah: Or like the blank paper, blank canvas thing that we all have. Even I have that as an artist sometimes when it's there and you're staring at it going. Where do I start? it's daunting, but the art therapist knows how to, it's, they just bring you right in, coax you right into it. It's, it's so natural.
[00:07:35] Sarah: it's because we all as humans, like I've mentioned before, you were creating before you were speaking, it's primal, like, and, and so it's just in everybody. That, that, that creative outlet is in everybody. Just people of different forms, right? Whether it's gardening, art, music, drama. Yeah. So it's in all of us. So the art therapist will help you get it out.
[00:07:58] Kathleen: I will [00:08:00] maybe try it. Yeah, and you, Sonia, gardening for you?
[00:08:03] Sonia: Yeah, I'm in a garden, later today. I find it, very, soothing and very healing.
[00:08:08] Sarah: Cause your hands right in the dirt.
[00:08:11] Kathleen: Mm hmm.
[00:08:12] Sonia: It's about the hands being in the dirt. And so, Sarah, how can art therapy help people in addiction recovery?
[00:08:19] Sarah: So what I like to say is with addictions and you would know this, it's like the energy of like loss. you're just dealing with so much loss. And your life really gets sort oftaken away from you, um, and you want to take it back and art, art engaging, whether it's art therapy or engaging in an art for wellness session, or just making art with a, just making art on your own or with an art teacher, whoever, when you're creating it, you're, you can take, get that sense of control back.
[00:08:51] Sarah: You can take back control of your life and you use the art materials and the art process to do it. That's it.
[00:08:59] Kathleen: What do you [00:09:00] think some of the elements of that make it effective for people? Who are dealing with addiction? is it the aspect of feeling free or is it like doing something tangible? What do you think are the elements that make it effective?
[00:09:13] Sarah: all of that. You know what? The thing about making art is that it's unique to everybody and whatever we believe, and I believe as, as just with my, my training background and even just being an artist, I do believe that you get whatever you need. Art therapists believe that you get what you need out of the process because we feel that the artwork never lies.
[00:09:37] Sarah: We feel that when you're creating, yeah, that you can say it's one thing and something else will, like an art therapist is trained to see stuff. So you can say it's one thing. Oh yeah, I did this. It means this. I created this and here it is. And then, we could look at it and go, mm hmm, yep. And we'll validate what you're saying.
[00:09:55] Sarah: but we can see beyond, maybe see something you don't see yet. [00:10:00] Or feel something maybe that you haven't noticed or touched on. Because we feel that the, we believe the subconscious is always purging. So that's why you don't have to talk about it. It's a safe vessel. So. Addictions are messy.
[00:10:13] Sarah: It's a, it's messy. It's a messy journey. it's emotional. the art is safe. So it's an outlet for you to put all of that into and help you find clarity and get your clarity and, and hold the space. The art actually holds the space for you. The actual artwork takes that out of you, off of you, and lightens your load.
[00:10:30] Sarah: it literally, like if somebody's lost control, it helps you get it back. If somebody wants to self medicate in a healthy way, do art. Do you know what I mean? turn to the artwork, use it for your medicine, for your emotions instead of the alcohol, right?
[00:10:46] Kathleen: Sonia, when she got sober, like I'm speaking for Sonia now but she can fill us in, but when she got sober, she really Started exploring photography as art and ended up like having a full show [00:11:00] and like really expressing her sobriety journey right in art and like I think that
[00:11:05] Sonia: Yeah, and it's, Sarah and I had a conversation last week, and what was so interesting was,I didn't see the themes coming out until I had, kind of finished, I would,do a few images and then be, like, what am I trying to say?
[00:11:18] Sonia: I was just making images, like, I wasn't thinking it through, and then these really interesting, motifs were coming up, there was a lot of, Skeleton stuff coming up and what did that mean? and a lot of vaporizing and so I, I didn't, it wasn't till I like sat down with it almost in like a journal kind of way, where I realized like what I was saying.
[00:11:39] Sonia: But initially I was just like wanting to make stuff that looked pretty, and then it ended up being like pretty, but like dark and creepy, and then I was like, oh, there's something in here, like about my sobriety. And so, yeah, actually it was like, so the art happened, and then the sobriety understanding happened.
[00:11:58] Sonia: [00:12:00] Oh
[00:12:01] Sarah: about how your example is exactly how it works,cause you don't have to know. That's the thing you don't, people don't know, right. That's a lot of pressure. That's stressful.that's what I'm like, just let it unfold. And that's what I was saying to you, Kathleen, earlier about it's good if you are in, Thinking about, you know, engaging in art therapy, regular sessions, because you keep the artwork and you compare it all.
[00:12:26] Sarah: It's your journey. It's like writing a book. it's all there, the tangible piece, right? And then you look at it with space later, and that's when you can You may be seeing something right because when you're in the thick of it, we all know it's, it's not clear when you're in the thick of stuff, right?
[00:12:42] Sarah: It's like overwhelming. It's like this big and you want to kind of, Oh, bring it down to, Oh, there we go to this size,
[00:12:50] Kathleen: So Sonia gives an example because she was using photography and that, but what, what mediums do you use with your clients, um, for art therapy?
[00:12:59] Sarah: [00:13:00] everything. art therapists can use every materials out there. Um, it's best to, the reason why you also want to be consistent in your sessions is you want to get to know the person. So like art therapists will, Start by getting to know the person and then if something pops up, let's say somebody wants to feel working on feeling more peaceful, so they want more, more calm feeling because they're feeling very stressed and anxious, then they're going to use maybe specific art materials that connect to that.
[00:13:30] Sarah: So, if you're trying to calm, maybe the art therapist would give a directive that says, okay, let's, let's create a place that makes you feel what do you like to do for calm or something? Create that. Oh, I like to go up to my cottage. I feel it most at peace when I'm by the water of my cottage.
[00:13:46] Sarah: Okay. So let's create a water piece and let's use maybe a fluid art materials. that are, you know, gentle, and let's paint slowly, or let's, color slowly and softly. It's, it's, [00:14:00] there's so much more to it. there's a method to our madness, you know? there's so much more. Everything has meaning, and yeah, we just know the right things.
[00:14:07] Sarah: if someone's angry, so maybe they want to Give a, have a pencil and a pen and scribble hard, or maybe they wanna use plasticine and push and, and squeeze or Play-Doh or, or clay where they can do this, you know, and actually physically get out the anger and that, or the anxiety and the stress.
[00:14:25] Sarah: Right. So it's, yeah, it just, it all depends. It depends on the person, what they need and the art there. And they might not know what they need as we talked about. The trained therapist can see that. The therapist will, Oh, okay. I think we're heading maybe this path. Let's try this, let's try these materials and do this theme or something.
[00:14:44] Kathleen: Hmm. That's so interesting. I love what you said about the example of if you're leading someone to think of a calm space, but also the technique of it is like, okay, slowly doing it. And so I love that. That is [00:15:00] integrating the process of the art. Like it's everything. It's not just the art itself.
[00:15:05] Kathleen: It's not, but it's like, how are you creating it?
[00:15:08] Sarah: Right. The process.
[00:15:10] Sarah: matters. It all matters. It's
[00:15:12] Kathleen: Mm hmm.
[00:15:13] Sarah: The process, and, or the finished piece and, or the finished piece. And also then your component of how you feel, how do you feel while you're doing it and how do you feel after, you know, like, what was our goal was our goal to calm me down in this session.
[00:15:28] Sarah: And do you feel calmer, how do you feel now? And, but then they could look at the art and go, Ooh, that does not look calm. Oh, throw it out. there's separate components here. It's all connected, but yet it can be separate. And
[00:15:38] Sarah: compartmentalized, right? rip it up, throw it out, it brings you, grief looking at it, or it makes you upset to look at it, get rid of it if you want, burn it, rip it, throw it out, we encourage that, you don't have to keep it, but then some people, like, there's so much, more, like, maybe someone does create a pretty piece, oh, that does make me feel calm, wow, I can't believe I did that, and you know what, it's beautiful, [00:16:00] I feel good, Awesome.
[00:16:01] Sarah: So we've just raised your self esteem, we've given you hope. We've inspired you. We've lifted you up. Great. okay, keep it So it can be about the pretty picture, but then sometimes it's not right.
[00:16:11] Kathleen: I can see so many uses. even if someone did like that piece, then they could have it around to bring them back to that space, to that calm place. I think it's, it can anchor them. so you can either throw it away and even the act of throwing it away can be like, I am, I am purging something from myself.
[00:16:30] Kathleen: Right. Mm
[00:16:32] Sarah: It's taking the weight of the world, off of here and shrinking it down to size where you're just like, Oh, that seems more manageable or Hey, that's not so heavy when I see it like this, I still have control even though I don't feel in control or something, you know, and that's how we, addictions, right?
[00:16:50] Sarah: that's a, a feeling there. So yeah, medicine for emotions.
[00:16:56] Kathleen: Absolutely.
[00:16:57] Sonia: so, Sarah, can you explain [00:17:00] the typical process of an art therapy session sort of from when it starts to the end?
[00:17:06] Sarah: Yeah. So, well, everybody does things differently, but generally there is we'll say an outline. So it would be, bringing the person in talking to them or starting with a chit chat or starting with a gentle art therapy exercise that brings them into the space or, grounds them into the space.
[00:17:26] Sarah: maybe they, are feeling very scattered. So we want, before we can even engage in a, in a decent, conversation or session, they would want to bring themselves, get all that out. So for example, one thing I used to do was a dump list. And I would say, okay, if you're feeling like your brain's all over the place and you're very upset about a few things, let's write them all down.
[00:17:49] Sarah: let's scribble really hard and fast. Let's breathe. And then let's change the motion of your. Lines, slow your breath down and let's push that. Now let's move that [00:18:00] aside. Now you're here and what do we wanna do today? where are you at? And then it's all the, it's intuitive.
[00:18:07] Sarah: Like the art therapist is trained enough to take then what you need. So whether you know it or not, right? So then you go from that state, then you would go into, okay, like today, let's do, An art therapy directive for, I don't know, it could be anything, like, you're stressed. You're still stressed.
[00:18:26] Sarah: You're feeling still stressed. So you want to work on stress reduction. Okay, so use these materials, let's do this, and how about you do a collage? because you're feeling a little out of control, so let's Cut pictures, and let's put them down, and the act of cutting itself is control.
[00:18:42] Sarah: So the scissors, it's very controlled. The scissors, grabbing the pictures are not overwhelming because you don't have to think about what you have to draw or do. So cut, paste, get it out, get lost in that hypnotic process. And then all of a sudden, Oh, I feel like, yeah, I have a little control and oh, I feel a little bit [00:19:00] better, I handled that it just, it all depends.
[00:19:02] Sarah: Right? So then you do your main art piece and then you would do like a come down, like a wind down. Right? So you don't want them leaving. Very emotional or something, so the whole like, okay, so let's switch to this and maybe we end with a little, a little poem or something, we switch to writing and then a little chit chat and then, and then you go, but we always encourage people to keep their art because then one session ties into another.
[00:19:28] Sarah: Sometimes you find a theme, so then you have to tie them together, right? And sometimes they're one offs. Right? So it's like, okay, just today I'm feeling really stressed and annoyed. So can we just focus on that today? Sure. And sometimes it's okay. I'm working on my recovery journey. so each session will tie together.
[00:19:45] Sarah: And art therapy really reinforces the recovery journey. Because it's a journey. And that's what embarking in an art creative process is, right? So keeping all the work and tying it into each session and, and, and [00:20:00] healing.
[00:20:00] Kathleen: I was going to ask, is your process different for those who are in recovery or are struggling with addiction or is it the same process you
[00:20:09] Sarah: It's the same, it's the same though. because art is good for mind, body, and soul. So also on the recovery journey, you're going to have the physical symptoms, just like somebody with a brain injury or something it can be used to, to, for the physical part. So let's say you're feeling really sick or something like nauseous or, anxious.
[00:20:27] Sarah: Right? So the, the act of creating just helps with the symptom management, reducing, minimizing the symptoms, distract a healthy distraction, a healthy escape. So no, it can give you that or it gets no, it's the same. It just. You just tailor it to each individual because everybody's different. Right. But it's the same sort of system or template or whatever.
[00:20:51] Sonia: That's so interesting. I was thinking about what you said about, the control idea that like when you're making a collage, like you start to feel control. [00:21:00] But how does creating art help people process their emotions?
[00:21:05] Sarah: Well, some like emotions can be big for a lot of people. They're overwhelming. so the goal would be to, to, to minimize it, to bring them down to scale where we feel like we're in control. Like, you know, yes, you're feeling angry, but we don't want you feeling like it's this.
[00:21:20] Sarah: We don't want you to have to carry that. So yeah. Okay. You're feeling angry, but you're still going to feel angry, but let's say that you can put the anger in here. Right? So that's what the art helps you do. It literally helps you shrink it down to size so that you feel like, Oh, I got my bearings back.
[00:21:36] Sarah: Like, I got this. I'm in control. Yeah, I'm angry, but I'm good. it's okay to be angry, but I'm good. So shrinking the emotions down to size or getting out the emotions. Some people bury them and need to access those, we want to pull those out. It's okay to let those out. Get it out onto the paper.
[00:21:53] Sarah: So speaking of emotions, I, could I share a story?
[00:21:55] Kathleen: Yeah, absolutely.
[00:21:57] Sarah: So
[00:21:58] Sarah: I shared this. [00:22:00] I shared this one with you, Sonia, already about the criminal in the inpatient unit. this is a good one. So this fellow was really angry and not nice, and he was really not nice to me. Long story short, I was doing some art in the inpatient unit.
[00:22:16] Sarah: I volunteered for about 15 years at Southlake Hospital Newmarket. Where I would just come in and do art with people, and there was this guy there and he didn't want to participate and he, but he was mean about it, like he spit on me and he said, I don't want doing that. this is child's play.
[00:22:31] Sarah: It was awful. And I was like, okay, first of all, I'll take a sorry, please. I'll take a sorry. And then I'm not going to make you do it. But I really, really really wish and hope is that you would just give this a shot because I understand that, this is how you feel and this is what you think it is, but you really don't know unless you try it.
[00:22:49] Sarah: So I'm going to just, give you some space and let you decide, but I hope you join us anyways. The rec therapist got him back. He decided to come back. He sat down and he participated in the session [00:23:00] and he was, at first grumbling and, and I had like quote cutouts and little cue cards and pictures and all these materials and what I wanted them to do was, it wasn't daunting.
[00:23:10] Sarah: It was, we worked small, so it was small and we could finish it within the hour. And, and I, so I did that. And then I said, if you can't think of what to write or to draw, just , just take these pictures that are already cut out and take these words and put your own little quote together. So people were doing their thing and, and he started to get into it and he was quiet and he was really focused.
[00:23:30] Sarah: So he became, being very agitated at first and angry and grumbling to quiet as a mouse, extremely focused and really in this, right? And then he looked up at me when he finished and he had a tear. Coming down and I was like, okay, and then, I got goosebumps because I'm like, oh boy, and I relive this one because this one got me and he's any any looked up and he said, thank you.
[00:23:54] Sarah: He said, thank you for that. Thank you for encouraging me to do that. Because for the first time in a [00:24:00] long time, I didn't want to hit somebody
[00:24:03] Sarah: and I went. Because he was there for violence. See, I got goosebumps. I could just feel them radiating. He was there for violence.that's what he was.
[00:24:09] Sarah: He was an angry, violent person. And he just couldn't control his emotions. And he said, Wow, I really didn't, didn't want to hit somebody. And I was like, Oh, wow, there it is. Yep. Okay. And then he shared his piece. And what it was, was, a little guy trying to climb up a mountain. And, and his words were, you're stronger than you think you are.
[00:24:29] Sarah: And, and what's so interesting is he is physically strong, but he was sharing how he felt here, not strong. And he came to me after and he, and he thanked me again, privately. And he said, you know what? He goes, that was amazing. Thank you. And he goes, I'm, I'm actually, a sad person. I'm actually, I said, okay, you know, and I said, well, you might want to talk to, and I like redirected him after that.
[00:24:51] Sarah: I thought, okay, he's ready to talk and he needs to talk to a psychotherapist or whoever was their psychologist, psychiatrist and, and shared [00:25:00] all this is that he had, yeah, some deep rooted stuff going on and, and he might be ready to. To get out.
[00:25:08] Kathleen: That's a great story. Just illustrating how powerful it is. Art can be, and to go deeper with the emotions because anger can often be a surface emotion. that's what you're seeing on the surface, but there's something underneath it. Right? So in his case, it sounded like sadness was actually underneath his anger and art allowed him to tap into that emotion where he may not have been able to go there. Mm
[00:25:35] Sarah: Cool, eh?
[00:25:36] Kathleen: Mm hmm. Really cool. Really, really cool.
[00:25:39] Sonia: Yeah, it's so interesting how it, broke open what was stuck in there, right? And got him to the point where he could go to,talk therapy. That's really interesting to me.
[00:25:49] Sarah: And to be honest, right? I liked that he was being vulnerable and honest, because like, yeah, he's this big, I mean, tattoos, muscles, like just this big, terrifying [00:26:00] looking thing who really was like, but this sad little guy, this little struggling soul inside, you know? So yeah, it was
[00:26:10] Kathleen: You mentioned how, in an example, in our conversation about, you know, sometimes you can throw away the art, sometimes you might keep the art, and it would help build self confidence and self esteem potentially. How else can art therapy do that? Can, help with, I know, I see a lot of clients and, and self worth is often something that we're working on.
[00:26:32] Kathleen: Um, and so how can art therapy help with that?
[00:26:37] Sarah: That's the thing. So, okay, this is my own opinion
[00:26:41] Kathleen: Mm hmm.
[00:26:41] Sarah: you mentioned that I'm spiritual and as well, I just, I truly believe that when you're creating, you're connected to the universe, like me, the creator, the universe and like, Everybody, yourself, the world. It's this thing. especially if you work in let's say [00:27:00] Mandela's that circulate work within a circle, right?
[00:27:03] Sarah: That keeps you in there and that just keeps you grounded and in the moment. Yeah. So that's a good way to work on your self worth. And that's a huge theme. And everybody, everybody needs that to be reminded that you're worthy no matter what. You've done no matter what you've been through, you are you and you are enough as you are, but people do forget that they need to remember that.
[00:27:26] Sarah: And so actually, yeah, art therapy is great. Art and art making art for wellness is great for just boosting your self esteem. reminding you of, I don't know, when you're making art, you get flashbacks and triggers of your past and happy times and happy moments, things you forgot that you've done, people you've helped, places you went, like, it can trigger memories that have been buried that you forgot, like from your past when you were little.
[00:27:51] Sarah: unleashing the, the inner child stuff. so you get that component, which helps with self Oh yeah, I forgot I did that. That was a really special time, Oh [00:28:00] my gosh. Like, I don't know. So you get those emotions going and then, and then it can show you that maybe, Hey, I'm actually good at art.
[00:28:06] Sarah: I feel good. So it boosts your self esteem with like, Hey, Maybe I should do art for recreational purposes. Like I want to go to arts, arts class or something. I'm not scared. I could do this. So it just, I don't know, like it just, and then the art therapists are trained specifically to focus on raising your self esteem, which then helps with your self worth, and teaching the difference between yes, you're, you're worthy no matter what, you know, and so dealing with the things that have happened, but also reminding you that like, you're so much more than you What has happened to you and what you've done or didn't do,
[00:28:40] Kathleen: Mhm.
[00:28:41] Sarah: you know, it's just that whole piece.
[00:28:43] Sarah: It's key. And everybody it's everybody needs that. That theme is everybody.
[00:28:49] Kathleen: Mhm.
[00:28:50] Sarah: We need it.
[00:28:52] Kathleen: We definitely do.
[00:28:53] Sonia: so things that happen to us, like trauma, and then, you know, for example, I have, like, severe anxiety. How does art [00:29:00] therapy address issues like that? And those two things are actually pretty commonly associated with addiction, too. Yeah,
[00:29:10] Sarah: Right. And so that's why you literally use. Like it replaces that art is medicine. It's medicine for your emotions and that's why it's good. there's so many things you can do to focus on anxiety. just that could be your theme. And, and so you use certain materials to release anxiety.
[00:29:32] Sarah: the grounding materials, like I mentioned, the, let's say, plasticine, the hard, the non hardening plasticine that, Is, firm at first and then softens as you squeeze it. So there's that bringing in, mindfulness of breathing. We incorporate a lot of breath work into the art process. Like literally doing something simple, like remembering to breathe as you're doing this while you're drawing and connecting the two
[00:29:58] Kathleen: Mhm.
[00:29:59] Sarah: to literally [00:30:00] move through that, you know?
[00:30:02] Kathleen: Um, so yeah, it helps with managing your emotions. It's a healthy escape if you need an escape, right? It's okay to escape, but it's a healthy one,Thank you for listening to Sisters in Sobriety and we'll see you next week when we'll share part two of our conversation with Sarah , You don't want to miss it. [00:31:00]