I'm a bi cisgender woman (she/her), first generation Ukrainian-American immigrant, and an artist of many forms.
Expressing myself creatively has always felt natural. As a child, I would scribble pictures of my family, pen fanciful stories, and create detailed dance productions in the living room freely. But as time went on, expressing myself turned into a goal of being "the best" and making "good art". Perfectionism mixed with the social pressure to be "good"made me fall out of love with creativity.
Shortly after starting college, I began experiencing debilitating panic attacks and unexplainable physical ailments. Then senior year, my mental health crumbled as I entered the "real world and I couldn't cope with the stress of it all. I was forced to come face to face with the hidden trauma stored in my body after decades of pretending I was "fine", and the difficult path of healing began.
Through therapy, I learned I could create meaning from difficult moments, reclaim my purpose and feel safety in my body like I never had before. Therapy transformed my life so deeply, that I decided to become an Expressive Arts Therapist to help others reclaim the stories of their lives. I began studying for my M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University in 2016, and haven't looked back.
Photo Credit: Janette Casolary
