I am proud to say that I am a success story of art therapy. After my sister died, I think that weekend, actually, our pastor’s wife suggested that I go into therapy and that art therapy would probably be a good option for me. I didn’t only not object, I enthusiastically agreed to go. Despite what my high school suggested, I stayed off any medication to “help me focus” and went the talking route instead. (I also threw myself into dance company, photography, and hanging out in any free art studio where I wasn’t underfoot after school.) I got back on honor roll in time for graduation, which I consider one of my biggest successes.
One thing that I learned about myself, aside from working through some very complicated emotions for a child, is that I’m extremely tactile. What I mean by that is that anything I created with Wendy, my therapist, had to have texture for me for it to feel complete. My favorite thing to do with her was paint. So one week I would paint and talk and the following week I would either continue working on what I was doing or sit with the painting on my lap, telling her what I created and why. After a few times of this, Wendy realized that as I talked about my painting, I’d run my hand over it pretty much constantly. A lot of my pieces had things stuck to them- CDs or sequins or anything to make them 3D. I was really unsatisfied with one, and Wendy realized it was because it was too flat.
This wasn’t a huge revelation. Honestly, I’m a walking bundle of sensory overload in all ways, but touch has always brought me a sense of comfort and security. I was one of those kids who always had to be reminded “touch with your eyes not with your hands.” I still sleep with Little Pillow- once a pillow and now essentially a square of flannel. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but when I get upset I rub my face on it.
Whatever y’all. I’m weird. You should know this.
Fall is great because textures start to come out to play. Summer is all about lightweight cotton for me, but with fall comes suede and heavy sweaters and velvet and oooohhh I can’t wait. What are some of your favorite textures to wear?
collage made with PicMonkey
Velvet Twist Headband||Floral Embroidered Velvet Kimono||Steve Madden Women’s Clever Block-Heel Sandals
Faux Fur Tippet Scarf||Knit Faux Fur Pom Beanie||Billabong Furever Love Faux Fur Vest
Cable Knit Loose Sweater||Women’s Bp. Tiered Sleeve Cable Knit Sweater||Johnstons of Elgin – Cable-knit Cashmere Headband – Gray
BB Dakota – Wade Faux Suede Drape Jacket Women’s Coat||Mur Mur Faux Suede Cape Jacket||Mia Monique Faux Suede Booties
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